STAC 3 Collaboration Meeting Summary 4/29/2026

STAC 3 Collaboration Meeting Summary 4/29/2026

1. Hyperlink Functionality in Reports (STAC 2 & STAC 3)

New Hyperlink Function 

  • STAC now provides a built-in SQL function:

  • pageURL

  • Eliminates the need to manually concatenate URLs (legacy approach)


How It Works

  • Function accepts:

  • Incident ID → Case link

  • Directory ID → Person link

  • Used directly in query:

  • Added as a calculated field

  • Then applied as a hyperlink in Crystal Reports


Implementation Steps

  1. Add function in SELECT statement

  1. Create calculated field (URL output)

  1. In report:

  • Format field → Hyperlink

  • Assign calculated field


Additional Available Functions

Highlighted expanded SQL utility functions:

  • Address formatting

  • Phone number formatting

  • SSN formatting

  • Age calculation (can be tied to offense date or other dates)

 Useful for:

  • Reports

  • Notifications

  • Document variables

 “Try STAC 3” Button

  • Hyperlinks depend on environment detection:

  • STAC 2 vs STAC 3

 If button exists → links route correctly 
If missing → hyperlinks fail in STAC 3

  • Action:

  • Submit ticket to enable button if it is missing


Crystal Reports Limitation

  • Hyperlinks:

  • Open in same tab (PDF behavior)

  • Cannot force “open in new tab”

Workarounds to open in New tab

  • Ctrl + click on link

  • Right-click → open new tab

 Applies to BOTH:

  • - STAC 2

  • - STAC 3

2. Report Sorting & HTML Report Limitations

Current Behavior in STAC 3

  • Reports render as:

  • PDF only

Impact

  •  No column sorting

  •  No HTML rendering

  •  No drill-down functionality


User Scenario (Real Use Case)

  • One report used with:

  • Multiple sort columns

  • Dynamic sorting by supervisors

 Worked in STAC 2 (HTML) 
Not possible in STAC 3 (PDF)

Workaround Options

  • Add ORDER BY in query (static sort)

  • Use report parameters (requires rerunning report)

  • Split into multiple reports

Loss of:
- Interactive reporting

3. Discovery Codes – Major Workflow Enhancement

Overview

  • Discovery Codes used for:

  • Merging standardized values into documents

Key Enhancement

 Ability to allow user-entered values during merge

How It Works 

Add option like: “Other” / “Custom” by using a variable inside the value field

 When selected:

  • - Prompts user for input
    - Input is merged dynamically


Example Flow

  1. User selects standard value → merges immediately

  1. User selects “Other” → 
    → prompted for input 
    → input inserted into document 

  • Eliminates:

  • Need to constantly expand code lists

  • Improves:

  • Flexibility

  • Accuracy

  • Workflow efficiency

Template-Based Discovery Codes – NOT RECOMMENDED 

  • Discovery Codes can also:

  • Trigger document templates

  • Include variables inside template


4. Formatting Capabilities in Discovery Codes

Advanced Formatting

  • Supports embedded formatting codes:

  • Example: [tab]

Use Cases

  • Align text in documents

  • Create structured formatting without editing document after merge


Key Insight

  • Discovery Codes are: 
    Not just values 
    Also formatting + logic tools


5. File Path / Template Handling (Discovery Code Templates) NOT RECOMMENDED 

Current Behavior

  • Templates require:

  • File path reference

STAC 2 Limitation

  • Manual path configuration required

STAC 3 Direction

  • Moving toward:

  • Centralized template management

  • Integrated editor experience


Current Capability

  • Templates can:

  • - Include variables

  • - Be merged into main document

  • - Act as reusable building blocks


Q&A 

Hyperlinks

Q: How do I create hyperlinks in STAC reports now? 
A: Use the pageURL SQL function instead of manually building URLs.

Q: Do hyperlinks work in both STAC 2 and STAC 3? 
A: Yes — they dynamically route based on environment, but it requires the "Try STAC 3" button be visible in STAC 2 environment.

Q: Why are hyperlinks not working in STAC 3? 
A: Most likely the “Try STAC 3” button is missing.

Q: How do I fix that? 
A: Submit a ticket to have the button enabled.

Q: Why don’t hyperlinks open in a new tab? 
A: This is a Crystal Reports limitation, not STAC. But there is a Workaround! Either Ctrl + click the link or Right-click link→ open in new tab

Reports & Sorting

Q: Why can’t I sort columns in STAC 3 reports? 
A: Reports are rendered as PDF, which is not sortable.

Q: What happened to HTML reports? 
A: HTML reports are converted to PDF in STAC 3.

Q: Do drill-down reports still work? 
A: No — drill-down depends on HTML rendering.

Q: What are my alternatives to organize and filter within a report? 
A:

  • - Add ORDER BY in query

  • - Use parameters (less efficient)

  • - Create multiple reports


Discovery Codes 

Q: Can users enter custom values during merge? 
A: Yes — using variables inside discovery code values. 

Q: How do I set that up? 
A: 

  • - Add a variable in the variable list 

  • - Reference it in the value field 

  • - Create an “Other” option 

Q: What happens when “Other” is selected? 
A: 

  • - User is prompted for input 

  • - Input is merged into document 

Q: Can Discovery Codes use templates? 
A: Yes — they can trigger document templates with variables. 

Q: Can I use formatting like tabs? 
A: Yes — use formatting codes like [tab]. 

Templates 

Q: How are templates handled in Discovery Codes? 
A: 

  • - Defined via file path 

  • - Can include variables 

  • - Merged into main document