To create a report, you begin by specifying a data source that can include desktop database types such as Microsoft Access as well as enterprise data sources including IBM DB2, Oracle and Sybase. From here you choose which tables and fields you use via a point-and-click interface. More advanced users can choose to directly edit SQL to select the data they require.

The report can then be designed using a comprehensive set of tools offering more than 100 formatting options. These can include different fonts, text rotation and images as well as sub-reports and special functions that can control report formatting, data selection and more. New to Crystal Reports is the ability to handle Unicode. This allows you to produce reports in almost any language including those that write from right to left. You can even mix and match multiple languages within the same report.

The Professional Edition offers many features over and above the Standard Edition As well as supporting enterprise-level data sources including IBM DB2, Oracle and Sybase, it can also work with several OLAP data providers. Furthermore, the Professional Edition can work with XML both as a data source and an export option. Viewing options have also been improved with the ability to dislay and zoom in to reports built within .Net and Java environments. Mobile devices are also catered for with iPaqs and WML phones supported.

However, this power doesn't come cheaply. Crystal Reports is an extremely complex program and new users may struggle initially to get to grips with it. Luckily there are a number of books and courses available to get you up to speed if you feel you need a little extra help. That said, the online help is extremely comprehensive. As well as covering each and every function in detail, it also includes a Quick Start guide plus information on design concepts and an introduction to reporting. The publisher's Web site includes further help and examples.