This is the best way I've found to handle designing Crystal Reports from a dataset created by a VB .NET application.

'Create a dataset using a stored procedure
dsRepoDataSet = oReports.GetPOsWithNotesbByPOSP(lcPONum)

'Count how many records there are
lnCount = dsRepoDataSet.Tables(0).Rows.Count
If lnCount > 0 Then
   glTableReturn = True
   
   'If we are designing a report set this true
   If glWriteXML Then
      'Write XML file for report design
      CreateXMLFile("C:\Temp\POWithNotes.xml", dsRepoDataSet)
   End If
End If

'Stop here

'Write a populated XML schema file
Public Shared Sub CreateXMLFile(ByVal XmlFileName As String, _
    ByVal XmlDataSet As DataSet)
  XmlDataSet.WriteXml(XmlFileName, XmlWriteMode.WriteSchema)
End Sub

Start up the stand alone Crystal Reports. (My version is XI, Rel 2.)
Open a report from your application or create a new one.
In the Field Explorer go to the 'Database Expert'.
Create a New Connection in the ADO.NET (XML) section.
Point to the location of the .XML file created above ("C:\Temp\POWithNotes.xml")
There seems to be no need to change anything else at this point.

Go through the procedure to modify or create the report.
If you open the 'Print Preview' you should see your data.

I found that if I change the dataset in the .NET applcation, then 'Log Off the Server' in Crystal Reports, closing the report, then reopening it, it will reset the data from the new dataset into the report.

If there is a better method than this, please let me know.

Thanks