Crystal Reports has totally changed in the last couple of years. The current version is 8.5 and it gives you total control over the report using the RDC automation server. It supports Fox2x, ODBC, ADO, XML, and other data sources.

I can't say if it's a lot slower than R&R as I haven't used R&R for about eight years. However, the speed of the report depends a great deal on the data access method you are using.

If I understand your second question, it sounds like you want to create a relation between two tables using multiple fields. Yes, you can do this, and its quite easy. Crystal Reports provides a tool that you just drag and drop the fields.

>Craig, we currentlu use R&R , which we find quite good
>
>I loked at Crystal a few years ago and the main problems I had with it were:
>(1) It seemd to b a lot slower than R&R
>(2) You could not easily (If at all) create a link from a combination of fields ... each link had to be on a table
>
>Has any of this changed recently in Crystal ?
>
>regards,
>
>Gerard
>
>
>
>
>>I'm curious...why do you not want to use Crystal Reports?
>>
>>
>>>One of the reasons I love fox is that it does it all - database, forms, reports! However my users are complaining that previews aren't readable and they'd like more control which we can't give with vfp5. They are mostly home users so don't want to be printing constantly.
>>>
>>>So we have to look for alternatives:
>>>* see if vfp7 has enhanced reporting features
>>>* crystal (but we'd rather not)
>>>* html (does anyone do this, do they get good feedback?)
>>>* or something else.
>>>
>>>I'd really appreciate finding out how others have tackled this issue.
>>>
>>>Sarah