>Joining tables seems to makes most sense, but controlling layout in CR designer is giving me most problems. I want them to list vertically with parent record in page header and child table records listed below gouped togther.

Charlie,

I would insert a group into the report based on the common key. Put the parent record info into the Group Header section - you can even access the options for the group and have CR repeat the group header on each page, effectively making it your page header.

Then place fields from the child table into the Details section to have child record get printed.

Hope that helps.

Laterness,
Jon