Connect your report to an Access database by activating the database expert, selecting the correct version (2003 or 2007/2010), and configuring the connection to sample databases.

Explore how field masks replace field names to show data types, control column headers, and manage labels by turning options on or off in file options.

Learn to browse data in Crystal Reports before inserting fields, previewing values, data types, and unique values to decide field usefulness, from gender codes to regions and dates of birth.

Explore navigating grouped data with the group navigation tree to jump between town and county groupings in a report, using the preview panel to toggle and view group headings.

Lock the format and position of controls to prevent accidental changes while resizing or moving fields, using the formatting toolbar icons to lock position and lock formatting, then unlock when needed.

Sort by multiple fields in Crystal Reports using primary, secondary, and optional tertiary levels to resolve ties, such as surname, then first name, then country.

Explore filtering text fields in Crystal Reports using comparison operators such as equal to, not equal to, is one of, less than, between, starts with, and is like.

Explore filtering by date fields in Crystal Reports using operators such as is equal to, is not equal to, less than, greater than, and between, plus prebuilt periods.

Learn to filter for empty fields in Crystal Reports by creating a formula that detects blank values, exemplified by missing e-mails and birth dates to keep data current.

Group report data by date fields to create sections and headings for each day, week, month, quarter, or year, including morning versus afternoon.

Remove groupings in Crystal Reports using the group expert, moving fields with single or double arrows to produce a standard tabular report without grouping.