## Introduction

Seagate Crystal Reports can access data stored in almost any common database format, as well as many uncommon formats. In addition, Seagate Crystal Reports leverages the full benefits of query (.QRY) files and dictionaries (.DC5). See The Crystal SQL Designer, and Dictionaries.

This section discusses the many different types of data that Seagate Crystal Reports can access, and explains the data access layers involved in connecting to the data. If you are not sure what Database Management System (DBMS) your company uses, contact your IS manager or your network administrator.

The principal purpose of Seagate Crystal Reports is simply to access data stored in databases and to produce reports on that data. This goal is one of the oldest uses of computers and remains one of the most common and most necessary. Seagate Crystal Reports is designed to make that task easier, less time-consuming, and more powerful.

This idea of accessing data remains at the root of every report produced. By understanding how Seagate Crystal Reports accesses data, you will gain a better knowledge of the reporting process, as well as a better knowledge of the type of data with which the program can work.

In addition, understanding the data access process will help you troubleshoot problems you may encounter while trying to open a particular database file. This is especially useful for IS managers, or for anyone who provides data access support for a group of users.

Most of the information in this section is designed for experienced Seagate Crystal Reports users and IS managers, and covers technical aspects of Database Management Systems (DBMS) and data storage techniques. A familiarity with computers; the Windows 95 and Windows 98, or Windows NT operating system; and at least one DBMS application is assumed.

Note: Many of the translation files mentioned in this section have slightly different names when viewed in the Convert Database Driver dialog box. For example, the translation file normally called P2sodbc.dll appears as Pdsodbc.dll in the Convert Database Driver dialog box. Both of these names represent the same file.

Seagate Software, Inc. http://www.seagatesoftware.com Please send comments to: techpubs@seagatesoftware.com