There are 2 different architectures you can use.  I generally use the approach where the reports are free-standing rpt files, so this will be the example I will describe.

We retrieve the desired data to be displayed into a dataset, initialize a ReportDocument class, and pass it the path of the rpt file, the dataset, and the parameters. Be sure that when you define the report that you set the datasource to a strongly typed dataset you have already created. If you are letting Crystal pull the data directly from the db, then you don't need to worry about the strongly typed dataset.

If you want the reports compiled into the app, then you won't want to use this approach.

'1.  Take care of the data aggregation and passing to report...or allow Crystal to pull it

'2.  Instantiate the report engine
Dim CrystalReport as new CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine

'3.  Tell the ReportDocument what rpt file to use
Me.CrystalReport.Load("ReportPath", CrystalDecisions.Shared.OpenReportMethod.OpenReportByTempCopy)

'4.  Set the parameter values
CrystalReport.SetParameterValue("theValue", TheParameterName)

'5.  Print directly to the printer
CrystalReport.PrintToPrinter(1, False, 0, 0) 

Joe