Crystal Reports requires its own configured connection to allow a report to access a given database without intervention, as would be required for example when using a normal manual login to a Dimensions database.
To set up a defined connection to the required database:
Open an existing report or create a new one within Crystal Reports
Click Database, Set Datasource Location
Next to Create New Connection, click the plus + icon.
Next to ODBC (RDO), click the plus + icon.
Select the required server name
Click Next
Enter User ID
Enter Password
Use the drop-down and select the required database
Click Finish. This connection now provides access to tables from the chosen database.