Joshua,
I've found a reasonable solution. I simply create custom "formula
fields" in Crystal reports. Formulas consist of things like this:
ToNumber({processed_daily_sales.value})
ToText({department_group.description})
They can then be used just as you'd use the columns themselves if they
were typed correctly. This is slightly hacky, but by far the most
acceptable solution, to my mind.
Regards,
Peter Geoghegan