The DataSource is a structural description of data used to render reports. The DataSource is like the software interlayer that provides data from the database, convert them and transfer data to the report generator. In other words, the DataSource is a description of methods, parameters, and data access methods. It should be noted that each data source uses a certain type of connection and, depending on the type of data source options, may vary. For example, some data sources may not have a field Query Text or query parameters. The picture below shows the New DataSource dialog:
A
name in the source is specified in the Name in
Source. In
this field you can enter the name or you can click a
button
to display a list of names. The list of names will be displayed in
the title of the Name in Source
dialog;
The
filed Name specifies
the data source name that appears in the report
generator;
The
field Alias specifies
a data source alias;
The
Query Control
panel.
In this panel, there are basic controls for the text query. Also
the Rotary button
is used to put the Columns
and
Query Text
panel
vertically or return them to a horizontal position;
The
Query Text
panel
field includes a text query and a menu for selecting the type of a
data source. The text field should be filled with a query. In the
menu of selecting the type of a data source the following types of
data source are available: Table
and
Stored
Procedure. The
picture below shows the menu of selecting the type of a data
source:
The panel
contains the basic controls for data columns, and also contains
the New
Parameter button;
The
Columns
panel contains
two fields: data columns, which shows the data columns and query
parameters, as well as the property field, which displays the
properties of the selected data columns. Each column has:
Name
and
Alias.