Data Source Manager

The data source manager is the central point to manage your data sources. In this sense, it is equivalent to the ODBC Manager in Windows.
A data source is a configured connection to a database or other source of data. The report will contain only the name of the data source and a copy of its information.

This makes it easy to switch report data sources quickly. If a data source exists on the system with the given name, this data source will be used. If no data source can be found, as a fallback the copy of the data source stored in the report itself is used.

The order of search for the correct data source is first in the Temporary Area, then the User, then the System Area.

The options in this dialog are also available via the API given in the class DataSourceConfigurationManager in the package com.inet.report.config.datasource.

System: Data sources in the tab "System" are visible for all users. Services and background processes usually only have access to system resources.
User: Data sources in the tab "User" are only visible for the currently logged in user of server process. If you do not have access to reading this area, this tab will not be displayed.
Temporary: Data sources in the tab "Temporary" are only available while the system is running. This can be used for testing a data source. If you have no write access to the System or User space (e.g. coming from an applet), this is the only place it is possible to store a data source.
Add: This will create a new data source and add it to the current tab. If you do not have write access in the current area, this button will not be active.
Edit: This will configure and alter an existing data source. If you do not have write access in the current area, this button will not be active.
Delete: This will delete a data source. Reports based on this data source can still be executed, however, if the data source is saved in the report. If you do not have write access in the current area, this button will not be active.
Duplicate: Creates an identical copy of a data source and adds it to the current tab If you do not have write access in the current area, this button will not be active..
Import: Imports a saved backup copy of a data source from a file. If you do not have write access in the current area, this button will not be active.
Export: This will export the currently selected data source to a backup XML file which can then be imported using "Import". This is especially useful for sharing a data source configuration on more than one computer.