Using data objects as a data source
A data object can include any number of data sources, data sets, data cubes, and report parameters. The data objects can be used as predefined data sources in BIRT Studio. Business users can select already published data objects as data sources, or templates that are designed to use data objects as data sources.
The data objects created for business reports should be designed with the business report requirements in mind. They should provide the data in a structure that is appropriate for business users and for the report elements that users can add to a report.
When you design data objects for business reports always consider the following:
Report parameters in a data object do not link to parameters created in BIRT Studio, so you typically do not include report parameters in a data object that you create for BIRT Studio users.
In BIRT Studio, a chart uses data from a table in a report. The chart does not use data directly from a data set or a cube.
BIRT Studio cross tab reports require specialized cross tab templates and the data sources used in the templates must be data objects.