Data visualization and data selection gadgets display data from BIRT data objects. Data objects are stored as files in the Resource folder of the Encyclopedia volume and supports Actuate file permissions. Developers create data object files with BIRT Designer Professional.

Data object designs query data on demand and are saved as files with the file‑name extension .datadesign. These files give users the most current information because the queries are made on demand. This also means that users viewing recently updated data can view different data.

Data object stores cache data from a previous query as a file with the file‑name extension .data. This file enables users to access the information faster than waiting for a query to data sources. If BIRT iHub has adequate memory to load the object store files, one or more these files can reside in memory, resulting in an improved dashboard result time.

Data object store files, in addition to providing improved response for data queries, ensures that all users of the data object store receive the same data. Dashboard developers can choose a specific version or the latest version of a data object store file to display in a gadget. Users view the latest version of the data object store file when the most recent version is selected. For example, if a data object design file is scheduled to create a data object store file every week, using the latest version setting enables the gadget to display data from the newest weekly version, without further configuration.

Users and gadget builders can filter data in data visualization gadgets in the following ways:

Each of the previous filtering solutions requires specific privileges. For example, a user with all necessary privileges, such as an administrator, can filter data using any of the previous solutions. A user with privileges to only view a dashboard can use data selection gadgets or the context menu to apply filtering on the dashboard’s gadgets.

Setting parameters of a data object filters values for all gadgets using that data object. The BIRT developer who creates the data object must enable parameters.

BIRT files displayed in report or Reportlet gadgets do not use the dashboard to manage their data sources. BIRT Designer Professional and BIRT Studio manage the data sources used by BIRT files.