You can limit the data available to a BIRT design by applying filters to a data set in a template, an information object, or a data object, using Table Builder in Report Studio. Both information objects and data objects can contain very large amounts of data. Using filters to limit the data available to a BIRT design is useful when you need to create a report that displays specific data quickly.
Getting current data from a data source
When you select a data object data source, Report Studio makes the data fields in the data object available to your BIRT design. The data object remains on the server and can be modified after you design your BIRT design. For example, a data administrator can add or remove fields from the data object.
You can refresh data in a modified data object, so that the BIRT design uses the most current data. Choose Manage Data. In Select Data, choose Refresh to retrieve the most recent data from a data object store or cube. The current data fields appear in Available Data in Report Studio.
If you select Refresh when you create a new BIRT design that uses a data object store, nothing happens because you have selected a new data object store file, and there are no existing data fields in the table that Report Studio can refresh.
