Each BIRT data source you create contains the connections properties required to connect to a database, flat file, XML document, or web service. Often, multiple reports require access to the same source. You might, for example, create a suite of reports that use data from the same corporate sales database. Rather than typing the same connection information repeatedly for each report, you can:

The basic principles behind both techniques are simple: define connection properties once, store the information in a shared location, and reuse the information in as many reports as needed. Another advantage that both techniques offer is the ability to update connection properties in one location and have the changes propagate to all reports.