You can save a data connection type such as an OleDb connection, Json connection, or an XML connection as a Shared Data Source (RDSX). This topic provides the steps to create a shared data source with a data connection. Using shared data source, multiple reports can connect to a same data source. See Connect to a Data Source on how to connect a report to a data source.

Create a shared data source

1. Right-click the data source in the Report Explorer and select Share Data Source option.
   
   
2. In the Save Shared Data Source File dialog that appears, enter the file name and click the Save button to save the file in RDSX format.
   Notice that the data source icon changes to show sharing.
   

   Data Source Icon	Shared Data Source Icon

Connect to a shared data source

In ActiveReports, you can connect to most data sources using the steps in the Connect to a Data Source. However, you need to follow the below steps to connect to a Shared Data Source.

1. In the Report Explorer, right-click the Data Sources node and select the Add Data Source option or select Data Source from the Add button.
2. In the Report Data Source dialog that appears, select the General page and enter the name of the data source. This name appears as a child node to the Data Sources node in the Report Explorer.
3. Check on the Shared Reference checkbox.
4. Under Reference, from the drop-down list, select From File...
   
5. In the Shared Data Source File dialog that appears, select the file and click Open on the lower right corner to close the dialog.
   A shared data source node appears in the Report Explorer.

Edit a shared data source

These steps assume that you have already connected your report to a shared data source.

1. Open the Report Data Source dialog using any of the following ways:
   • In the Report Explorer, right-click a shared data source node and from the context menu, select Edit Shared Data Source.
                
   • In the Report Explorer, select the shared data source node, go to the Report Explorer toolbar and click the Edit Shared Data Source button.
                
2. In the Report Data Source dialog that appears, edit the data connection information.
3. Click OK to save the edits.