A data object can include any number of data sources, data sets, data cubes, and report parameters. Although it is possible to create a single data object that contains all the data that dashboard users or report developers could possibly need, a data object that provides too much data can be confusing for users. In addition, the amount of memory that a data object uses increases with the number of data rows returned by data sets and the number of aggregations calculated by cubes.
The objects to include in a data object depend on which item—dashboard or BIRT report—is using the data object.
Table 3-1 lists the objects that you typically include when creating a data object for a dashboard and for a report.