# DataSources

## Content



A FlexReport definition can include multiple data sources, accessible via the C1FlexReport.DataSources collection. Each data source in this collection is identified by a unique name and can be used as follows:

| **Main data source** | It is the main data source for a report. The main data source is specified by using DataSourceName property of C1FlexReport class on the report. If the main data source is not specified (DataSourceName is empty or contains a name not found in the DataSources collection), C1FlexReport is rendered in the unbound mode, containing a single instance of the Detail section. |
| --- | --- |
| **Parameter data source** | It is the source of valid values for the report parameters (elements in the C1FlexReport.Parameters collection). The data source for parameters is specified using ReportParameter.AllowedValuesDefinition.Binding.DataSourceName property. |
| **Chart data source** | It is the data source for the Chart field. The data source for charts is specified using DataSource property of ChartField class. |

The list of supported data-source types in FlexReport are as follows:

*   OLE DB
*   ODBC
*   XML
*   Object in external assembly
*   Microsoft SQL Server Compact Data Provider version 3.5 and 4.0
*   SQLite
*   C1 ADO.NET DataConnectors

To maintain compatibility with the legacy C1Report, C1FlexReport includes a DataSource property that references DataSources[DataSourceName\]. Upon creating a new C1FlexReport, a single element named 'Main' is automatically added to its **C1FlexReport.DataSources** collection, and 'Main' is assigned to the C1FlexReport.DataSourceName property.Note that in C1Report, Main data source is the only data source for the report.


> type=note
> Note that all these datasouces are supported only in WinForms and WPF.