> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.pentaho.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.pentaho.com/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp.md).

# Connect to a data source

This article explains each data source connection used with Report Designer. You must have a report file open in order to proceed, and your data source must be accessible before you can connect to it in Report Designer. If you are using Report Designer on Linux, after you add a data source it will not appear in the **Data** tab until you double-click the **Data Sets** item.

For instructions on connecting to different types of data sources, see the following topics:

* [JDBC](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/jdbc-connecting-to-a-data-source-in-prd.md)
* [Metadata](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/metadata-connecting-to-a-data-source-in-prd.md)
* [Pentaho Data Integration](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/pentaho-data-integration.md)
* [OLAP](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/olap-connecting-to-a-data-source-in-prd.md)
* [OLAP (advanced)](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/olap-advanced-connecting-to-a-data-source-in-prd.md)
* [XML](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/xml.md)
* [Table](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/table.md)
* [Add a JNDI data source](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/add-a-jndi-data-source-connecting-to-a-data-source-in-prd.md)
* [Add a MongoDB data source](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/add-a-mongodb-data-source-to-report-designer.md)
* [Other Data Sources](/pba-report-designer/connect-report-designer-to-a-data-source-cp/other-data-sources-connecting-to-a-data-source-in-prd.md)


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