Prior to authoring charts and gauges, you must first connect the respective web part to a data source. The Data Source page is by default displayed by both designers, when the web part is not connected to a data source.

Located at the top of the data source page is the Data Source Type Combo, which lets you select the type of data source to which you want to connect. For each selected data source type, the data source page will display only applicable connection options. Currently the web parts in the suite can connect to the following types of data sources:

• Database - the binding to a database establishes a connection to an ODBC, Ole DB, SQL Server or Oracle data provider. It is specified with the help of a connection string and a SQL command, that are valid for the currently selected data provider.
  See Connecting to a Database for more info.
  
• Business Data Catalog - the binding to an entity inside the Business Data Catalog is performed by specifying a valid application-entity pair. The web parts will enumerate the entities in the currently available applications for you.
  See Connecting to Business Data Catalog for more info.
  
• SharePoint List - the binding to a SharePoint list is performed by specifying a valid site, web, list and view. The web part will enumerate the currently available lists per each site and web that you select.
  See Connecting to a SharePoint List for more info.
  
• SharePoint Site Query - the binding to a SharePoint list is performed by specifying a valid site and web and CAML expressions for Lists, Webs, ViewFields and Query. The web part will enumerate the currently available sites and webs for you.
  See Connecting to a SharePoint Site Query for more info.
  
• Excel Web Services - the binding Excel Web Services is established by specifying the URL of the workbook and the range of cells from the workbook that you want to operate on.
  See Connecting to Excel Web Services for more info.
  
• Web Part Table - the binding to another web part that implements the IWebPartTable interface is performed by specifying valid site-web-page and title. The web part will enumerate the titles of web parts that you can bind to for each site, web and page that you select.
  See Connecting to a Web Part Table for more info.
  

If the webpart is successfully connected to a data source it will display an info message at the bottom of the page. You may then preview the first 1000 records of the data source by clicking on the Preview Data button. If the webpart is failing to connect to data source a relevant message will indicate the error.