I have an external data source "dbo_ZkTecoAttendance".

I created a report to output the data. When I click the button "Generate" a dialog box "Connect to data source" is popping up. (See the attached screenshots). I am doing what the dialog requires then I am closing it. But when I click the "Generate" button again the process is repeating and the report is not generated.

How to get rid of this dialog and get the report generated?

“External data sources” are quite peculiar objects. For the data source you created, you need to configure the connection not only in Designer mode, but also in the interactive (runtime) mode.

To do this, go to the “Advanced tools...” menu, find your data source in the object tree, and go through the entire process of connecting it to the database again. If the connection is successful, you should see the data table. Only after that will you be able to use the external data source in the program’s interactive mode…

My general advice is not to use this object in actual work. As far as I understand, it’s more suitable for one-time operations, when you just need to transfer data from one database to another…

I am following this instruction exactly as you say. The connection is successful and the dialog box is closed. Then I am clicking on "Generate" button again but the dialog box is popping up again and this cycle of steps is repeated, without reaching the generation of the report.

Interestingly, the similar situation one encounters when he opens the table of the External data source. First time when the table is accessed this dialog box pops up and the connection string is set in “Change common parameters...” menu. After that the dialog box never shows up again. But in a report one faces the issue I described above.

Try doing it again please step by step, as shown in the screenshots