---
name: watsonx-bi-manage_datasources
title: Managing data sources (watsonx BI as a Service only)
description: You can use the **Data sources** tab under **Data and Metrics** to add, view, and manage the data sources used for your metrics and analysis.
last-updated: 2026-08-06
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Managing data sources (watsonx BI as a Service only)
{: #manage_data_sources}
[Cloud]{: tag-blue}

You can use the **Data sources** tab under **Data and Metrics** to add, view, and manage the data sources used for your metrics and analysis. {: #shortdesc}

The **Data sources** tab displays information about each data source such as:

- Data source name
- Data source type  
  - Uploaded file  
  - Data connection
- Enrichment status

Depending on the data source type, you can also reimport metadata to refresh the data source and re-run metadata enrichment from this page. 

## Adding a data source
{: #add_ds}

1. Go to **Data and Metrics** > **Data sources**.

2. Add a data source by using one of the following options:

   - **[Add data from connection](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-select&format=markdown){: external}**: Import data from an available connection to your database or data warehouse.
   - **[Upload file](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-upload&format=markdown){: external}**: Add data from a local file.

   You cannot connect to Cognos Analytics data sources from the **Data sources** tab. To use a Cognos Analytics data source, go to the **Metrics** tab and click **Create metrics**. For more information, see [IBM Cognos Analytics](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-cognos&format=markdown){: external}.{: important}


3. Select and add your data source.

4. After the data source is added, metadata enrichment starts automatically.

  The **Data sources** tab displays the current enrichment status so that you can monitor progress and confirm when enrichment is complete.


## Managing a data source
{: #manage_ds}

Open the context menu for a data source by clicking the options icon (three dots) next to the data source name.

| Action | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Re-import** | Refresh the data source with the latest data from the source. This is useful when the underlying data has changed and you want to update your local copy. |
| **Re-enrich** | Run [metadata enrichment](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-enrich&format=markdown){: external} again for the data source. This is useful if you want to update the business context metadata or if enrichment previously encountered errors.|
| **Preview** | Preview the contents of the data source to view a sample of the data and verify its contents before using it in metrics or conversations.|
| **Delete** | Remove the data source from the project. This action might impact semantic data models or metrics that reference the deleted data source. |
| **Ask a question** | Ask a question directly against a data source to start analyzing the data immediately without creating a metric first.|
{: caption="Data source management options" caption-side="bottom"}

## Related tasks
{: #related_ds}

- [Uploading a file](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-upload&format=markdown){: external}
- [Add data through a connection](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-select&format=markdown){: external}
- [Enriching data in watsonx BI](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-enrich&format=markdown){: external}
- [Creating metrics](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonx-bi?topic=watsonx-bi-overview_metrics&format=markdown){: external}