1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving a first data request to save a formatted view of data, the formatted view of data being defined by a query to a database and a layout, the layout including formatting information for arranging, in the formatted view, a data record retrieved from the database using the query; in response to the first data request, storing a database report file on a storage device that is different from the database, wherein storing the database report file comprises: storing a data reference to the data record, the data reference including an address of the data record, the address indicative of where a value of the data record is stored in the database; and storing the formatting information in association with the data reference; receiving a second data request to open the database report file to recreate the formatted view of data; in response to the second data request, retrieving the record from the database using direct access into the database, the direct access being different from a database query and including retrieving one or more values of the data record using the address in the data reference, wherein, when the one or more values of the data record in the database have been updated and are different from values of the data record in the formatted view of data at time of saving, the data record retrieved using the address includes updated information from the database; and recreating the formatted view of data using the data record retrieved from the database using the address, wherein recreating the formatted view comprises arranging the data record including one or more updated data values according to the formatting information stored in association with the data record in the database report file.