1. A report layout reference system for processing report layout references in a report, the report layout reference system comprising: a report object model builder for generating a report object model of a report specification; a destination repository for storing a location of referenced report components, a report fetcher for obtaining a report specification having a referenced report component; and a specification repository for storing report specifications having referenced report components, wherein the report layout reference system receives a current report specification from the specification repository, the current report specification comprising at least one component reference that references at least one report component of at least one external report specification, obtains the at least one referenced report component of the at least one external report specification, and adds the at least one referenced report component to the current report specification to form a complete report specification.