What is a disadvantage of using the database source option compared to the XPath option?

The database source option is indeed limited when it comes to specifying constraints that span entities. When using the database source, the query is typically confined to the specific entity for which it is created, meaning that it is not straightforward to apply filters or conditions that relate to data from different entities in the same query.

In contrast, the XPath option is more flexible in this regard as it allows developers to navigate through relationships and specify constraints that can involve multiple entities. This flexibility is particularly useful in Mendix applications, where data is often interconnected.

While options regarding sorting, filtering data fields, and retrieving data from multiple tables might have their own nuances, they typically can be addressed or implemented in various ways depending on the scenario, making these aspects less critical in comparison to the limitation on cross-entity constraints that the database source presents. Therefore, the ability (or lack thereof) to apply constraints across entities is a significant disadvantage when using the database source compared to the more capable XPath option.