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IV. Designing Reports
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IV. Designing Reports
by Nola Hague, Alethea Hannemann, Diana Peh
BIRT: A Field Guide to Reporting
Copyright
Foreword
JSP = COBOL and Banded Report Writers = Report Design Pads
Enter BIRT
Preface
About this book
Who should read this book
Contents of this book
Part I, Installing BIRT
Part II, Getting Started
Part III, Accessing and Binding Data
Part IV, Designing Reports
Part V, Enhancing Reports
Typographical Conventions
Acknowledgments
I. Installing BIRT
1. Prerequisites for BIRT
Requirements for the BIRT report designers
About installing required software
BIRT RCP Report Designer software requirements
BIRT Report Designer Full Eclipse Install software requirements
BIRT Report Designer software requirements
About types of BIRT builds
2. Installing a BIRT Report Designer
Installing BIRT Report Designer
Downloading and installing BIRT Report Designer
Installing the auxiliary file for BIRT Report Designer
Testing the BIRT Report Designer installation
Installing BIRT Report Designer Full Eclipse Install
Downloading and installing BIRT Report Designer Full Eclipse Install
Installing the auxiliary file for BIRT Report Designer
Installing BIRT RCP Report Designer
Downloading and installing BIRT RCP Report Designer
Installing the auxiliary file for BIRT Report Designer
Testing the BIRT RCP Report Designer installation
Troubleshooting installation problems
Avoiding cache conflicts after you install a BIRT report designer
Specifying which Java Virtual Machine to use when you start a BIRT report designer
Installing a language pack
3. Updating a BIRT Installation
Using the Eclipse Update Manager to update BIRT Report Designer installation
Updating BIRT RCP Report Designer installation
II. Getting Started
4. Learning the Basics
About BIRT reports
Overview of the report design process
Planning the report
Starting a new report design
Specifying the data to use
Laying out the report
Formatting the report content
Designing a master page
Previewing and testing the report
About the report design environment
Starting BIRT Report Designer
Report design views
Report editor
Palette
Data Explorer
Library Explorer
Property Editor
Navigator
Outline
Problems
Report design files
Report output formats
Previewing a report
Tutorial 1: Building a simple listing report
Task 1: Create a new project
Task 2: Create a new report
Task 3: Build a data source
Task 4: Build a data set
Task 5: Lay out the report
Task 6: Sort the data
Task 7: Format the report
Edit the column headings
Format the column headings
Display first and last names on the same line
Increase the space between rows
Task 8: Create a report title
Next steps
5. Planning Your Report
Identifying the content of the report
Determining how the report will be viewed
Considering international reporting requirements
Deciding the layout and format of the report
Drawing a mock-up
Considering reuse of report components
Managing report design resources
Deciding how the report will be deployed
III. Accessing and Binding Data
6. Connecting to a Data Source
Working with data sources
Accessing data using JDBC
Preparing to access a database
Creating a JDBC data source
Managing JDBC drivers
Adding a JDBC driver
Deleting a JDBC driver
Restoring JDBC drivers
Accessing data in text files
Preparing to access your text file
Text file rules
Text file data types
Creating a flat file data source
Accessing XML data
Preparing to access XML data
Creating an XML data source
Setting connection properties when a report runs
Troubleshooting data source problems
7. Retrieving Data
Creating a BIRT data set
Changing the data source for a data set
Deleting a data set
Selecting data
Using a SQL query to retrieve data
Creating a SQL query using SELECT
Combining data from multiple tables
Using a stored procedure to retrieve data
Specifying what data to retrieve from a text file
Specifying what data to retrieve from an XML data source
Viewing and changing output columns
Previewing a data set
Adding a computed field to a data set
Joining data sets
Using additional data set options
Creating a dynamic query
Setting data set cache preferences
8. Binding Data
Understanding column bindings
Descriptive names
Dynamic updates of calculated data
Creating column bindings
Editing and deleting column bindings
More about column-binding expressions
IV. Designing Reports
9. Laying Out a Report
Understanding the layout model
About the report layout elements
Overview of the layout process
Creating the sections of a report
Organizing elements in a grid
Adding rows and columns
Deleting rows and columns
Organizing elements in a table
Deciding where to place elements in a table
Binding a table to a data set
Adjusting table rows and columns
Organizing elements in a list
Deciding where to place elements in a list
Binding a list to a data set
Placing report elements
Placing report elements side by side
Inserting data set fields
Inserting computed fields
Inserting images
10. Displaying Text
Types of textual elements
Deciding which textual element to use
Formatting words differently in a static string
Combining static text with dynamic data
Displaying dynamic data that contains HTML tags
Displaying dynamic data that a JavaScript expression returns
Using a dynamic text element
Using a label element
Using a text element
Applying multiple style formats in a text element
Combining a JavaScript expression with static text in a text element
Combining a value from a data set field with static text in a text element
Formatting dynamic values in a text element
Displaying data set field values that are stored as HTML text
11. Formatting Report Content
Formatting data
Formatting numeric data
Formatting numeric data in a data element
Formatting numeric data in a text element
Formatting date-and-time data
Formatting date-and-time data in a data element
Formatting date-and-time data in a text element
Formatting string data
Formatting text in a data element
Formatting text data in a text element
Formatting with styles
Creating styles
Importing styles
Applying a style
Modifying a style
Deleting a style
Formatting data based on conditions
Creating a formatting rule
Modifying a formatting rule
Creating multiple formatting rules
Deleting a formatting rule
Alternating row colors in a table
Specifying alignment of content in a table or grid
Aligning text horizontally
Aligning content vertically
Adjusting the spacing of content in a report
Resizing rows and columns
Resizing margins, borders, and padding of elements
Displaying content across multiple columns
Specifying alternate values for display
Hiding elements based on conditions
12. Sorting and Grouping Data
Sorting data
Ways to sort data
Sorting string data case-insensitively
Grouping data
Grouping data by intervals
Grouping string data by intervals
Grouping numeric data by intervals
Grouping date-and-time data by intervals
Sorting data at the group level
Creating multiple groups
Changing the order of groups
Adding group headings
Displaying group headings in the detail row
Specifying expressions for group headings
Tutorial 2: Grouping report data
Task 1: Open the report design
Task 2: Save the report as a new file
Task 3: Add the credit limit field to the data set
Task 4: Add credit limit data to the report
Task 5: Group customer data by credit limit
Task 6: Display credit limit ranges in the group header
Task 7: Display aggregate information
Task 8: Format the report
Remove credit limit data from the detail rows
Display group headings on the first row of each group
Separate each group with a line
Task 9: Preview the report in the BIRT report viewer
Task 10: Display credit limit ranges in the table of contents
13. Aggregating Data
Types of aggregate calculations
Placing aggregate data
Writing aggregate expressions
Accessing aggregate functions in the expression builder
Filtering aggregate data
Excluding null values from an aggregate calculation
Counting rows that contain unique values
Getting an aggregate value from another group
Calculating percentages
Calculating the product’s total sales as a percentage of a state’s total sales
Calculating the state’s total sales as a percentage of the overall sales
Displaying the percentage values in the correct format
Creating a summary report
14. Writing Expressions
Basic concepts
Data types
Case sensitivity
Multiline expressions
Using Expression Builder
Manipulating numeric data
Computing values from multiple numeric fields
Order of precedence
Division by zero
Converting a number to a string
Manipulating string data
Substituting string values
Combining values from multiple fields
Removing null values from combined fields
Getting parts of a string
Matching string patterns
Using pattern-matching in filter conditions
Using pattern-matching to search for and replace string values
Converting a string to a number
Manipulating date-and-time data
Displaying the current date
Getting parts of a date or time as a number
Calculating the time between two dates
Calculating a date
Using Boolean expressions
15. Filtering Data
Filtering opportunities
Specifying conditions on row retrieval
Filtering database data
Types of SQL filter conditions
Filtering XML data
Filtering data after row retrieval
Deciding where to filter in BIRT
Types of BIRT filter conditions
Creating a filter condition
Creating multiple filter conditions
16. Enabling the User to Filter Data
About report parameters
Planning to use report parameters
Ways to enable user filtering
Enabling the user to filter at query run time
Task 1: Creating a report parameter
Task 2: Inserting a parameter marker in the SQL query
Task 3: Creating a data set parameter and binding it to the report parameter
Enabling the user to filter after running the query
Task 1: Creating a report parameter
Task 2: Updating a filter condition when the report runs
Designing the presentation of report parameters
Providing a default value
Providing the user with a list of values
Creating a static list of values
Creating a dynamic list of values
Formatting report parameter values
Enabling the user to specify null or blank values
Organizing report parameters in groups
Creating cascading report parameters
Changing the order in which report parameters appear
Testing the report parameters
17. Building a Report That Contains Subreports
Creating the report structure
Building a report with independent subreports
Building a report with linked subreports
Creating the structure of a report with linked subreports
Linking master and detail reports
Tutorial 3: Building a report with side-by-side subreports
Task 1: Create a new report
Task 2: Build a data source
Task 3: Build a data set for the customer report
Task 4: Build a data set for the orders subreport
Task 5: Build a data set for the payments subreport
Task 6: Create the customer master report
Task 7: Create the orders subreport
Task 8: Link the orders subreport to the customers master report
Task 9: Create the payments subreport
Task 10: Link the payments subreport to the customers master report
Task 11: Display only customers that have orders or payments
Task 12: Display the subreports next to one another
Task 13: Format the report
Highlight the customer names
Edit the column headings
Change the date formats
Change the number formats
Increase the vertical space between elements
Increase the horizontal space between the orders and payments tables
Add borders around the tables
Increase the space between the table borders and contents
18. Using a Chart in a Report
Tutorial 4: Creating a chart
Task 1: Set up the report design file
Task 2: Add the chart to the report
Task 3: Providing data for a chart
Task 4: View the chart
Task 5: Updating the chart title
Task 6: Refine the chart appearance
Next steps
Exploring the chart builder
Select Chart Type
Select Data
Format Chart
Series section
Chart area section
Axis section
Plot section
Legend section
Positioning a chart
Understanding types of charts
About area charts
About bar charts
About line charts
About meter charts
About pie charts
About scatter charts
About stock charts
Understanding chart output formats
19. Displaying Data in Charts
Understanding chart data concepts
Using expressions to set up chart series
Selecting a chart data set
Aggregating information for a chart
Setting up an expression in the chart builder
Formatting the data that an expression returns
Defining series expressions in different chart types
Defining series in an area, bar, or line chart
Defining series in a meter chart
Defining series in a pie chart
Defining series in a scatter chart
Defining series in a stock chart
Defining series in a combination chart
Sorting category series or base series data
Grouping category data
Working with data on a chart axis
Understanding value and category axes
Defining the axis data type and number format
Defining where one axis intersects the other
Defining the scale of an axis
Using multiple y-axes
Transposing the chart axes
Setting chart data preview preferences
20. Laying Out and Formatting a Chart
Laying out and formatting the chart area
Setting the background color for a chart
Outlining a chart
Setting the wall or floor color of a chart
Adding padding around the chart
Formatting the chart plot, title, and legend areas
Working with the plot area
Setting the color, outline, or shadow for the plot
Placing and adding space around the plot
Specifying the plot size
Working with the chart title
Formatting title text
Setting a background color, outline, or shadow for the title
Placing or adding padding around a chart title
Working with the legend
Setting the color, outline, or shadow for the legend
Hiding a legend
Placing and adding space around a legend
Showing series item values in a legend
Formatting the text that appears in the legend
Adding a legend title
Formatting an axis
Working with an axis title
Working with axis markers
Adding an axis marker
Formatting axis markers
Working with an axis line
Working with axis labels
Formatting a series
Setting the series type
Hiding a series
Making a series translucent
Setting the color palette for a series
Adding and formatting a curve-fitting line
Stacking series
Working with different series types
Setting the series depth of a chart with depth or a three-dimensional chart
Formatting a three-dimensional chart
Working with chart rotation
Working with the space between elements in a three-dimensional series
Formatting an area-chart series
Formatting a bar-chart series
Formatting a line or a scatter-chart series
Formatting a meter-chart series
Working with dial size
Working with dial scale and markings
Working with needle settings
Arranging multiple meters
Working with meter-chart labels
Working with dial regions
Formatting a pie chart series
Changing the shape of a pie
Working with pie sectors
Working with explosion settings for a pie chart
Working with leader lines
Arranging multiple pies in a pie chart
Formatting a stock-chart series
Working with data points and data point labels
Using styles to format a chart
V. Enhancing Reports
21. Designing a Multipage Report
Planning the page layout
Controlling pagination
Inserting page breaks
Inserting page breaks in a report with multiple sections and groups
Inserting page breaks in a master-detail report
Specifying the number of rows per page
Customizing the master page
Viewing the master page
Designing the page header and footer
Displaying page numbers, the current date, and other text
Displaying an image
Specifying a header size
Specifying a footer size
Excluding header content from the first page
Displaying an image in the background
Designing the appearance of the background image
Positioning the background image
Displaying different content in a PDF and HTML report
Specifying page size, orientation, and margins
Using multiple master pages
22. Adding Interactive Viewing Features
Creating hyperlinks
Linking two sections in a report
Linking to a section in a different report
Linking to external content using a URI
Creating a table of contents
Adding interactive chart features
Adding interactivity events and actions
Linking a chart to a report
Exporting report data
23. Building a Shared Report Development Framework
Comparing report designs, libraries, and templates
About the report design file type
About the library file type
About the template file type
Sharing report elements in a library
Dynamic library behavior
Sharing styles
Understanding library name space
Designing libraries for a shared environment
Defining a general library
Defining a structures library
Defining a project library
Understanding the resource folder
Using a library
Creating a library
Accessing report items from a library in a report design
Making local changes to a library element in a report design
Using themes and styles from a library
Sharing a report layout as a template
Developing a custom template
Designing template report items
Publishing a template
Using a custom template
24. Localizing Text
Overview of the localization process
Assigning a resource file to a report
Assigning a resource key to a label or text element
Changing localized text in a label or text element to static text
Assigning a resource key to chart text
Changing localized chart text to static text
Assigning a resource key to a report parameter
Editing a resource file
Previewing a report in different locales
Glossary
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8. Binding Data
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9. Laying Out a Report
Part IV. Designing Reports
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