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Birt : A Field Guide to Reporting

by: Peh, Diana; Hannemann, Alethea; Hague, Nola

Birt : A Field Guide to Reporting

by: Peh, Diana; Hannemann, Alethea; Hague, Nola

ISBN 13:
9780321442598
ISBN 10:
0321442598
Edition: 1st
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 10/26/2006
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
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Summary

The first book on BIRT for users of this new Eclipse-based, open source business reporting tool, written by the creators of the technology.

Foreword

xvii

Preface

xxi

About this book

xxi

Who should read this book

xxi

Contents of this book

xxii

Typographical conventions

xxvi

Acknowledgments

xxvii

Part I Installing BIRT

(18)

Prerequisites for BIRT

(6)

Requirements for the BIRT report designers

(4)

About installing required software

(1)

BIRT RCP Report Designer software requirements

(1)

BIRT Report Designer Full Eclipse Install software requirements

(1)

BIRT Report Designer software requirements

(1)

About types of BIRT builds

(2)

Installing a BIRT Report Designer

(8)

Installing BIRT Report Designer

(1)

Downloading and installing BIRT Report Designer

(1)

Installing the auxiliary file for BIRT Report Designer

(1)

Testing the BIRT Report Designer installation

(1)

Installing BIRT Report Designer Full Eclipse Install

(1)

Downloading and installing BIRT Report Designer Full Eclipse Install

(1)

Installing the auxiliary file for BIRT Report Designer

(1)

Installing BIRT RCP Report Designer

(2)

Downloading and installing BIRT RCP Report Designer

(1)

Installing the auxiliary file for BIRT Report Designer

(1)

Testing the BIRT RCP Report Designer installation

(1)

Troubleshooting installation problems

(1)

Avoiding cache conflicts after you install a BIRT report designer

(1)

Specifying which Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to use when you start a BIRT report designer

(1)

Installing a language pack

(2)

Updating a BIRT Installation

(2)

Using the Eclipse Update Manager to update BIRT Report Designer installation

(1)

Updating BIRT RCP Report Designer installation

(1)

Part II Getting Started

(42)

Learning the Basics

(32)

About BIRT reports

(1)

Overview of the report design process

(2)

About the report design environment

(9)

Starting BIRT Report Designer

(2)

Report design views

(1)

Report editor

(1)

Palette

(1)

Data Explorer

(1)

Library Explorer

(1)

Property Editor

(1)

Navigator

(1)

Outline

(1)

Problems

(1)

Report design files

(1)

Report output formats

(1)

Previewing a report

(1)

Tutorial 1: Building a simple listing report

(21)

Task 1: Create a new project

(2)

Task 2: Create a new report

(2)

Task 3: Build a data source

(1)

Task 4: Build a data set

(3)

Task 5: Lay out the report

(3)

Task 6: Sort the data

(1)

Task 7: Format the report

(1)

Edit the column headings

(1)

Format the column headings

(3)

Display first and last names on the same line

(1)

Increase the space between rows

(1)

Task 8: Create a report title

(2)

Next steps

(1)

Planning Your Report

(8)

Identifying the content of the report

(1)

Determining how the report will be viewed

(1)

Considering international reporting requirements

(1)

Deciding the layout and format of the report

(2)

Drawing a mock-up

(1)

Considering reuse of report components

(1)

Managing report design resources

(1)

Deciding how the report will be deployed

(2)

Part III Accessing and Binding Data

(52)

Connecting to a Data Source

(18)

Working with data sources

(3)

Accessing data using JDBC

(6)

Preparing to access a database

(1)

Creating a JDBC data source

(2)

Managing JDBC drivers

(1)

Adding a JDBC driver

(2)

Deleting a JDBC driver

(1)

Restoring JDBC drivers

(1)

Accessing data in text files

(3)

Preparing to access your text file

(1)

Text file rules

(1)

Text file data types

(1)

Creating a flat file data source

(1)

Accessing XML data

(1)

Preparing to access XML data

(1)

Creating an XML data source

(1)

Setting connection properties when a report runs

(2)

Troubleshooting data source problems

(2)

Retrieving Data

(24)

Creating a BIRT data set

(4)

Changing the data source for a data set

(1)

Deleting a data set

(1)

Selecting data

(11)

Using a SQL query to retrieve data

(1)

Creating a SQL query using SELECT

(1)

Combining data from multiple tables

(3)

Using a stored procedure to retrieve data

(2)

Specifying what data to retrieve from a text file

(1)

Specifying what data to retrieve from an XML data source

(4)

Viewing and changing output columns

(1)

Previewing a data set

(1)

Adding a computed field to a data set

(2)

Joining data sets

100

(2)

Using additional data set options

102

(3)

Creating a dynamic query

102

(1)

Setting data set cache preferences

103

(2)

Binding Data

105

(8)

Understanding column bindings

106

(2)

Descriptive names

107

(1)

Dynamic updates of calculated data

107

(1)

Creating column bindings

108

(3)

Editing and deleting column bindings

111

(1)

More about column-binding expressions

111

(2)

Part IV Designing Reports

113

(362)

Laying Out a Report

115

(18)

Understanding the layout model

115

(3)

About the report layout elements

117

(1)

Overview of the layout process

117

(1)

Creating the sections of a report

118

(7)

Organizing elements in a grid

118

(1)

Adding rows and columns

119

(1)

Deleting rows and columns

120

(1)

Organizing elements in a table

120

(1)

Deciding where to place elements in a table

121

(1)

Binding a table to a data set

122

(1)

Adjusting table rows and columns

123

(1)

Organizing elements in a list

123

(1)

Deciding where to place elements in a list

124

(1)

Binding a list to a data set

125

(1)

Placing report elements

125

(8)

Placing report elements side by side

126

(1)

Inserting data set fields

127

(1)

Inserting computed fields

127

(2)

Inserting images

129

(4)

Displaying Text

133

(12)

Types of textual elements

133

(2)

Deciding which textual element to use

135

(3)

Using a dynamic text element

138

(1)

Using a label element

139

(1)

Using a text element

140

(5)

Applying multiple style formats in a text element

141

(1)

Combining a JavaScript expression with static text in a text element

141

(1)

Combining a value from a data set field with static text in a text element

142

(1)

Formatting dynamic values in a text element

143

(1)

Displaying data set field values that are stored as HTML text

143

(2)

Formatting Report Content

145

(34)

Formatting data

146

(6)

Formatting numeric data

147

(1)

Formatting numeric data in a data element

147

(1)

Formatting numeric data in a text element

148

(1)

Formatting date-and-time data

149

(1)

Formatting date-and-time data in a data element

149

(1)

Formatting date-and-time data in a text element

150

(1)

Formatting string data

150

(1)

Formatting text in a data element

150

(2)

Formatting text data in a text element

152

(1)

Formatting with styles

152

(6)

Creating styles

153

(3)

Importing styles

156

(2)

Applying a style

158

(1)

Modifying a style

158

(1)

Deleting a style

158

(1)

Formatting data based on conditions

158

(5)

Creating a formatting rule

159

(2)

Modifying a formatting rule

161

(1)

Creating multiple formatting rules

162

(1)

Deleting a formatting rule

163

(1)

Alternating row colors in a table

163

(2)

Specifying alignment of content in a table or grid

165

(1)

Aligning text horizontally

165

(1)

Aligning content vertically

165

(1)

Adjusting the spacing of content in a report

166

(5)

Resizing rows and columns

168

(2)

Resizing margins, borders, and padding of elements

170

(1)

Displaying content across multiple columns

171

(2)

Specifying alternate values for display

173

(2)

Hiding elements based on conditions

175

(4)

Sorting and Grouping Data

179

(40)

Sorting data

180

(3)

Ways to sort data

181

(2)

Sorting string data case-insensitively

183

(1)

Grouping data

183

(19)

Grouping data by intervals

187

(2)

Grouping string data by intervals

189

(1)

Grouping numeric data by intervals

190

(1)

Grouping date-and-time data by intervals

191

(1)

Sorting data at the group level

192

(3)

Creating multiple groups

195

(2)

Changing the order of groups

197

(2)

Adding group headings

199

(1)

Displaying group headings in the detail row

200

(2)

Specifying expressions for group headings

202

(1)

Tutorial 2: Grouping report data

202

(17)

Task 1: Open the report design

203

(1)

Task 2: Save the report as a new file

204

(1)

Task 3: Add the credit limit field to the data set

204

(1)

Task 4: Add credit limit data to the report

205

(1)

Task 5: Group customer data by credit limit

206

(3)

Task 6: Display credit limit ranges in the group header

209

(1)

Task 7: Display aggregate information

210

(3)

Task 8: Format the report

213

(1)

Remove credit limit data from the detail rows

213

(1)

Display group headings on the first row of each group

213

(2)

Separate each group with a line

215

(1)

Task 9: Preview the report in the BIRT report viewer

215

(1)

Task 10: Display credit limit ranges in the table of contents

216

(3)

Aggregating Data

219

(18)

Types of aggregate calculations

220

(2)

Placing aggregate data

222

(2)

Writing aggregate expressions

224

(2)

Accessing aggregate functions in the expression builder

226

(1)

Filtering aggregate data

227

(2)

Excluding null values from an aggregate calculation

228

(1)

Counting rows that contain unique values

228

(1)

Getting an aggregate value from another group

229

(2)

Calculating percentages

231

(3)

Creating a summary report

234

(3)

Writing Expressions

237

(20)

Basic concepts

238

(1)

Data types

238

(1)

Case sensitivity

238

(1)

Multiline expressions

239

(1)

Using Expression Builder

239

(3)

Manipulating numeric data

242

(3)

Computing values from multiple numeric fields

242

(1)

Order of precedence

242

(1)

Division by zero

243

(1)

Converting a number to a string

244

(1)

Manipulating string data

245

(7)

Substituting string values

245

(1)

Combining values from multiple fields

246

(1)

Removing null values from combined fields

247

(1)

Getting parts of a string

247

(2)

Matching string patterns

249

(2)

Using pattern-matching in filter conditions

251

(1)

Using pattern-matching to search for and replace string values

251

(1)

Converting a string to a number

252

(1)

Manipulating date-and-time data

252

(2)

Displaying the current date

253

(1)

Getting parts of a date or time as a number

253

(1)

Calculating the time between two dates

253

(1)

Calculating a date

254

(1)

Using Boolean expressions

254

(3)

Filtering Data

257

(18)

Filtering opportunities

257

(1)

Specifying conditions on row retrieval

258

(4)

Filtering database data

258

(1)

Types of SQL filter conditions

259

(1)

Filtering XML data

260

(2)

Filtering data after row retrieval

262

(13)

Deciding where to filter in BIRT

262

(3)

Types of BIRT filter conditions

265

(2)

Creating a filter condition

267

(5)

Creating multiple filter conditions

272

(3)

Enabling the User to Filter Data

275

(36)

About report parameters

275

(2)

Planning to use report parameters

277

(1)

Ways to enable user filtering

277

(1)

Enabling the user to filter at query run time

278

(7)

Task 1: Creating a report parameter

278

(2)

Task 2: Inserting a parameter marker in the SQL query

280

(1)

Task 3: Creating a data set parameter and binding it to the report parameter

281

(4)

Enabling the user to filter after running the query

285

(2)

Task 1: Creating a report parameter

285

(1)

Task 2: Updating a filter condition when the report runs

285

(2)

Designing the presentation of report parameters

287

(21)

Providing a default value

289

(1)

Providing the user with a list of values

290

(1)

Creating a static list of values

291

(3)

Creating a dynamic list of values

294

(2)

Formatting report parameter values

296

(1)

Enabling the user to specify null or blank values

297

(1)

Organizing report parameters in groups

298

(3)

Creating cascading report parameters

301

(7)

Changing the order in which report parameters appear

308

(1)

Testing the report parameters

308

(3)

Building a Report That Contains Subreports

311

(38)

Creating the report structure

312

(4)

Building a report with independent subreports

312

(1)

Building a report with linked subreports

313

(1)

Creating the structure of a report with linked subreports

314

(1)

Linking master and detail reports

315

(1)

Tutorial 3: Building a report with side-by-side subreports

316

(33)

Task 1: Create a new report

318

(1)

Task 2: Build a data source

318

(1)

Task 3: Build a data set for the customer report

318

(2)

Task 4: Build a data set for the orders subreport

320

(2)

Task 5: Build a data set for the payments subreport

322

(1)

Task 6: Create the customer master report

323

(2)

Task 7: Create the orders subreport

325

(2)

Task 8: Link the orders subreport to the customers master report

327

(2)

Task 9: Create the payments subreport

329

(2)

Task 10: Link the payments subreport to the customers master report

331

(1)

Task 11: Display only customers that have orders or payments

332

(1)

Task 12: Display the subreports next to one another

333

(2)

Task 13: Format the report

335

(1)

Highlight the customer names

335

(1)

Edit the column headings

335

(1)

Change the date formats

336

(2)

Change the number formats

338

(2)

Increase the vertical space between elements

340

(4)

Increase the horizontal space between the orders and payments tables

344

(2)

Add borders around the tables

346

(1)

Increase the space between the table borders and contents

347

(2)

Using a Chart in a Report

349

(32)

Tutorial 4: Creating a chart

349

(16)

Task 1: Set up the report design file

350

(1)

Task 2: Add the chart to the report

351

(2)

Task 3: Providing data for a chart

353

(3)

Task 4: View the chart

356

(1)

Task 5: Updating the chart title

357

(2)

Task 6: Refine the chart appearance

359

(5)

Next steps

364

(1)

Exploring the chart builder

365

(8)

Select Chart Type

365

(1)

Select Data

366

(1)

Format Chart

367

(2)

Series section

369

(1)

Chart area section

370

(1)

Axis section

371

(1)

Plot section

371

(1)

Legend section

372

(1)

Positioning a chart

373

(1)

Understanding types of charts

374

(5)

About area charts

375

(1)

About bar charts

376

(1)

About line charts

377

(1)

About meter charts

377

(1)

About pie charts

378

(1)

About scatter charts

378

(1)

About stock charts

379

(1)

Understanding chart output formats

379

(2)

Displaying Data in Charts

381

(34)

Understanding chart data concepts

381

(2)

Using expressions to set up chart series

383

(6)

Selecting a chart data set

384

(1)

Aggregating information for a chart

385

(1)

Setting up an expression in the chart builder

386

(1)

Formatting the data that an expression returns

387

(2)

Defining series expressions in different chart types

389

(14)

Defining series in an area, bar, or line chart

389

(3)

Defining series in a meter chart

392

(3)

Defining series in a pie chart

395

(3)

Defining series in a scatter chart

398

(2)

Defining series in a stock chart

400

(2)

Defining series in a combination chart

402

(1)

Sorting category series or base series data

403

(1)

Grouping category data

404

(1)

Working with data on a chart axis

405

(7)

Understanding value and category axes

406

(1)

Defining the axis data type and number format

407

(1)

Defining where one axis intersects the other

408

(1)

Defining the scale of an axis

409

(1)

Using multiple y-axes

410

(1)

Transposing the chart axes

411

(1)

Setting chart data preview preferences

412

(3)

Laying Out and Formatting a Chart

415

(60)

Laying out and formatting the chart area

416

(6)

Setting the background color for a chart

417

(2)

Outlining a chart

419

(1)

Setting the wall or floor color of a chart

420

(1)

Adding padding around the chart

421

(1)

Formatting the chart plot, title, and legend areas

422

(17)

Working with the plot area

425

(1)

Setting the color, outline, or shadow for the plot

425

(2)

Placing and adding space around the plot

427

(1)

Specifying the plot size

428

(1)

Working with the chart title

429

(1)

Formatting title text

430

(1)

Setting a background color, outline, or shadow for the title

431

(1)

Placing or adding padding around a chart title

432

(1)

Working with the legend

433

(1)

Setting the color, outline, or shadow for the legend

433

(2)

Hiding a legend

435

(1)

Placing and adding space around a legend

435

(2)

Showing series item values in a legend

437

(1)

Formatting the text that appears in the legend

437

(1)

Adding a legend title

438

(1)

Formatting an axis

439

(9)

Working with an axis title

439

(1)

Working with axis markers

440

(1)

Adding an axis marker

441

(1)

Formatting axis markers

441

(2)

Working with an axis line

443

(2)

Working with axis labels

445

(3)

Formatting a series

448

(26)

Setting the series type

449

(1)

Hiding a series

449

(1)

Making a series translucent

449

(1)

Setting the color palette for a series

450

(2)

Adding and formatting a curve-fitting line

452

(2)

Stacking series

454

(1)

Working with different series types

455

(1)

Setting the series depth of a chart with depth or a three-dimensional chart

455

(1)

Formatting a three-dimensional chart

456

(1)

Formatting an area-chart series

457

(2)

Formatting a bar-chart series

459

(1)

Formatting a line or a scatter-chart series

459

(1)

Formatting a meter-chart series

460

(6)

Formatting a pie chart series

466

(5)

Formatting a stock-chart series

471

(1)

Working with data points and data point labels

472

(2)

Using styles to format a chart

474

(1)

Part V Enhancing Reports

475

(78)

Designing a Multipage Report

477

(20)

Planning the page layout

477

(1)

Controlling pagination

478

(7)

Inserting page breaks

478

(1)

Inserting page breaks in a report with multiple sections and groups

479

(3)

Inserting page breaks in a master-detail report

482

(2)

Specifying the number of rows per page

484

(1)

Customizing the master page

485

(9)

Viewing the master page

485

(1)

Designing the page header and footer

486

(1)

Displaying page numbers, the current date, and other text

486

(1)

Displaying an image

487

(1)

Specifying a header size

488

(1)

Specifying a footer size

488

(1)

Excluding header content from the first page

489

(1)

Displaying an image in the background

490

(2)

Designing the appearance of the background image

492

(1)

Positioning the background image

492

(1)

Displaying different content in a PDF and HTML report

493

(1)

Specifying page size, orientation, and margins

494

(1)

Using multiple master pages

494

(3)

Adding Interactive Viewing Features

497

(18)

Creating hyperlinks

497

(6)

Linking two sections in a report

498

(1)

Linking to a section in a different report

499

(2)

Linking to external content using a URI

501

(2)

Creating a table of contents

503

(2)

Adding interactive chart features

505

(6)

Adding interactivity events and actions

508

(2)

Linking a chart to a report

510

(1)

Exporting report data

511

(4)

Building a Shared Report Development Framework

515

(26)

Comparing report designs, libraries, and templates

516

(1)

About the report design file type

516

(1)

About the library file type

517

(1)

About the template file type

517

(1)

Sharing report elements in a library

517

(15)

Dynamic library behavior

519

(1)

Sharing styles

520

(2)

Understanding library name space

522

(1)

Designing libraries for a shared environment

522

(1)

Defining a general library

523

(1)

Defining a structures library

523

(1)

Defining a project library

524

(1)

Understanding the resource folder

525

(1)

Using a library

526

(2)

Creating a library

528

(1)

Accessing report items from a library in a report design

529

(1)

Making local changes to a library element in a report design

530

(1)

Using themes and styles from a library

531

(1)

Sharing a report layout as a template

532

(9)

Developing a custom template

534

(2)

Designing template report items

536

(1)

Publishing a template

537

(1)

Using a custom template

538

(3)

Localizing Text

541

(12)

Overview of the localization process

542

(1)

Assigning a resource file to a report

543

(2)

Assigning a resource key to a label or text element

545

(1)

Changing localized text in a label or text element to static text

546

(1)

Assigning a resource key to chart text

546

(2)

Changing localized chart text to static text

548

(1)

Assigning a resource key to a report parameter

549

(1)

Editing a resource file

550

(1)

Previewing a report in different locales

550

(3)

Glossary

553

(60)

Index

613

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Birt : A Field Guide to Reporting

Birt : A Field Guide to Reporting

9780321442598

0321442598

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Excerpts

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Birt : A Field Guide to Reporting

Birt : A Field Guide to Reporting

9780321442598

0321442598

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Excerpts

Write a Review

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