Thoughts Decoded

JasperReports is the world’s most popular open source Java reporting library. You can easily embed it into any Java application to deliver sophisticated print or web reporting. You can also use it to create output to files for further processing in applications like Excel. For users with more sophisticated report management requirements, reports designed for JasperReports can be easily migrated to the JasperSoft stand-alone report server, JasperDecisions.

Working Of Jasper Reports

1. To generate jasper report we require a JRXML file also called template .
2. JRXML file contains the report structure information.
3. JRXML file parse by JRXmlLoader and convert it into JasperDesign Object.
4. JasperDesign Object contains only design information of the report.
5. After compiling JasperDesign Object using JRCompiler it gets converted into Jasper Report without Data .
6. Now Data filled into empty JasperReport Object using RS(Result Set) and it will be converted into JasperPrint Object .
7. Form JasperPrint Object you have two options
1. JasperPrintManager :- From which you can print the report or view the report on the screen
2. JasperExportManager : From this you can Export report in HTML, PDF ,XlS format.

Flexible Report Layout

JasperReports enables you to create almost any kind of report imaginable. Reports are built from a num­ber of independently defined and formatted sections: Title, Page Header, Column Header, Group Header, Detail, Group Footer, Column Footer, Page Footer, and Summary. A report can contain any number of nested groups. On each group break, JasperReports inserts a Group Footer and the Group Header for the next group automatically, enabling multiple levels of sub-totals.

Sections can contain layout elements like lines, rect­angles, images, and static or dynamic text fields, as well as source data and computed data. All report ele­ments can be precisely positioned and sized, allowing for pixel-perfect printed and web-based report layouts Both single- and multiple-column reports are available. Data can be presented in flexible free-form, tabular, crosstab (matrix), or chart formats.

JasperReports easily handles the most complex re­port requirements through its support for sub reports. Any report can be used as a sub report within another report, and any number of sub-reports can be nested inside a report. Sub-reports can in turn contain other sub-reports down to any level of nesting desired, en­abling arbitrarily complex report layouts.

Flexible Output Options

JasperReports delivers operational information to wherever you need it: onto the screen, onto the printer, and to other applications. Output formats include PDF, HTML, XLS, CSV, RTF (Word), TXT or XML files. Many JasperSoft customers use Microsoft Excel for further manipulation of the report data. JasperReports pro­vides an embeddable Java Swing viewer for viewing report output and the report design.
“till now we were writing separate code for generating PDF, HTML , XLS but with introduction of Jasper Reports ,by using single JAR file & bunch of codes we can easily generate PDF , HTML, XLS ”.