Home > Store

BIRT: A Field Guide to Reporting, 2nd Edition

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

BIRT: A Field Guide to Reporting, 2nd Edition

Book

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Not for Sale

Description

  • Copyright 2009
  • Dimensions: 7" x 9-1/4"
  • Pages: 800
  • Edition: 2nd
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-321-58027-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-321-58027-6

The world-wide developer community has downloaded over three million copies of BIRT (Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools) from the Eclipse web site. Built on the open-source Eclipse platform, BIRT is a powerful reporting system that provides an end-to-end solution, from creating and deploying reports to integrating report capabilities in enterprise applications.

The first in a two-book series about this exciting technology, BIRT, Second Edition: A Field Guide to Reporting is the authoritative guide to using BIRT Report Designer, the graphical tool that enables users of all levels to build reports, simple to sophisticated, without any programming.

BIRT, Second Edition: A Field Guide to Reporting is an essential resource for users who want to create presentation quality reports from day one. The extensive examples, step-by-step instructions, and abundant illustrations help new users develop their report design skills quickly. Power users can find the information they need to make the most of the product’s rich set of features to build complex and compelling reports. By the time you finish this book, you learn the following and more

  • Design effective business and corporate reports that convey information through images, charts, tables, and cross tabs
  • Build reports using data from a variety of sources, including databases, XML documents, spreadsheets, and web services
  • Enliven reports with interactive features, such as hyperlinks, Tooltips, and highlighting
  • Create consistently styled reports and collaborate with other report designers through the use of templates and libraries of reusable elements
  • Localize reports for an international audience

This second edition, revised and expanded, adds updated examples and covers all the new and improved product features, including

  • Cross tabs and OLAP cubes
  • New chart types, including Gantt, bubble, tube, and cone charts
  • Web services as a new data source
  • New report output formats, including doc, ppt, xls, and PostScript
  • The capability for reports to reference CSS
  • Localization of report parameter and data values

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Planning Your BIRT Report

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages

Table of Contents

Foreword          xix
Preface            xxiii
Acknowledgments               xxix


Part I: Installing BIRT                          1
Chapter 1: Prerequisites for BIRT                       3

Downloading Eclipse BIRT components        3
BIRT Report Designer software requirements        5
About types of BIRT builds          7

Chapter 2: Installing a BIRT Report Designer          9
Installing BIRT Report Designer Full Eclipse Install        9
Installing BIRT RCP Report Designer         10
Troubleshooting installation problems          11
Installing a language pack        13
Updating a BIRT Report Designer installation        14
Updating BIRT RCP Report Designer installation        15

Part II: Getting Started                           17
Chapter 3: Learning the Basics                 19

About BIRT reports          19
Overview of the report design process             19
About the report design environment                21
Viewing sample reports                   30
Tutorial 1: Building a simple listing report               32

Chapter 4: Planning Your Report                             53
Identifying the content of the report                     54
Determining how the report will be viewed                   55
Considering international reporting requirements                   56
Deciding the layout and format of the report                    56
Drawing a mock-up                    58
Considering reuse of report components                  58
Managing report design resources                        59
Deciding how the report will be deployed                  59

Part III: Accessing and Binding Data                                   61
Chapter 5: Connecting to a Data Source                              63

About BIRT data sources                    63
Accessing data using JDBC                 64
Accessing data in a text file                   70
Accessing data in an XML file               73
Accessing a web service                        74
Creating reusable data sources                76
Setting connection properties when a report runs             81
Troubleshooting data source problems                    87

Chapter 6: Retrieving Data                                  89
About data sets             89
Selecting data                 90
Viewing and changing output columns             110
Adding a computed field to a data set              111
Joining data sets              113
Verifying the data returned by a data set           115
Specifying the data to retrieve at run time          116

Chapter 7: Binding Data                                      119
Understanding column bindings                     119
Creating column bindings                       122
Editing and deleting column bindings                 124
Copying data elements                  125
More about column-binding expressions                126

Part IV: Designing Reports                   129
Chapter 8: Laying Out a Report              131

Understanding the layout model               131
Creating the sections of a report                134
Placing report elements              142

Chapter 9: Displaying Text                     153
Types of textual elements               153
Deciding which textual element to use             155
Using a dynamic text element                       158
Using a label element                      159
Using a text element                       160

Chapter 10: Formatting Report Content                         165
Formatting data                  166
Formatting with styles                     172
Formatting data based on conditions             182
Alternating row colors in a table                     187
Specifying alignment of content in a table or grid             190
Adjusting the spacing of content in a report                     191
Specifying fixed layout for HTML output             196
Displaying content across multiple columns               199
Specifying alternate values for display                 201
Hiding elements based on conditions              203

Chapter 11: Sorting and Grouping Data                     207
Sorting data                208
Grouping data            212
Tutorial 2: Grouping report data            231
Task 8: Format the report                 246
Task 9: Preview the report in the BIRT report viewer             248
Task 10: Display credit limit ranges in the table of contents                249

Chapter 12: Aggregating Data                       253
Types of aggregate calculations                        254
Placing aggregate data                  257
Creating an aggregation                 259
Filtering aggregate data                   265
Calculating percentages                267
Creating a summary report              271

Chapter 13: Writing Expressions                        277
Basic concepts                278
Using the expression builder              279
Manipulating numeric data                282
Manipulating string data                    284
Manipulating date-and-time data        292
Using Boolean expressions                 294

Chapter 14: Filtering Data                                     297
Filtering opportunities                 297
Specifying conditions on row retrieval             298
Filtering data after row retrieval                     302

Chapter 15: Enabling the User to Filter Data                  315
About report parameters                315
Planning to use report parameters            317
Ways to enable user filtering                   317
Enabling the user to filter at query run time                317
Enabling the user to filter after running the query                   325
Designing the presentation of report parameters                  328
Testing the report parameters                349
Tutorial 3: Creating and using report parameters                350

Chapter 16: Building a Report That Contains Subreports                            367
Creating the report structure                368
Tutorial 4: Building a report containing side-by-side subreports              372

Chapter 17: Using a Chart                   409
Surveying the types of charts                 409
Tutorial 5: Creating a standalone chart                     416
Exploring the chart builder                   430
Using a chart as part of a report              433

Chapter 18: Displaying Data in Charts                        437
Linking a data set to a chart                 437
Understanding the axes of a chart                438
Grouping and sorting category data                 442
Grouping optional Y value data                   446
Using multiple y-axes                 450
Transposing the chart axes               450
Filtering data             451
Changing default report parameters             452
Creating data bindings                 452
Previewing data and chart             453
Creating a combination chart                455
Defining a meter chart              456

Chapter 19: Laying Out and Formatting a Chart                       459
Formatting specific types of charts                   460
Formatting a pie chart                     470
Laying out and formatting the chart               477
Formatting numbers, dates, and times             482
Formatting the chart legend, plot, and title           485
Formatting axis titles, markers, lines, and labels             496
Formatting a series                507

Chapter 20: Presenting Data in a Cross Tab                      515
Tutorial 6: Creating a cross tab                   516
Understanding cube terms                532
Setting up data for a cross tab              533
Building a cross tab                    543

Part V: Enhancing Reports                      557
Chapter 21: Designing a Multipage Report                    559

Planning the page layout                559
Controlling pagination                     560
Customizing the master page          566
Using multiple master pages              577

Chapter 22: Adding Interactive Viewing Features                         581
Creating hyperlinks                581
Creating a table of contents             591
Adding interactive chart features             594
Adding interactive elements to an HTML report             598
Identifying report elements for data export                  600

Chapter 23: Building a Shared Report Development Framework                    603
Comparing report designs, libraries, and templates                     604
Sharing report elements in a library                        606
Sharing a report layout as a template                       622

Chapter 24: Localizing Text                                   629
Overview of the localization process               630
Assigning a resource file to a report                  631
Assigning a resource key to a label or text element                633
Changing localized text in a label or text element to static text             634
Assigning a resource key to chart text                     635
Changing localized chart text to static text                     636
Assigning a resource key to a value in a data element                  637
Assigning a resource key to a report parameter             639
Editing a resource file               641
Previewing a report in different locales              642

Glossary                                645

Index                                      707


Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020