Report Set Manager

All created report set files (.cls) are physically placed in the same directory where the catalog file resides. Due to this, you will not be able to get detailed information about a report set until it is opened in JReport Designer. For example, if you want to find a report set with a special condition, you will have to load each report set. For just a few report sets, this is not a problem. However, the case is different when there are many report sets.

JReport provides you with a tool for managing report sets by means of adding them into folders with the Report Set Manager (the Report Sets tab of the Catalog Browser). It helps you divide the report sets into different types at your disposal. You can build folder items in the manager, helping you to divide the report sets into different types at your disposal. Then, the report sets can be added to the folder, and worked on just like processing files in a file system--add, open, delete, move, rename and search items. In all, the feature of report set folder implemented in catalogs enables you to manage your report sets in a way that can better satisfy your requirements.

The following are some concepts used in the Report Set Manager:

• Folder Item: A container in which you can operate report set items or sub folder items.
• Report Set Item: This represents a report set. You can edit name, keywords and description properties of this item.

In the Report Set Manager, you can manage your report sets as follows:

Adding an item

To add a folder item to the Report Set Manager:

1. In the Report Sets tab of the Catalog Browser, select a folder and right-click it.
2. Select Add Folder from the shortcut menu.

Now, a new folder will have been added as a sub node, and the default name for the folder is Folder1, Folder2.... However, you can rename the folder as required. To do this, right-click the folder item and select Rename from the shortcut menu, then type a new name in the name box, and then click outside the box (or just press Enter on your keyboard).

To add a report set item to the Report Set Manager:

1. In the Report Sets tab of the Catalog Browser, right-click the folder to which you want to add the report set.
2. On the shortcut menu, click Add Report Set.
3. In the Choose Report Set dialog, select a report set. Here you can select multiple report sets at a time. Then, click Open.

Now, the selected report set will have been added to the specified folder. You can double-click any report set item in the Report Set Manager to open the report set. The default name of the report set item is the file name of the report set. However, you can give the item another name according to your requirements as you would with a folder item.

A report set can be added to multiple folders in case you want to include it in multiple categories.

Searching for a report set item

Wildcard searches for report set name in the Report Set Manager are supported. To search a report set item, follow the steps below:

1. In the Report Sets tab of the Catalog Browser, select a folder item and right-click it.
2. Click Search on the shortcut menu to display the Search Reports dialog. See the dialog.

   

3. Specify the search condition according to your requirements, and then click the Search Now button to start searching. Matched results will be listed in the search result box.
4. If you want to start another search, click the New Search button and set the condition using the method described above.

Exporting the report set information to a table

You can export report set information in the Report Set Manager to a table in a DBMS. The default name of the table is ReportsInfo. You can change the name as required. Each row of the table is a report set description. To do this:

1. In the Report Sets tab of the Catalog Browser, select the root folder Reports and right-click it.
2. On the shortcut menu, click Export. The Get JDBC Connection Information dialog will then appear.
3. Fill in the required fields, and then click the OK button.
4. Give a name for the table, and then click OK in the Input dialog.

Moving an item to another folder

Any items added to the Report Set Manager can be moved to another folder according to your requirements. To so this:

1. In the Report Sets tab of the Catalog Browser, select the item that you want to move and right-click it.
2. Click Move to on the shortcut menu.
3. The Move Reports dialog will then appear. All the available folders will be listed in the dialog.
4. Select the folder you want the item to be moved to, and click OK. The item will then be moved to that folder.

Deleting items

By using the Catalog Browser, you can delete a report set from the file system.

To delete a report set or a folder or multiple items:

1. In the Report Sets tab of the Catalog Browser, select the report set or the folder or the multiple items on the Reports tree, and then take either of the following ways:
   • Press the Delete key on the keyboard.
   • Click the Delete button on the toolbar of the Catalog Browser.
   • Right-click and select Delete from the shortcut menu.
2. A Warning message box is displayed. Check the option Also delete report files from file system if you want to remove them from your local directory permanently. Otherwise leave the option unchecked and only remove the items from the virtual tree.
3. Click Yes in the box. If a report set is selected, the report set will be deleted. If a folder is selected, the folder and all its contents will be removed.

If a report set is deleted manually from the local file system, later when you open the Catalog Browser, you will see the node icon that represents the report set is marked with a red cross. You can use the above method to remove the unused node.