iReport Tutorial (part 3) - Calling Report From Java Application

In the previous tutorial, you've learnt how to create a report with iReport. You must be realized that the report can only be executed from iReport. But, in the real case that report should be able to be executed from the other application (usually Java application). How we do this?

Setting CLASSPATH

The first thing you have to do is set your CLASSPATH environment variable. Why? Because Java needs to load some libraries which are needed to execute that report. Those libraries are:

• jasperreports-2.0.4.jar
• commons-digester-1.7.jar
• commons-logging-1.0.2.jar
• commons-collections-2.1.jar
• mysql-connector-java-3.1.11-bin.jar

If you are a Linux user, you can set your CLASSPATH by typing this command from your Linux console (I assume your iReport installation directory is /usr/local).

export "CLASSPATH=.:/usr/local/iReport-2.0.4/lib/jasperreports-2.0.4.jar:\
 /usr/local/iReport-2.0.4/lib/commons-digester-1.7.jar:\
 /usr/local/iReport-2.0.4/lib/commons-logging-1.0.2.jar:\
 /usr/local/iReport-2.0.4/lib/commons-collections-2.1.jar:\
 /usr/local/iReport-2.0.4/lib/mysql-connector-java-3.1.11-bin.jar"

But, if you are a Windows user, you can use set CLASSPATH=[your class path] from the command prompt utility.

Write Your Code

Let's move on! Next step is writting your Java code. This code will call the report that we've made in the previous tutorial. To make it easier, I'll give you all the code so you can copy-paste and modify it if necessary. I named this file viewReport.java, but you can use another name that you prefer.

import javax.swing.*; import java.awt.*; import java.awt.event.*; import net.sf.jasperreports.view.*; import net.sf.jasperreports.engine.*; import java.sql.*; public class viewReport extends JFrame implements ActionListener{ JasperPrint JPrint; JButton btnShowReport; JButton btnAbout; JButton btnExit; // INITIALIZE GUI COMPONENTS public void initComponent(){ btnShowReport=new JButton("SHOW REPORT"); btnShowReport.setMnemonic('S'); btnShowReport.addActionListener(this); btnAbout=new JButton("ABOUT"); btnAbout.setMnemonic('A'); btnAbout.addActionListener(this); btnExit=new JButton("EXIT"); btnExit.setMnemonic('X'); btnExit.addActionListener(this); } // DESIGN THE FORM public void design(){ setTitle("View Report"); getContentPane().setLayout(new FlowLayout()); getContentPane().add(btnShowReport); getContentPane().add(btnAbout); getContentPane().add(btnExit); pack(); setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); show(); } // SHOW THE REPORT public void showReport(){ try{ // PREPARING DATABASE CONNECTION String jdbcDriver = "com.mysql.jdbc.Driver"; Class.forName(jdbcDriver); String url = "jdbc:mysql://localhost/contact"; String user = "user1"; String pass = "12345"; Connection con = DriverManager.getConnection(url, user, pass); // PATH TO YOUR JASPER FILE String fullPath="/home/lucky/Documents/Java/report/contact_report.jasper"; // FILL THE REPORT JPrint=JasperFillManager.fillReport(fullPath,null,con); // VIEW THE REPORT JasperViewer.viewReport(JPrint,false); } catch(Exception ex){ System.out.println(ex.toString()); } } // CONTRUCTOR viewReport(){ initComponent(); design(); } public static void main(String[] args){ new viewReport(); } // EVENT LISTENER public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae){ // IF SHOW BUTTON CLICKED, SHOW THE REPORT if(ae.getSource()==btnShowReport) showReport(); // THE OTHER BUTTONS if(ae.getSource()==btnExit) dispose(); if(ae.getSource()==btnAbout) JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,"Jasper Report Viewer.\nCreated by: Lucky\nE-mail: lucky_iboyz@yahoo.com or bogeyman2007@gmail.com","About",JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE); } }

Execute It!

Final step! Compile your Java file by typing javac viewReport.java. After that, execute it with command java viewReport. Before that, make sure your MySQL has started. And, after your program run, you can click on SHOW REPORT button to view the report.