This section describes new features introduced in the Jaspersoft BI Suite Version 6 releases. For information regarding features added to 5.x releases, see the 5.6.1 release notes.
Version 6.4.0
JasperReports Server 6.4.0 includes these improvements:
| • | Dashboards. Dashboards now support: |
| • | Hyperlinks for dashlets that can replace the current dashboard with a web page, report, dashboard, or Ad Hoc view. |
| • | New formatting options for text dashlets. |
| • | New Undo, Redo, and Undo All buttons on the dashboard toolbar that allow you to undo and redo recent changes made to the dashboard, including changes to input control values. |
| • | New Time-Date wildcards for dashlets. |
| • | Import-Export Enhancements. Organization admins can now export individual resources or entire folders from the repository UI. Superusers also have new options to export resources and folders without full paths or dependencies, so that the resulting catalog can be imported by organization admins. |
| • | Installation Improvement. PhantomJS can now be installed with the server. |
| • | PDF Release Notes. These release notes, which were previously available as a text file, are now delivered as PDF. |
| • | Data Connectivity. The Salesforce JDBC driver now comes pre-installed. The native Impala connector has been removed and the Impala JDBC driver (com.simba.impala.jdbc4.Driver) is required for Impala data sources. Recent versions have also added support for: |
| • | Domain Enhancements. Prior to JasperReports Server 6.4, users could create simple Domains from custom data sources if metadata was provided. In this release, custom data sources support more Domain functionality, such as returning JDBC metadata, creating derived tables, supporting calculated fields, domain pre-filtering, and joining other data sources in virtual data sources. |
| • | Visualize.js improvements. Jaspersoft continues to enhance the embeddable functionality of the Visualize.js API, in particular we've improved the ability to upload dashboards and interact with them. This release adds the ability to undo and redo changes to dashboard parameters, along with events you can use to expose this functionality. For example, you can enable an undo button after the user has modified a parameter; clicking that button restores the original dashboard, making it easy for the user to explore data. |
| • | Jaspersoft Studio. Our advanced report designer now supports: |
| • | Updated interface for HTML5 charts. An updated chart dialog for HTML5 charts lets you configure your data and preview your chart when the chart is created. |
| • | Improved customizers for JFreeCharts in JasperReports Library: |
| • | New chart customizers classes for working with specific chart types. |
| • | Support for configurable chart customizers, which let the user enter values at report runtime. |
| • | Support for multiple chart customizers applied to a single chart. |
| • | User interface support for chart customizers in Jaspersoft Studio using a JSON file that can be uploaded. |
Version 6.3.0
JasperReports Server 6.3.0 added these improvements:
| • | Dashboards. New enhancements include: |
| • | Dashboard and dashlet exporting. |
| • | Text and image dashlets now support hyperlinks. |
| • | More formatting options for dashboards and dashlets. |
| • | New time and date wildcards for dashlets. |
| • | Auto-complete for parameters and time and date wildcards. |
| • | Image dashlets have a Browse button for the repository. |
| • | Scheduler. New enhancements include: |
| • | Support for scheduling dashboard exports. |
| • | Support for SFTP with SSH key authentication as a transfer protocol. |
| • | Automatic validation of the path to the repository output folder when clicking Save. |
| • | Support for changing the default output folder; it's specified by editing a configuration file. For more information on themes, see the JasperReports Server Administrator Guide |
| • | Data Connectivity. We continue to improve and refine data access in JasperReports Server. This release adds: |
| • | New support for Microsoft SQL Azure. |
| • | New Progress driver for Cassandra. |
| • | New JDBC driver for MongoDB. |
| • | Updated MongoDB Connector. |
| • | New Progress driver for Impala. |
| • | Updated JDBC driver for MariaDB. |
| • | Support for Mongo 3.0 and 3.2 |
| • | Support for Impala 1.3.1-2.5 |
| • | Jaspersoft Studio. New enhancements include: |
| • | Support for font sets, which let you group font extensions in supersets that can include several languages or character sets and control which languages are used with each font in the set. |
| • | Import and export for configuration resources, which lets you migrate global configurations, such as global data adapters, composite elements, and Jaspersoft Studio preferences, between different instances of Jaspersoft Studio. |
| • | Improved interface for editing properties in HTML5 charts. |
| • | Performance Improvements. JasperReports Server is faster and uses less memory when working with high-cardinality data in Ad Hoc views or reports based on Ad Hoc views. |
| • | Security Improvements. In our on-going effort to improve the security of your data, JasperReports Server implements a new Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanism that is more effective and less intrusive. To fully enable CSRF protection, please configure it as described in the JasperReports Server Security Guide. |
Version 6.2.1
JasperReports Server 6.2.1 added these improvements:
| • | Data Connectivity. We continue to improve and refine data access in JasperReports Server. This release adds: |
| • | Support for Kerberos Authentication for MongoDB data sources. |
| • | New JDBC drivers for Impala and Cassandra data sources. We recommend using the JDBC driver for new Cassandra data sources and the native Cassandra driver only for existing data sources. |
| • | A driver for Salesforce data sources can be added to JasperReports Server. In later releases, this driver is available in the server by default. |
| • | New Big Data Support. This release adds support for: |
| • | Hortonworks HDP 1.3-2.3 |
| • | Apache Cassandra 2.0-2.2 |
| • | Cloudera Impala 1.3-2.0 |
| • | New Supported Platforms. This release adds support for: |
| • | Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 10; note that Microsoft Edge is also supported with this release. |
| • | Application Servers: WildFly 8.2.0. |
| • | New Advanced Chart Formatting Options. This release adds support for three-dimensional pie and bar charts, as well as solid gauges. In the Ad Hoc Editor, apply these effects using the Advanced tab of the Chart Formatting dialog. For more information, see: the Community wiki article. |
| • | Jaspersoft Studio. Our advanced report designer includes several improvements: |
| • | Usability and interface improvements, including improvements to crosstabs, particularly when working with row and column groups; improvements to the UI for the Maps and TIBCO Maps components; improvements to the community-supported Custom Visualization Component. |
| • | Commercial versions of Jaspersoft Studio now include the Simba JDBC drivers for Impala and Cassandra. The Cloudera driver for Impala has been removed from Jaspersoft Studio; it is available as a plug-in on SourceForge. |
| • | If you are using your reports with an application you built using JasperReports Library, you can use the Window > Preferences > Compatibility Setting to choose the version of JasperReports Library to use for compiling reports. This doesn't affect reports uploaded to JasperReports Server, which are still set by configuring each server. |
| • | Documentation Improvements. To improve the API documentation of JasperReports Server, the Web Services Guide has been redesigned and renamed as the JasperReports Server REST API Reference. This book covers the current and complete REST API; the deprecated REST and SOAP APIs have been removed from the guide. Use the new JasperReports Server REST API Reference to build client applications that access server functionality and embed reporting where your customers need it. |
Version 6.2.0
JasperReports Server 6.2.0 added these improvements:
| • | Organization Export and Import. To simplify administration of JasperReports Server, organization administrators can export and import entire organizations or sub-organizations, creating structures and the reports and dashboards they contain, including their dependencies. The new operations are available through the Manage menu and through new options for the import-export scripts. |
| • | Ad Hoc Editor. Ad Hoc views support: |
| • | New chart types, including tree charts and semi-pie. The new chart types are also available in Jaspersoft Studio. |
| • | Unmerging crosstab cells to show individual rows. |
| • | Filtering to show the top or bottom values in crosstabs. |
| • | Dashboard Designer. Dashboards now support image dashlets, streamlined parameter handling, and export. |
| • | Scheduler Master View. A new Schedules page lets you view and manage all scheduled jobs that you can access. |
| • | Jaspersoft Studio. Our advanced report designer has several improvements, including: |
| • | The RCP version of Jaspersoft Studio has been updated to Eclipse 4.5. |
| • | An improved interface for the Maps component makes it easier to add markers and paths to Google maps, as well as to authenticate using your API key or client ID. |
| • | Enhancements to the custom visualization component let you create your own component UI using a JSON file. |
| • | A new grid layout makes it easier to place elements in containers, such as bands, tables, crosstabs, and frames. |
| • | Two ready to use custom visualization components: |
| • | Figures: This example component lets you add a visualization of stick figures representing a set of values. Such visualizations are often used in infographics to depict complex information in a format that's easy to read. |
| • | Radial Progress: This example component lets you add a circular visualization that represents a percentage. Values up to 100% are drawn as a single ring or portion thereof. For values above 100%, additional rings are drawn. |
For more information on these community-supported features visit http://community.jaspersoft.com.
| • | Due to incompatibilities between Eclipse 4.5 and earlier versions of the Jaspersoft Studio workspace, the workspace format has been updated. Upgrading users are prompted to pick a new workspace location. Once Jaspersoft Studio launches, import your previous projects to the new location. You can also import data adapters, server connections, and preferences. |
| • | Visualize.js. Our embeddable JavaScript solution now supports dashboards, report search, report bookmarks, and floating headers in tables and crosstabs. |
| • | Data Connectivity. We continue to improve and refine data access in JasperReports Server. Impala and Spark are now supported as JDBC data sources. |
Version 6.1.1
JasperReports Server 6.1.1 added these improvements:
| • | Updated Domain Schema. A new schema for Domains, schema_1_2.xsd, adds support for influencing which join paths are used in Ad Hoc views when a Domain includes a circular join. This feature is only available by directly editing the Domain XML file; once the Domain XML is edited, you can't use the Domain designer to edit the Domain. |
| • | Keyboard Navigation and Improved Accessibility. Keyboard navigation has been improved in the web UI. Accessibility has been improved, including the Easy Access theme, which increases color contrast and highlighting in the web UI. It can improve the user experience of those with visual impairment. |
For more information on themes, see the JasperReports Server Administrator Guide. For information on keyboard navigation, see the JasperReports Server User Guide.
| • | Data Connectivity. We have improved our support for MongoDB, including support for SSL or X.509 authentication using the native driver. For information on using MongoDB, see the JasperReports Server Administrator Guide. |
| • | Performance Improvements. JasperReports Server's performance has been improved, particularly when adding organizations in an instance with a very large number of organizations. |
| • | New Supported Platforms. This release added support for: |
| • | Operating Systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.1 |
| • | Databases: PostgreSQL 9.4 |
| • | tcServer 2.5.1, 2.6.5, and 2.9.10 (not supported in JasperReports Server 6.4 or later) |
Version 6.1.0
JasperReports Server 6.1.0 added these improvements:
| • | Dashboard Improvements. The dashboard designer introduced in 6.0 now supports: |
| • | Chart dashlet hyperlinks, which lets you specify an internal or external URL to call when a user clicks a dashlet. |
| • | Report dashlets support self-hyperlinks. |
| • | Dashboards can be called via HTTP, which now includes the ability to pass parameters into a dashboard. |
| • | TIBCO Spotfire 7 Support. Spotfire Infolinks can be used as a data source in Jaspersoft Studio, and the resulting reports can run on the server. |
| • | Visualize.js. Reports displayed through Visualize.js now support: |
| • | Sorting of columns in interactive reports |
| • | TIBCO GeoAnalytics Maps Support. In this release, you can create reports in Jaspersoft Studio that include map components from TIBCO GeoAnalytics. Either TIBCO Maps or Google Maps can provide the map image of these multi-layer maps, and paths and markers can be defined using either latitude and longitude or a street address through geolocation. Note that a separate license is required to access TIBCO's geolocation services. |
| • | Data Connectivity. We continue to improve and refine data access in JasperReports Server. This release adds: |
| • | Support for Query based data sources, such as XML/A, JSON, and Remote XML. |
| • | Domains partially support custom data sources (users can only view the Display tab in the Domain designer. However, users can apply pre-filters and calculated measures using the Domain XML file). |
| • | Custom data sources can be included in virtual data sources. |
| • | Custom data source deployment has been simplified. For details, see the JasperReports Server Administrator Guide. |
| • | Documentation Improvements. In our continuing efforts to improve the security of JasperReports Server, we have reorganized some of our documentation for ease of use. In previous releases, information about securing the application was spread across several documents. In this release, the new JasperReports Server Security Guide describes security concerns and steps you can take to protect your application. Details of data-level security in Jaspersoft OLAP remain in that product's user guide. |
| • | More Powerful Attributes. A new user interface allows administrators to define attributes easily throughout the server. New permissions on attributes allow administrators to control the visibility and usage of attributes, as well as to delegate management to sub-organizations. Attributes are now accessible in Domains and Ad Hoc views so that data access and reports can be easily customized for each user or organization. |
| • | Diagnostics. Data and Result Set and Log Capture utilities now help diagnose problems with the Jaspersoft environment. For more information, see the JasperReports Server Administrator Guide. |
| • | Updated Default Theme. An updated theme for the web UI improves the server's look and feel. |
| • | Updated version of Groovy. We have updated the version of one of our third-party components; Groovy is used in Domain definitions. We upgraded our Groovy version from 2.0.1 to 2.4.3. |
| • | HTML5 Rendering for Fusion components. Fusion-based charts, maps, and widgets in reports are rendered in HTML5 by default starting in this release; in previous versions, we recommended a server configuration change if your users accessed Pro Widgets and Maps using IE8; since that browser is no longer supported, we no longer recommend changing the configuration. |
| • | Updated Components. We have updated versions of some of the third-party components that are provided in the JasperReports Server installer: |
| • | Postgres 9.1.15 (32 or 64 bit) |
| • | Oracle JDK 1.7.0_75 (32 or 64 bit) |
| • | New Platform Support. JasperReports Server now supports: |
| • | Oracle 12c as a repository database |
| • | Oracle RAC as a repository database |
| • | New Big Data Support. We continue to improve and refine data access in JasperReports Server. This release adds support for: |
| • | MongoDB version 2.6 via TIBCO JDBC driver and native drivers |
| • | Domains now provide a user interface to create schemas for data stored in MongoDB |
| • | Hortonworks 2.2 and Cloudera 5.2 |
| • | Impala 2.0 (supported through TIBCO JDBC driver or Cloudera drivers) |
| • | Spark SQL 1.1 Amazon Redshift (supported through TIBCO JDBC driver) |
Version 6.0.1
JasperReports Server 6.0.1 added these improvements:
| • | Custom Visualization Component. This new Jaspersoft Studio Community-supported component lets you leverage third-party JavaScript libraries, such as D3, in Jaspersoft Studio and JasperReports Server. For details, please see the article on our Community wiki. |
Please note that this component is only supported by the Jaspersoft Community. TIBCO Jaspersoft Technical Support and Engineering do not currently support this feature.
The custom visualization component is a powerful and flexible feature, suitable for advanced users of JasperReports. Using the component requires advanced coding skills in the following technologies:
| • | The third-party library you want to expose in Jaspersoft Studio and JasperReports Server. |
| • | Updated Spring Security. Starting in this release, the server now incorporates a more recent version of the underlying Spring Security framework. We now use Spring Security 3. The new version offers improved application security. |
If you are upgrading from a previous version of JasperReports Server, you may need to take additional steps to accommodate the file structure of the new version of Spring. This is particularly the case if you have custom LDAP or SSO configured for the server. For more information, see the JasperReports Server External Authentication Cookbook.
Version 6.0.0
JasperReports Server 6.0.0 added these improvements:
| • | New Dashboards. A new web-based dashboard design environment lets you create web responsive dashboards that include new visualizations, reports, Ad Hoc views, input controls, filters, and web pages. Dashlets dragged onto the canvas automatically resize to fit the available space. This is a significant improvement over the legacy dashboard designer that required multiple tools to create content. The new dashboard designer makes it easy to create dashlets with title bars, add and format text, set advanced properties to control look and feel, and re-wire filters to specific dashlets. |
In some releases, features available in legacy dashboards aren't available in version 6+ dashboards. See the release notes for your version for details.
| • | Visualize.js. With this release, you can now directly embed our new dashboards into web pages through JavaScript, letting web designers leverage the power of our new dashboards, including setting filter values directly from within any web page. This release adds: |
| • | New support to run, refresh, and cancel dashboards, including setting filter values. |
| • | More support for reports, including report zoom, export to JSON and CSV formats, and the ability to fetch data from the server. |
For details, see the JasperReports Server Visualize.js Guide.
| • | Interactive Reports. The web UI's report viewer now includes: |
| • | The Ad Hoc Filter Value Display lets report designers create an Ad Hoc Report Template in Jaspersoft Studio that displays Ad Hoc filter values when viewing an Ad Hoc report. |
| • | Workbooks and Tables of Contents let report designers create a JRXML report that contains workbook sections and a Table of Contents that is displayed as a tabbed report in the server's report viewer. The table of contents is also created when the workbook is exported; for example, a PDF would include a table of contents hyperlinked to specific report pages. This eliminates the need for code that was previously required to consolidate multiple reports and generate a table of contents in earlier releases. |
| • | Variable page format support lets report designers combine reports that have varying page layout formats within a single workbook. This lets the designer create highly customized content within a single report. |
| • | Floating crosstab headings are displayed and move with your view as you scroll through long crosstab reports. |
| • | Ad Hoc views support two new chart types: |
| • | Heat Maps let you visualize color-coded ranges of data across x- and y-axes for a single measure to quickly highlight outliers. |
| • | Time Series Heat Maps let you visualize color-coded ranges of data across a combination of a date/time field and a non-date field for a single measure to quickly highlight outliers. |
Also, you can control the formatting of legends and various labels to make better use of the chart canvas. This feature is especially valuable when charts are used in dashboards.
Jaspersoft Studio also supports the new chart types.
| • | Domains Complex Joins. We have enhanced our join functionality to include complex operators (listed below). This feature is only available by directly editing the Domain XML file; once the Domain XML includes one of these operators, you can't use the Domain designer to edit the Domain. Complex joins: |
| • | Can use constants for comparisons in join expressions. |
| • | Support more types of operators beyond equality (=), including !=, >,<,<=,>=, IN, and NOT IN. |
| • | Support new specification of join types (inner join, left outer join, and right outer join). |
| • | Address a previous issue of OR joins not being recognized properly. |
| • | Data Staging. A new configuration of JasperReports Server allows Ad Hoc views and reports to keep and refresh datasets in the Ad Hoc cache indefinitely. This can drastically improve performance for datasets that can be stored in the cache. A new UI setting allows you to select data staging independently in every Domain Topic. |
| • | Organization and Server Level Attributes. New profile attributes support hierarchical and categorical attributes at the user, organization, and server levels. You can see these attributes while developing reports in Jaspersoft Studio and while defining data sources in JasperReports Server, OLAP access grants, and Domain security files. The new profile attributes make organization management much more flexible and robust. You can define parameter-based data sources using attributes defined at user, organization, and server levels. The values of attributes are replaced only at run time, making it completely dynamic. Reports and data sources can be moved across users, organizations, and servers. |
| • | New Big Data Support. We continue to improve and refine data access in JasperReports Server. This release adds support for: |
| • | Hortonworks HDP 1.3, 2.0 (Hive version 0.11x, 0.12x) |
| • | CDH 4.5.x- 5.1 (Hive version0.8x-0.13x) |
|  | If your version of Cassandra is 1.12.18 or higher, JasperReports Server supports authentication when connecting to it. |
| • | New Third-party platforms. JasperReports Server supports: |
| • | Microsoft SQL Server 2014 |
| • | TIBCO Spotfire Support. JasperReports Server now supports the creation of reports that contain TIBCO Spotfire 6.5 Information Links using Jaspersoft Studio. |
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