Working with Java in Eclipse

For users who are unfamiliar with Eclipse, this section describes how compile a class in Eclipse and add it to a project in Jaspersoft Studio.

First, if you have never used Java in the Eclipse RCP, you must enable the Java perspective. You only have to do this once.

To enable the Java perspective in Eclipse:

1.

Select Window > Open Perspective on the main menu bar.

2.

In the Open Perspective dialog, click Show All.

3.

Select Java and click OK.

4.

When prompted, click OK to enable Java development.

The Eclipse UI changes to the Java perspective. A Java icon is added to the top right of the Eclipse window. In future, you can switch to this perspective by clicking . To switch back to the Jaspersoft Studio perspective, click the Report Design icon .

To create a Java project:

1.

Select File > New > Project or click on the main toolbar and select Project form the menu.

2.

In the New Project wizard, click on Java to expand it, and select Java Project, then click Next.

3.

Enter a name for your project. For this example, use SimpleChartCustomizer.

4.

Click Finish.

To add libraries to your Java project:

1.

Right-click your project name in the Package Explorer and select Build Path > Add Libraries.

2.

In the Add Library dialog, select JasperReports Libraries, then click Finish.

The selected library is added to SimpleChartCustomizer.

3.

Right-click your project name in the Package Explorer and select Build Path > Add Libraries.

4.

In the Add Library dialog, select JasperReports Library Dependencies, then click Finish.

For example, if you are creating a chart customizer, the library dependencies you have added include the JFreeCharts libraries.

To create a Java package and add a file:

1.

Open your project in Package Explorer.

2.

Right-click the src folder and select New > Package. The New Java Package dialog opens.

3.

Enter a name for your package. For this example, enter com.jaspersoft.studio.sample.customizer.

4.

Click Finish.

5.

Drag your Java file from a folder on your file system to the package folder in Eclipse.

6.

In the File Operation dialog box, select Copy files and click OK.

To build a Java project and export a JAR file:

1.

Right-click the project folder and select Build Project from the menu.

2.

Right-click the project folder and select Export.

3.

In the Export dialog, select Java > JAR file and click Next.

4.

On the JAR File Specification page, make sure your project is selected and that Export generated class files and resources is checked.

5.

Enter a name for your JAR and an export destination.

6.

Click Finish.

Adding a JAR to Jaspersoft Studio

To add a JAR to a Jaspersoft Studio project:

1.

If you have been using the Java perspective in Eclipse, click to return to the Report Design perspective.

2.

Right-click your project in Project Explorer and select New > Folder. Enter lib as the name of the folder.

3.

Copy your JAR files to this folder. To do this:

a.

Drag the JAR files from the folder in the file system to the lib folder in the Eclipse user interface.

b.

In the File Operation dialog, select Copy files and click OK.

4.

Right-click your project and select Refresh.

5.

Select all the JAR files, then right-click one of them and select Build Path > Add to Build Path.

The JAR files are added to your project.