JasperReport Server needed?

[PantheosMax]

Hi Folks

I just started using Jaspersoft and i have some comprehension questions. Using Jaspersoft Studio, i created some Reports. I made a connection to my MySQL-Server via Repository -> Data Adapter. After some testing, trial & error it worked fine and i had a report that fitted my needs. Now i want to use the report i created in my Java Application. The JasperReport Library is already installed - just added jasperreports-5.6.0.jar (and -applet-, -fonts-, -javaflow-) to the project build path. (I'm using Eclipse Kepler)

Questions:

 - Do i HAVE to use a Jasper Reports Server to utilize Jasper Reports?

 - Do i have to provide a Datasource for the Report files (.jasper) or is the connection provided in Jaspersoft Studio compiled into the .jasper file?

 - Is there an up-to-date Tutorial / Guide about using Jasper Reports within a java application? I found http://community.jaspersoft.com/questions/524537/example-java-program-call-jasper-report but thats 5 years old. For example, i dont really have to compile the .jrxml to .jasper, because Jaspersoft Studio already did that.

- Is Jaspersoft Studio unusable after 30 days or is it possible to use a community edition without time limitations?

 

Thx in advance.

[marianol]

You have questions I have answers :)
 

 - Do i HAVE to use a Jasper Reports Server to utilize Jasper Reports?

You DO NOT HAVE to use it to use JasperReports. If you only need to execute a couple of reports inside a java app and you are familiar with Jasper Reprorts (Library) and Java programming, you are more than good to go with just that.
The JasperReports Server is a BI stack that will help you keep all the reporting, data connection, security, analisys, etc in a difertent stack and then you can embed part of the server UI or use REST calls to get the outputs you want on your application.

 

 - Do i have to provide a Datasource for the Report files (.jasper) or is the connection provided in Jaspersoft Studio compiled into the .jasper file?
Yes you do, when using the JasperReports library you will need to take care of the full report lifecycle, datasource connection, JRDatasource instantiencion, report fill, and report export. The library has all the elements to get the job done, but the wiring of the components in your Java app is up to you.

 

 - Is there an up-to-date Tutorial / Guide about using Jasper Reports within a java application? I found http://community.jaspersoft.com/questions/524537/example-java-program-call-jasper-report but thats 5 years old. For example, i dont really have to compile the .jrxml to .jasper, because Jaspersoft Studio already did that.

Yes, the best way to look for samples on using JasperReports Library is on the JasperReport Library samples that are provided in library package you downloaded under jasperreports-x.x.x/demos/samples, the docs for those samples are in /doc but can be found also here: http://jasperreports.sourceforge.net/sample.reference.html also remember to read the JR documentation http://jasperreports.sourceforge.net/JasperReports-Ultimate-Guide-3.pdf 

There is also a good tutorial here: http://community.jaspersoft.com/wiki/jasperreports-library-tutorial

 

- Is Jaspersoft Studio unusable after 30 days or is it possible to use a community edition without time limitations?

You probably have downloaded the comercial 30-day trial of Jaspersoft Studio Professional, all of the JasperSoft products have a community edition that use GPL Open source licenses and also comercial editions that are sold under comercial licenses. Below are the download links

 

If you go to the Download page http://community.jaspersoft.com/download you will see on the LEFT column the COMMUNITY Products and on the RIGHT column the COMERCIAL 30-Day Trial versions. If you want to see the different functionality of comercial vs. community you can check this page: http://www.jaspersoft.com/editions

 

Hope this helps! and if this answered your question I'll appreciate you click the checkmark next to my answer so further readers can find the question easier.