automatic parameter prompting and validation

By: Bernd Proissl - berndproissl
automatic parameter prompting and validation
2002-06-20 23:40
Hi Teodor,

what is you statement about http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=539522&group_id... ?

Will a feature like this be implemented? If yes, what will ve the expected timeframe? :)

I am in the need of building several parameter prompting dialogs for a bunch of reports, so I am thinking of a way to automate this.

What about such a JasperReportParameter class:
{
String prompt;
String defaultValue;
Converter converter
}

interface Converter(
Object convert(StringFromGUI) throwse ParseException;
}

The object returned from convert will have to be added to the parameter list.

The JasperreportParameter class could be filled from an application or from code from the jasperreport library based on data read from the xml report definition.

Anybody allready has such a solution which can be shared? ;)

Thanks
Bernd


By: Teodor Danciu - teodord
RE: automatic parameter prompting and validation
2002-06-21 00:39

Hi,

Well, why not?!
:)

Other users expressed their desire to have some
sort of a description on parameters to use when
prompting for values.

Since now there is kind of a lobby for this, I think
this is the moment to do it.

I also imagine using an expression for the default
value of the parameter.

Those will probably included in the 0.3.3 version
by the end of next week.

Thank you,
Teodor



By: Bernd Proissl - berndproissl
RE: automatic parameter prompting and validat
2002-06-21 00:59
> I also imagine using an expression for the default
> value of the parameter.

this sounds good :)

Another idea: For the end user it is great to have a pull down list with valid input values. Is there a posibility to describe such a list with an expression? comma separated values? There should be a flag to restrict or not restrict the user to enter other values as well. Maybe also an SQLExpression which will be used to fill the list?

Antother point: what buttons will be (needed) on the dialog? Can you make the configurable from the XML file? and make them call an action listener in the application's code?

Thanks!
Bernd


By: Teodor Danciu - teodord
RE2: automatic parameter prompting and valida
2002-06-21 01:18

Hi,

For the moment, lets do not push the
JasperReports library development towards some
particular application requirements.
The parent application that uses the JasperReports
library shouldn't do anything by itself?

Many feature enhancements tend to complicate
the library and do not necessarily represent
functionality that most users can't live without.

At least for the moment, I know many more
important features that are on the TODO list.

Thank you,
Teodor



By: Bernd Proissl - berndproissl
RE: RE2: automatic parameter prompting and va
2002-06-21 06:56
Hi,

IMHO my suggestions are not appplication specific. A significant part of aplications which do reporting need some sort of GUI parameter prompting.

I am not quite sure what you are going to put in 0.3.3:
- a parameter description for prompting
- a default value based on expressions

Are you thinking about GUI stuff?

thanks
Bernd



By: Teodor Danciu - teodord
RE3: automatic parameter prompting and valida
2002-06-21 07:25

Hi,

The parameter description, for prompting,
will surely make it to the next version.

I'm not sure about the proposed default
value expression.
Such an expression could only be build on
other previously declared parameters.
Not variables and fields. Parameters values have
to come from the parent application and cannot
come from within the report definition,
which is static.
This is the reason for the existence of parameters.
A default value expression could only process
previously declared parameter values.

If there are values that can come from within the
report, then variables should be used.
Furthermore, if some value has to come from the
database, then a field should be used.

If an additional SQL query is needed to retrieve
some parameter default value, then subreports
could be used, wrapped in a master document.
An initial dummy subreport will perform the query
and retrieve the values that will be used in a
second subreport as parameters values.
This is only a suggestion, but I'm sure it achievable.

As for the suggestion regarding the buttons that
should be displayed by the parent application,
I think it falls outside JasperReports required
functionality.

Thank you,
Teodor



By: Bernd Proissl - berndproissl
RE: RE3: automatic parameter prompting and va
2002-06-21 12:01
Hi Teodor

> The parameter description, for prompting,
> will surely make it to the next version.

Sorry, but I am still not sure what you are planning exactly. (let's put back the default value stuff for a while)

Are you planning to implement prompting in 0.3.3?

Are you planning to enhance 0.3.3 to support
applications which need parameter prompting?
Will there be an API which allows the application
to query the parameter description from the report
engine?

Thanks again!
Bernd


By: Teodor Danciu - teodord
RE: RE3: automatic parameter prompting and va
2002-06-24 02:13

Hi,

In the 0.3.3 version, I plan to add a
public String getDescription()
method in the JRParameter interface.

This will allow the users to put a short text
description for each parameter in the XML report
design and then retrieve it at runtime,
for prompting purposes.

Maybe an additional parameter flag would be useful
in order to mark those parameters for which the
parent application should NOT prompt for a value.
I imagine that at some point, there would be
parameters that have to be avoiding when
prompting for values.

That's all for the moment.

Thank you,
Teodor



By: Bernd Proissl - berndproissl
RE: automatic parameter prompting and validat
2002-06-24 02:40
Hi, tanks for your answer.

No I understand your statements :)

> Maybe an additional parameter flag would be useful
> in order to mark those parameters for which the
> parent application should NOT prompt for a value.
IMHO: yes. e.g. I use a parameter to pass the current date/time to the report.

I will think about an generic interface for a GUI based parameter prompter...

Bernd



By: Bernd Proissl - berndproissl
RE:automatic parameter prompting and validat
2002-07-09 01:29
I built a small framework to create JPanes with JLabels, JTextFields, JComboBoxes and JButtons build from a simple -mostly text based- descriptions. This allows easy creation of GUIs for parameter prompting.

I am allowed to publish this code under LGPL. Teodor, are you interested to put this in your package or should I open a new project?

Bernd