{IBM Maximo, MXES} Installing BIRT for Maximo

[Paul Bappoo]

BIRT is the default report writer for IBM's Maximo asset maintenance
software from version 7 onwards. The BIRT implementation in Maximo is
somewhat different to stand alone BIRT and this two part article
guides you through installation and configuration of the BIRT software
specifically for use with Maximo.

To download the full PDF version of this article with screen shots
please visit http://www.BIRTReporting.com and sign up for your free
membership.

ARTICLE:


INTRODUCTION

This is part one of our two part guide to installing and configuring
BIRT for Maximo. In this guide I look at how to install BIRT in the
Maximo environment with easy to follow, step by step instructions,
including screen shots.

This guide has been taken from our 2 day, dedicated, BIRT for Maximo
training course which can be delivered on your premises anywhere in
the world, to have your team up and running with BIRT in a Maximo
environment quickly, easily and at low cost.

If you would like further information about our training courses
please contact Pa...@BIRTReporting.com

Join the mailing list at www.BIRTReporting.com to automatically
receive the second part of this guide when it is published.

INSTALLING BIRT FOR MAXIMO

DOWNLOAD

To create or customize BIRT reports, you must have both Eclipse and
the BIRT Report Designer downloaded on your client machine. They are
both installed from the all in one package available from
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/brandcatalog/opal/details?catalog.label=1TW10OT07

Extract the BIRTDesigner232.zip file to a local directory which does
not include any spaces (for example: C:\birt_232)

INSTALL DESIGN FILES FOR BIRT 232

Prerequisites:

To perform the next steps, you will need a local copy of V7.1.1.5 or
higher, with
the report source.

Either JDK 1.5 or 1.6 can be used with BIRT Designer 232. However, JDK
1.5 is recommended as it corresponds to the current version supported
by Maximo.

Locate the compiled classes used for the V7 Report Scripting from your
local copy of V7.1.1.5 or higher as shown below.

<V7115>\reports\birt\scriptlibrary\classes

Navigate to the EclipseBIRT location below (this is where you just
installed BIRT to)

<birt_232>\eclipse\plugins
\org.eclipse.birt.report.viewer_2.3.2.r232_20090212\birt\WEB-INF

Create a classes folder

Copy the entire V7 \com folder from step Maximo classes folder to the
new classes folder you just created

<birt_232>\eclipse\plugins
\org.eclipse.birt.report.viewer_2.3.2.r232_20090212 \birt\WEB-INF
\classes


Copy and paste the mxreportdatasources.properties using the same
source and destination folders from the previous steps.

Open the copied mxdatasources.properties file, and edit if for your
local configuration by:

a) Setting the URL, driver, username, password, and schemaowner
properties for your local environment.

b) Change #<DataSourceName> to maximoDataSource.

This file is shown below, including a sample update for a DB2
Database:

#<DataSourceName>.<propertyName>=value
# driver for ORACLE
# oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver
# sample url for ORACLE
# jdbc:oracle:thin:@<HOST>:<PORT>:<SID>
# driver for SQLServer
# com.inet.tds.TdsDriver
# sample url for SQLServer
# jdbc:inetdae7a:hostname:port?
database=dbname&language=us_english&nowarnings=true
# driver for DB2
# com.ibm.db2.jcc.DB2Driver
# sample url for DB2
# jdbc:db2://localhost:50000/dbalias
maximoDataSource.url=jdbc:db2://MX7DB2:50000/MX7DB2
maximoDataSource.driver=com.ibm.db2.jcc.DB2Driver
maximoDataSource.username=maximo
maximoDataSource.password=maximo

The values in red point to a sample local database. You can check
yours and other available for you to choose from Start Menu\Programs
\IBM DB2\Set-up Tools\Configuration Assistant.
The key name in green is the default set for all reports, you have to
use exactly this text.

Note:
The mxdatasources.properties file is only used by a report developer
when he is creating
reports within the BIRT Report Designer. When V7 Reports are executed
from within the V7
Applications, their connection information will be passed dynamically
from V7.
Separate database username and passwords can be set up for each
individual report developer
to restrict their database access if required

Copy the specific JDBC driver for your Database Type from

<V7115>\applications\maximo\lib

to:

eclipse\plugins\org.eclipse.birt.report.viewer_2.3.2.r232_20090212\birt
\WEB-INF\lib

These drivers are only used by the designer.

Note:
For Oracle, copy/paste oraclethin.jar
For SQL Server, copy/paste opta.jar
For DB2, copy/paste db2jcc.jar and db2jcc_license_cu.jar

Open the specific JDBC driver Jar with WinZip for your specific
database type and extract the contents of the jar file to

<eclipse>\plugins
\org.eclipse.birt.report.viewer_2.3.2.r232_20090212\birt\WEB-INF
\classes

Note: If you see an exception error like ‘ClassNotFound’ in BIRT
Designer
after following these steps, double check that you have extracted the
jar files
properly. Not extracting the jar files will cause a ‘ClassNotFound’
Error.

ACCESSING THE BIRT DESIGNER

Create a shortcut to BIRT Designer 232 from eclipse.exe.

Update the shortcut’s target to include your JDK 1.5 install. This is
done by modifying the path highlighted in red below.

C:\eclipse_download\BIRT\eclipse\eclipse.exe -vm “C:\Program Files\IBM
\Java50\jre\bin\java.exe” –vmargs –Xmx512m

Launch the BIRT Designer 232 from your new shortcut.

Select an applicable workspace location for your environment. Check
‘Use this as default’ field and OK. Create a folder during or before
this process.

Eclipse SDK Opens.

From the menu, select File – New – Project.

Scroll down to the Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools Location,
and select Report Project. Click Next.

Type in a project name and click Finish.

The BIRT Report designer within Eclipse SDK Displays.

MORE INFORMATION

BIRT FOR MAXIMO TRAINING

If you are interested in further details of our 2 day dedicated BIRT
for Maximo training course please drop me an email. Our course can be
delivered anywhere in the world, on your premises or in dedicated
training centres and is designed to have your team up and running with
BIRT in a Maximo environment, quickly, easily and at low cost.

I look forward to your feedback so please feel free to send me an
email and let me know how you get on with BIRT, provide feedback on
this guide, share your tips and tricks, or request help for specific
problems. I can’t guarantee to personally solve everyone’s problems
but there are some great BIRT related forums out there and you can
find a growing list of links and resources on my site.

HOW TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Email: Pa...@BirtReporting.com
Web Site: http://www.BirtReporting.com


Paul Bappoo is the author of BIRT for Beginners (which is available
now in paperback from BIRTReporting.com) and has been an international
technical software consultant and involved with computers for over 30
years. Paul runs the BIRT UK User Group and is a member of the Actuate
BIRT-Exchange Advisory Council. He has an interest in BIRT reporting,
enterprise application integration, automated software testing,
computer based training and enterprise system implementation.

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