HOW TO CREATE A BIRT REPORT LIBRARY

[Paul Bappoo]

A BIRT report library is a collection of visual and textual report
elements that can be re-used in multiple projects. The primary purpose
of library creation and management in the BIRT environment is to share
data reports across different users. The administrator or developer
can create and publish a library at a shared location and populate it
with the relevant data. For sharing, usage rights can be defined in
the library properties. A BIRT report library is used to share
information such as corporate header, customized styles, images and
datasets.

Steps to Create a BIRT Report Library

Create a new library from either the ‘NEW’ option or from ‘Navigator’
bar. A BIRT library file has an extension .rptlibrary.

Add report elements to the library. You can add datasets, themes,
images, master pages, items and styles to the library.

For datasets, the developer has to define the data source. Also,
define column mapping properties, which include name of the element,
path and the string type. Report parameters can be attached to the
datasets stored in the library. When these datasets are used in a
report, they can access parameters from the library.

For uploading themes to the library, corresponding .CSS files have to
be attached. A theme is basically a collection of styles that is used
in report generation.

Define the properties of the report library elements.

Publish the library into the resource folder to allow sharing across
different users.

Review the library in Library Explorer.

Multiple libraries can be created within a library.

By following the abovementioned procedure, a developer can build
different libraries for effective data management and sharing. A BIRT
library can be updated and revised by the developer or administrator.
The themes and datasets stored in the library can be exported to
develop different reports.

The full version of this report, including screen shots in full colour
pdf is available for free download at http://www.BIRTReporting.com