XML-Data handling with Java

Hello, 
 
I am totally new to BIRT. 
I have done the tutorial on <a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.birt-exchange.org/documentation/BIRT_231/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm'>http://www.birt-exchange.org/documentation/BIRT_231/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm</a> 
 
I need to make a report that uses an XML-file as data source. My question is now, how can I use the data from the XML-file in a Java-Class to manipulate, it for the Report? 
 
An example: 
I have an example data source representing a library. Books, titles, categories, years and so on. Now I want to know how many books are in the category ?web? or how many books are from 2001. 
How can I do this? 
 
If I could use a database I could do this even in the SQL-statement but I have to use an XML-File. 
 
So how can I get the data from the XML data source into a Java-Class to work with it? 
The XML-file is set as the data source in BIRT. A data set is also defined. I can use the data to show all Books and so on, but I have to calculate and manipulate the data. 
 
Sorry if the question sounds stupid, but I am really new to BIRT, the first contact was on Monday this week. ;-) 
 
Thanks and greetings from Germany!

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Comments

bhanley

Can you give me a sense of how complex the manipulations are that you need to do on the data? BIRT provides the ability to calculate fields on a data set as well as extensive scripting to support a variety of options. 
 
If you need to do things that are not appropriate in a script or calculated field. we can look at using a Java Object to load and manipulate the XML. Then that Java Object can itself be used as the data source through what is called a "scripted" data source. 
 
Here is a really easy-to-understand example to help you look at building a scripted data source: <a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.birt-exchange.org/devshare/designing-birt-reports/544-sample-birt-scripted-data-source-example/#description'>Sample BIRT Scripted Data Source Example - Designs & Code - BIRT Exchange</a>

Sandro

Hi Brian, thx for your answer. 
 
I can do simple calculations now. But I am being stuck when I try to do complex things. 
I try to give you an example: 
 
I have an xml-File witch is structured like this: 
(In the future the structure maybe will chance, but I want to know the way how to calculate and made the reports I want to have.) 
 
<pre class='_prettyXprint _lang-auto _linenums:0'>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<requests basis="12.05.2009">
<request title="request 1" status="1">
<customer>Sample Customer</customer>
<sector>E-Business</sector>
<start>01.02.2009</start>
<end>17.04.2010</end>
<budget>120000</budget>
<focal_point>Java</focal_point>
<staff_requirement>4</staff_requirement>
<receipt>10.10.2008</receipt>
</request>
</requests>
</pre>
 
Now I want to make a bar chart which shows me the month between ?a? and ?b? on the x-axis. (The User should have the opportunity to insert ?a? and ?b? as a parameter.) 
On the y-axis I want to have the number ob request that came in the particular month. 
 
I tried this, an it works with one, lets call it, bug. 
It shows me only the months were a request came in. But I want to have all moth even there was no request. So I have to fill the gaps with the missing month. I have no idea to do this right now. 
 
Thanks from Germany.