Tree Chart in BIRT

Hello

I'm using actuate BIRT for developing a Management Dashboard, and I try to find a way to report a measure (Shareholder Value) with its value drivers (costs a.s.o. which have an influence on the measure). 
Normally this is done with a tree structure (not top->buttom but left->right). 
Example: <img src='http://www.obermatt.com/typo3temp/pics/2d62792d37.gif' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_img' /> 
 
This tree should be interactive if possible (not just an Image). 
 
I know that I could use a Flash Object, but I want to avoid Flash. 
Is it maybe possible to use Java Script or something? 
 
I tried to find a solution via internet, but didn't find anything which could help me. 
 
Greetings, 
Sabine

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mwilliams

Hi Sabine,

If you knew all the values, you might be able to build something like that with a grid. Then, it could be interactive. Other than that, a flash object is probably your best bet.

Sabine

Hi mwilliams,

Thank you for your answer!

I thought of that, too. The values are available in a Data Cube as far as I know at the moment.
But then the tree would be very static, wouldn't it?
Maybe the value drivers differ from case to case, and because of that the number of leafs in the Tree shouldn't be fix.
Can a grid be built dynamically in that way?

Is it possible to use Java Script instead?

Sabine

mwilliams

Sabine,

Yeah, the grid wouldn't be dynamic at all. If you knew the levels prior to the beforeFactory method, you could build the grid there. You might be able to build something in HTML in a text control set to HTML type using script.

Sabine

Hi Michael! 
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' data-author="'mwilliams'" data-cid="70933" data-time="1291241965" data-date="01 December 2010 - 03:19 PM">
Yeah, the grid wouldn't be dynamic at all. If you knew the levels prior to the beforeFactory method, you could build the grid there.</blockquote>
and the build of the grid wouldn't need to be fix then? the number of leafs f.e.? 
Sorry I'm really new to BIRT... I used the ecplipse plug-in a bit a few years ago, that's all... 
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >
You might be able to build something in HTML in a text control set to HTML type using script. </blockquote>
do you mean this: 
"Both Actuate iServer as well as iServer Express natively contain an HTTP server which can render HTML pages containing any Javascript code." as described <a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.birt-exchange.org/org/wiki/index.php?title=JavaScript_API#Enabling_construction_of_mashup_pages_.28BIRT.29'>here</a>? 
I think Java Script would be better than a grid... I just hope that JS will be okay (Flash wasn't allowed because of security issues). 
 
Thanks, 
Sabine

mwilliams

Sabine,

For your first question, you can build a grid dynamically in your report, you'll just have to be able to figure out how many columns and rows you'd need prior to building it.

As for the HTML question, BIRT will render HTML within a report. You can use a text box and set the type in the drop down to HTML. Then, you can use html script tags and the dynamic text tag to build a HTML rendering of what you want to display. I don't know how easy or difficult this will be as I've never attempted to build anything like this in HTML.

Sabine

Hi Michael,

okay I think I will try to build the tree with html.

Thank you very much for your help

Sabine

mwilliams

If you get something working for this, I'd be interested to see the final result!

Sabine

Hi!

again, I have a little question...

I just want to know if I am understanding this right...
This JSAPI, I can use it in an existing, jsp-using Web-Application, can't I?
But viceversa? I can't use Java Script in an BIRT Report, can I?

We are using actuate BIRT as it is, as Standalone application that uses the data in an integrated database (Reporting Data-Mart), wich is filled (ETL process) from other, already existing applications (which are using a shared Data-Mart). So, I just can use BIRT, and nothing else around.
If we had a simple Eeb-Application, whose GUI is based on jsp's, would I be able to build my tree with java script and "import" the other reporting things with this JSAPI?

I really don't think I can do this with html.
You know, I would use Flash, because it's "just" for my Master-thesis. But the company where I write the thesis doesn't want flash because of security issues. And I need to finish it until the end of march... :unsure:

greets
Sabine

mwilliams

Sabine,

You can definitely use the JSAPI to embed BIRT content into your application. You'll just have to reference the JSAPI installation in your JSP page, then you can load the desired components into your page. I'm not sure what you mean about using javascript in BIRT. A dynamic text box uses javascript. You can do javascript from within a standard text control as well. Maybe you could explain a little further on what you're meaning there. I guess maybe you're talking about your javascript representation of this table. Let me know.

As for the HTML representation of the table you want. I wasn't sure if it could be built with HTML or not. I assumed there might be something that could be done, but I didn't know for sure.

Oh, "just" for your master-thesis? Hardly important then...

Sabine

I thought maybe I could build this tree with javascript and embed it into my report. JavaScript is "allowed".
I don't have a clue if and how this would work... I haven't used JavaScript "really", the jps's always were generated in the applications I wrote... ^^

maybe I have to build some kind of small appliaction for this tree... which creates a file, maybe an xml, for this tree... and then i could refer to this xml from BIRT...
I just think this is a bit complicated and not a very nice solution, because then you need two things for in fact one dashboard. And you need this file in addition to the integrated database.

For my Masterthesis, flash would be fine. Maybe I can build the tree with flash (flex or something) as some kind of prototype. But that wouldn't be a useable solution for the company. And their assessment accounts 20% of my end-mark... -.-'

Sabine

Hi again...

okay I had a talk with the leader of the project

He told me not to lose more time with searching for a good solution for the company but build this thing with flash

So... now it's just the question how to embed a dynamic flash thing into my report. I know there is this "Flash Object" and I can define variables a.s.o. I just have to see if I get this running in a dynamic way (dynamic with the data I mean)
I already found "flare" as a library that has things like a tree
(http://flare.prefuse.org/demo => layouts->tree)
now I just need to get this running...

Thank you so far for your help

))
I'm really relieved for the moment..

mwilliams

Good luck! Glad you got flash approved! Hopefully that makes things easier on you. Then, if you get done early, you can go back and explore the other possibilities.

Sabine

Hi again!

Again, I have a problem. Now with the <canvas>-tag.

I think I found a way to integrate JavaScript into BIRT. A good friend helped me. I used the dynamic text field zu load the javascript code with my tree.
BUT the birt-webbrowser doesn't support the <canvas>-tag, which is used in most tree-solutions as far as I know. The same problem exists with the actuate iServer, although you log in with the firefox browser f.e.. I think internal it uses the same browser as birt itself. Am I right?
Is there a way to activate the <canvas> support?

Greets
Sabine

mwilliams

Sabine,

I was under the impression that BIRT uses you default browser. I know that from within the designer, you can choose a preferred browser in your preferences.

Sabine

You are right...

I got a simple html5 file working, so the canvas tag should be no problem. I think this should work.

Then JavaScript is no problem, because one can load it directly in a html file which one can deploy to the iServer.

I think this is the solution for my problem

I just have to try-and-error a bit...