how to get started with Birt JS API

Hi Everyone, I am completely new to Birt. I haven't used an Open Source BI product earlier (more of BOBJ user). I am trying to create a POC where I can integrate Birt reports/dashboards/charts into a web page using Birt JS API. I found the API guide at <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://developer.actuate.com/be/documentation/Manualsihub2/using-jsapi.pdf'>http://developer.actuate.com/be/documentation/Manualsihub2/using-jsapi.pdf</a> but I am not very clear of how to get started. Some of the questions I have:- 1. I assume that I will have to download the iHub first to build the server component? If yes, is iHub available in the community edition? 2. I saw the article about Birt Viewer Toolkit. How is BVT different than iHub and in which scenario each can be used? 3. In the API guide, it doesn't mention the API's which will be supported in the community version vs. the commercial version. Is there any place where I can find the features which are only supported in the commercial version? Thanks,Sandeep

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Virgil Dodson

Hi Sandeep, The JavaScript API for integrating BIRT content is available for both the free BIRT Viewer Toolkit and the commercial BIRT iHub. The Deployment Guides at <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/deployment-guides/'>http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/deployment-guides/</a> have detailed information about both of these deployment options. To answer your questions:1. To get the BIRT iHub working you just download and install it. There is no building server components going on. At this time, the BIRT iHub is available at a commercial offering and there is no community edition. 2. The BIRT Viewer Toolkit is a lightweight (WAR file based) application for integrating BIRT content into web applications. It is based on the viewer example supplied in the open source BIRT project but adds some additional features like a JavaScript wrapper for easier integration, temporary file management, and better performance for BIRT reports through progressive viewing. As a WAR file deployment, everything is deployed within Java EE and uses those same resources. The BIRT iHub is a standalone visualization platform and server for deploying BIRT content into web application. It also includes the JavaScript API for integration but can scale to large applications because it is not limited to the Java EE container. This platform includes additional functionality like report security and management, interactive viewing of BIRT content, dashboards, scheduling, etc... There are lots more features and this one is sold commercially. 3. The BIRT Viewer Toolkit includes all the JSAPI calls for integrating and viewing BIRT content in web pages... any JSAPI call that needs a BIRT iHub Server feature will not be available. Also, any JSAPI call for the Interactive Viewer are also only available on the BIRT iHub.