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Setting BIRT up for Web Application

Katieee

I want to be able to use BIRT within my web application. This application sits on the ibm i (previously known as the as/400 I believe). 
I believe that if I put BIRT on the server, then placed some code within the web application - when the application was running it would execute that piece of code which would cause it to interact with BIRT (sitting on the server) which would run/render the report and then display the output within the web app as a result. 
Would placing this version of BIRT on the server be of use? (rcp designer) - <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://download.eclipse.org/birt/downloads/'>http://download.eclipse.org/birt/downloads/</a> 
It states on the site that 'Birt with html â€“ can call any birt functionality (such as viewing content via the birt viewer)' so do I need to add the report engine api to my web app?

I have attached the image from my previous post to display what I want to do

I briefly spoke of this idea in my last post but made a new one as it was getting away from the topic my last post was about which can be found here: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://developer.actuate.com/community/forum/index.php?/topic/36455-birt-statement-still-stand-as-true/'>http://developer.actuate.com/community/forum/index.php?/topic/36455-birt-statement-still-stand-as-true/</a>

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mwilliams

If you're wanting to use the viewer, the best thing to do is to download the BIRT Runtime and take the WebViewerExample folder and move it to your Java Application Server and rename it birt or whatever you'd like. Then, you can call your reports by URL from anywhere that can access it. With the open source viewer, you could also use the JSP tag library and pull the BIRT content into your web application if using JSP pages.

Katieee

Hi Michael, 
Thank you for replying, 
Is there anywhere that gives examples of how to call the reports by URL that you could recommend I look at? would you mind elaborating on what you mean by 'from anywhere that can access it' just so I can ensure I fully understand what you mean

Also is there a scenario where the report engine api would be used in my existing web app for the birt reports to work? 
I'm just wanting to explore all the options that could be available to me as well as gaining an insight as to how it could be accomplished.

mwilliams

"Anywhere that can access it" would be anywhere if you host the app publicly or just locally if you only have the app available locally. Info on using web viewer: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/integrating-birt-into-applications/birt-with-java-ee-web-app/'>http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/integrating-birt-into-applications/birt-with-java-ee-web-app/</a> Info on the tag library: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/integrating-birt-into-applications/birt-with-jsp/'>http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/integrating-birt-into-applications/birt-with-jsp/</a> Yes, you could use the report engine api to execute the reports and display them in an existing app. You'd just have to modify your app to use the output file or output stream returned by the class you create that runs the report designs.

Katieee

Hi Michael, 
Thank you for replying you have been very helpful in answering my questions

If I wanted to use the report engine API, would I place the BIRT file (web viewer example) on the server still or not? 
Essentially what you're saying is that I'd need to create a class myself within my app so that it would run the report file I want to use and then add some more code elsewhere so that it would use the output file (so it could display in the app?) 
Personally which would you say would be the easiest method to do? (Do you know if putting birt on an ibm i server would work the same as any other server you put it on? I really can't find any info on ibm i for birt at all

) 
edit* 
With the interactive viewer it looks like it uses iHub - How would I use that would iHub sit on the server I was using ?

mwilliams

If you were writing your own code to execute your report designs, you would not need to deploy the viewer. If you are using or can use JSP pages within your application OR if you don't mind opening your reports in a separate window, the viewer would be the easiest as you wouldn't have to write much/any code. iHub would be a separate install on your server that would communicate with your application through the REST and JavaScript APIs. This option would give you the most bang for your buck as you'd have scheduling, security, interactivity, distribution, dashboards, etc. at your hands, out-of-the-box. There is a Free Edition of the Actuate iHub, called the iHub F-Type. Its only limitation is that it has a limited throughput allowance each day. Otherwise, it has pretty much all the features of the regular iHub. Edit: Forgot to say something about the IBM i. I've not used it, but from reading about it, it seems like it'd work well for any of these methods, but I can't guarantee that.

Katieee

Hi Michael, 
So if I was going to use the report engine api to add my own class with code in then I'd not need the viewer on the server?(Just ensuring any info I have is correct and I haven't misinterpreted it) 
I think I would like to use the viewer, as you pointed out it could be the easiest method as it requires little/no extra code and I'm just looking for a simple but effective method of viewing the outcome of the report through the web app (I think the output needs to be html) 
(When calling it can it not be put on the server and I can call it from there rather than it being on a machine?) 
The web app doesn't use JSP's so I don't think that is an option,which is a shame as it sounds straight forward

If I were to use the free ihub - how would I access my report so it would display throughout the web app, would it be through the javascript on that link:
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/integrating-birt-into-applications/birt-with-html/'>http://developer.actuate.com/deployment-center/integrating-birt-into-applications/birt-with-html/</a>
 
I know I must be asking a lot of questions, it's just you and Jesse appear to be the only ones who have good enough knowledge to help me understand the questions I am asking. You have both helped me a ton in the past week - so thank you to you both

mwilliams

If you write your own code to handle running your designs and then handling how you display the design or give your users access, you do not need to use the viewer. For using the viewer, you just need to have it deployed to a Java Application Server then, access your reports by URL. For the iHub, you'd be able to integrate content into any page that you can use JavaScript in. And, you're welcome!

Katieee

Hi Michael, 
That's cleared things up nicely! 
If the web application I want to use, uses rpg for the back end, is there anything I'm going to have to take into consideration in order to get it to work with BIRT? Just as I did not previously mention that before. I believe it to use JSON/EXTjs to work too. 
Thanks, 
Kate

mwilliams

I don't think you'll have to worry about anything with that just calling reports by URL from the viewer.

Katieee

Hi Michael, 
Okay then, thank you very much for all of your help! fingers crossed I can get this to work!

Thanks, 
Kate

mwilliams

Good luck. Let us know if you run into issues.