Setting Up iReport for Fishbowl - Fishbowl Inventory

Setting Up iReport for FishbowliReport is automatically installed along with your Fishbowl Inventory software.This section will show you how to setup iReport so you can create new reports and modify the reportsthat are installed with Fishbowl Inventory. Reports that you create or modify may need to be compiledor rebuilt whenever your Fishbowl Inventory software is upgraded because the database structure mayhave changed.While you may be able to make minor changes to existing reports without much trouble, you will need aworking knowledge of SQL and Java to build new reports.This section will help you with the following tasks:1. Setting Up iReport for the Fishbowl Server Computer2. Setting up iReport on a Fishbowl Client Computer3. Compiling and saving changes to reports1. Setting Up iReport for the Fishbowl Server ComputerOpening iReportOpen iReport by clicking on the Start button. Select All Programs | Fishbowl | iReport | iReportSetting Up a Database ConnectioniReport already includes two database (aka datasource) connections to Fishbowl: one to the Bicyclesdatabase (example.fdb) and another to the default company database (event.fdb). Even with this youmay need to modify the “Fishbowl Company” connection to point to your company’s database.In iReport, click on the Data menu and choose Connections/Datasources. Highlight the line named‘Fishbowl Company’ and click the Modify button (shown below).

In the Connections properties window you will need to change the following:JDBC Driver: org.firebirdsql.jdbc.FBDriverJDBC URL:jdbc:firebirdsql://localhost/\Program Files\Fishbowl\database\data\EVENT.FDB.Username: gonePassword: fishingIf you did not install Fishbowl to the default location, you will also need to change the file path in JDBCURL. The file path (C:\Program Files…) should match the location and name of your database. Inthis example we are connecting to the ‘EVENT.FDB’ database installed in the default location.All other fields will not need to be changed.Note: Port 3050 must be open so iReport can connect to the database.After you have done this, click “Test” to make sure the connection is successful.

Setting Up an Active ConnectionThe Active Connection allows you to immediately check changes that you make to reports to see if theyhave any errors.Set the Active Connection by going to Data | Set active connection. Select Fishbowl Company and clickOk.Setting Up ClasspathsClasspaths are java files that iReport uses to connect and run properly with your information in Fishbowl.You will need to have the following six files in your Classpath window (the number 5.1 may be differentdepending on your version):elfgr-5.1.jareve-5.1.jareve-commons-5.1.jarfbcore-5.1.jarfirebirdsql-full-2.1.1.jar (or firebirdsql-full-1.5.5.1.jar if on version 4.7 or earlier)util-5.1.jarThese files are available (assuming default installation) in C:\Program Files\Fishbowl\lib1. Choose Options | Classpath2. Click Add JAR. Navigate to the Program Files\Fishbowl\lib. Hold down the control key and click on thesix files listed (or you can just highlight them all). Click Open and the files should appear in the Classpathwindow.This completes the setup process and you can now modify and create reports for Fishbowl. Anabbreviated version of the iReport Manual was installed with Fishbowl and you can download thecomplete iReport Manual from ireport.sourceforge.net/manual0.2.0.html.

2. Setting Up iReport on a Fishbowl Client ComputerSetting Up a Database ConnectionThe process for setting up iReport on a Client computer is similar to the Server setup. The only differenceis in the database connection (JDBC URL).JDBC Driver: org.firebirdsql.jdbc.FBDriverJDBC URL:jdbc:firebirdsql://192.168.1.10 /C:\Program Files\Fishbowl\database\data\event.FDB where 192.168.1.10is the IP address for the Fishbowl server and the file path is the location of the database file on thatserver.Username: gonePassword: fishingIf you did not install Fishbowl to the default location, you will also need to change the file path in JDBCURL. The file path should match the location and name of your database on your server.Note: Port 3050 must be open so iReport can connect to the database.After you have done this, click “Test” to make sure the connection is successful.Setting Up an Active Connection and ClasspathsUse the server instructions above to setup the Active Connection and Classpaths. The Classpath files willbe available on your current computer.

3. Creating, saving and running an iReport report in FishbowlSelect: File | Report Wizard. Enter a SQL query into the “SQL Query” box and then click Next.Example: SELECT * FROM partChoose the fields that you would like to view in your report by adding them to the box on the right side.

You may choose a field to group your results by. In this example we will not choose anything so clickNext.You can now choose a layout design. Any layout that contains the name “Fishbowl” and “ltr” is designedto print on a 8 ½ X 11 page.

You have now completed the Report Wizard and are ready to begin designing your report.The design tools and options are outlined in the iReport manual which you can download from theiReport website at http://jasperforge.org/sf/projects/ireport.

Saving and Compiling-In order for your reports to run inside of the Fishbowl reports module you must save two files on theserver computer in the ..\Fishbowl\Server\Reports folder.-The two files you need are created when you compile and save a report in iReport. The first file is a“*.jrxml” and the second is a “*.jasper” file.-The name that you save the report cannot contain spaces.You can also provide each report with its own report name so that you can distinguish it in Fishbowl fromother reports. To do this click Edit | Report Properties from within iReport. Under the box tiled “ReportName” type out the name. This name cannot contain spaces.

Once you have designed and saved a report to the Fishbowl reports folder you must tell Fishbowl to lookfor new reports in the reports folder. To do this open the Reports module. Click Tools | Module optionsand click the Refresh button.Now you will be able to see and run the report from any Fishbowl Client.The report will show up in the reports list as you entered the report name. You can also organize yourcustom reports by creating new folders in the Fishbowl/Server/Reports directory.