Difference between revisions of "Summarize iReport Template Data"

Latest revision as of 20:24, 20 February 2020

Summarising Report Data

In addition to displaying report details in an iReport template, the iReport Designer allows creating summaries or calculations of data returned in the report. These can take the form of totals, sums, and counts (stored in variables), or more complicated data summaries such as crosstabs or charts. Because summarizing data necessarily depends on multiple records, data summaries must exist in bands after the Detail band such as the Summary band, Footer band, or Group Footer bands.

Adding a Footer or Summary Section to the Report

Totals, averages, and other summary data are typically found at the end of a grouping or at the end of a report. If a desired band is not visible on the iReport Designer canvas:

1. Select the desired band in the Report Inspector
2. In the Properties pane, change the Band Height property to something more than 0 (e.g. 50).

Displaying Counts

iReport has a built-in variable for calculating the number of records in a report and the number of records in each group if the report contains groups. The number of records in the report is stored in the REPORT_COUNT variable. The number of records in each group is stored in the <GroupField>_COUNT where GroupField is the name of the field on which the group is created.

To display one of the built-in count variables in the report:

1. Expand the appropriate section to the report. If you would like to add the number of records in the report, you will need to expand the summary section of the report. If you would like to add the number of records for each group, you will need to expand the <GroupField>Footer section.
2. From the Report Inspector, select Variables.

The REPORT_COUNT variable will always be available in the Variables list. The variable to display the count for the group will only be displayed if the report contains groups.

3. To display the number of records in your report, drag the REPORT_COUNT variable to the summary section of the report.

If the REPORT_COUNT element is dragged to a section of the report other than the summary, the value returned by the REPORT_COUNT variable will be determined by where it is placed. For example, if the REPORT_COUNT is placed in the pageFooter section, the value returned will be the number of records displayed so far.

4. To display the number of records in each group, drag the <GroupName>_COUNT variable to the <GroupName>Footer section.

It may be helpful to add a text label beside any counts that you add to the report to identify the value. To add a text label, drag the static text element from the Palette pane.

Displaying Totals

iReport allows you to display the total of a particular attribute in the report. This is done by creating a variable to store the total value (see Adding a Variable to an iReport).

To display a total:

1. Ensure that a group footer or summary section has been added to the report.
2. From the Report Inspector pane, choose Variables and drag the variable to the summary section. If you drag it to the footer, the total for the values in the group will be calculated. If you drag it to the summary, the total for all values will be calculated.

In addition to the built-in functions to calculate the number of records and the sum of a field, iReport also allows you to define other types of variable calculations. A variable is a named object that stores the result of a calculation. iReport allows you to define new variables and how those variables should be calculated. For example, you may define a variable that calculates the average for a particular field such as the area size. Or, you may wish to display the maximum value of a field. In these situations, you may define a custom variable.

To create a custom variable:

1. Follow the steps to add a variable to an iReport.
2. From the Calculation Type list in the Properties pane, select the calculation that you would like to perform.

3. From the Reset Type list, select when a variable value should be reset to the initial value. For example, suppose you wanted to count the number of accidents in each location. Each time a new group—in this case a location—is encountered, the variable should be reset. To do this, you would need to reset the value of the variable after each group.

4. If you select Group as the Reset Type, you will need to select the group on which you would like to reset the variable from the Reset Group list. The Reset Group list will contain all fields on which the report is grouped.

If the field on which the variable should be reset is not listed in the Reset Group list, be sure that the field is included as one of the grouping levels for the report.

5. The Variable Expression field specifies the expression that will be provided to the variable. Typically, this will be the value of a field in the report. To specify a field in the report edit the Variable Expression field.
   
   Variable Expression Editor

In addition to the summary functions available on the variable, specific expressions can be used in the Expression Editor to define values. For example:

Crosstabs

In addition to summary variables, iReport provides the capability to build crosstab tables that display data in a grid for easy analysis and summary. Crosstabs allow you to choose data rows, columns, and the variable to be measured and then automatically produce a grid of results for display in a chart. As with other summary variables Crosstabs are generally used in the Summary Band in a report.

To create a Crosstab:

1. In the Palette pane, drag a Crosstab item to the Summary Band of the report.
2. The Crosstab wizard displays

   

   Crosstab wizard

3. Select the Field to use in the Row of the Crosstab grid.

   

   Crosstab wizard

4. Select the Field to use in the Column of the Crosstab grid.

   

   Crosstab wizard

5. Select the Field or Variable to use to represent the data in the grid. Typically this is a numeric field (e.g. areaSize) or if a count of the records is desired, the REPORT_COUNT variable.

   

   Crosstab wizard

6. Finalise the Crosstab display.

   

   Crosstab wizard

7. The Crosstab displays.

   

   Crosstab wizard

The report can now be run or additional adjustments to the report can be made including resizing columns and rows, number formatting, or display adjustments.

Charts

Charts provide a visual representation of the report data. Before you add a chart to your report, you should ensure that your report contains the following:

1. At least one grouping. The report groupings are used by iReport to determine what fields may be plotted. See Modify an iReport Template for more information on grouping.
2. At least one variable that contains a calculation. This calculation may be a count, total, or other custom calculation. These calculated variables define the size of the chart segment. The Reset type of this calculation should be set to Group and use the report grouping defined in #1. See Modify an iReport Template for more information on adding variables.

Pie Chart

Add a Pie Chart

To add a pie chart to the report:

1. Create a report which groups the results by the attribute on which you would like to base your chart (e.g. status).
2. Ensure that the Summary Band is available on the iReport template canvas.
3. Create a Variable to contain the values to be displayed in the chart (e.g. SUM_areaSize_byStatus). This variable should be based on a numeric field (e.g. areaSize) and should have the Reset type set to Group and the group selected set to the field you wish to create the chart from (e.g. status).
4. Select the Chart option from the Palette pane and drag it to the Summary Band of the report template to start the Chart Wizard.
5. Select one of the pie chart options.

   

   Chart options

6. Choose Main report dataset.

   

   Chart options

7. The next step is to provide the correct data for the chart to use. Pie Charts require a unique identifier and a numeric value where the unique identifier is the field to group the data by (i.e. the names of the wedges) and numeric value is the value to sum.

   

   Chart options

8. To select the unique value choose the Expression editor button and choose the field the report is grouped by (e.g. status). Note that charts in iReport will fail if the unique value is null. In order to account for null values, you will need to modify the expression so that null values are grouped into their own group. The expression should be modified to include the bolded text below.

   $F{status} == null ? "N/A" : $F{status}

   

   Set Unique Value

9. Next, select the numeric value that contains the desired numeric data for the chart. Note: This should always be the variable created in step 3 above (e.g. SUM_areaSize_byStatus).

   

   Select the desired numeric variable

10. Choose Next.

    

    Chart Wizard Completed

11. Choose Finish and the iReport template displays with the Chart.

    

    iReport displays with Chart

12. The report can now be previewed to ensure it is functioning as expected.

    

    Preview with chart

Modify a Pie Chart

Once a chart has been created in iReport Designer, its properties can be edited by selecting the Chart Data option on the right click menu and adjusting the values and properties.

To modify a chart:

1. Right click on the chart in iReport Designer and select Chart Data from the menu.
2. The Chart details window displays.

   

   Chart Data Properties

3. To edit the main properties of the chart, select the Details tab. Additionally, this screen can be used to edit the reset type of the chart which is relevant if the chart is displayed on a band other than the summary band.
4. The Chart Details window displays.

   

   Chart Data Properties

5. In this window, the basic properties of the chart that were established in the Chart Wizard can be edited. These include:
   • Key Expression: the field used to group data for charting purposes. To change the field, simply select another field. Note: The field must be used in the creation of the variable used in the value expression or the results will be incorrect.
   • Value Expression: the variable used to store the data to be displayed in the chart. If changes are made this value it is recommended to edit the variable properties as well.
   • Label Expression: the area used to define the labels for the chart. Any valid expression can be used here. See Variable Expressions for more details.

Bar Charts

Bar charts, unlike Pie Charts, have a third variable option that can be included in the report. In addition to the category and value expressions, bar charts add the option of a series. The series choice adds an additional possibility of grouping data though is not required.

Add a Bar Chart

To add a bar chart to the report:

1. Create a report which groups the results by the attribute on which you would like to base your chart (e.g. status)
2. Ensure that the Summary Band is available on the iReport template canvas.
3. Create a Variable to contain the values to be displayed in the chart (e.g. SUM_areaSize_byStatus). This variable should be based on a numeric field (e.g. areaSize) and should have the Reset type set to Group and the group selected set to the field you wish to create the chart from (e.g. status).
4. Select the Chart option from the Palette pane and drag it to the Summary Band of the report template to start the Chart Wizard.
5. Select one of the bar chart options.

   

   Chart options

6. Choose Main report dataset.

   

   Chart options

7. Provide a Series Expression (optional).

   

   Series Expression

8. The Series Expression allows you to define an added level of detail to your bar chart (if desired). To select the Series choose the Expression editor button and choose one of the fields the report is grouped by (e.g. status). Note that charts in iReport will fail if the Series value is null. In order to account for null values, you will need to modify the expression so that null values are grouped into their own group. The expression should be modified to include the bolded text below. You should replace the field the name of the field that you selected above.

   $F{status} == null ? "N/A" : $F{status}

   

   Set Series Value

   The expression that you enter in the Series Expression field will vary based on how you want the horizontal axis to appear:

   • If you would like the horizontal axis of the bar chart to reflect a single attribute such as the chart displayed below, the Series Expression will be the same as the Category expression.

   

   Bar chart –Single attribute y-axis

   • If you would like the horizontal axis of the bar chart to reflect the values of an additional attribute, the Series Expression would be the expression for the secondary level of detail. In the example shown below, the x-axis reflects the land priorities (e.g., Low, Medium, or High). In addition to displaying the priority, the bars of the chart use a different colour to reflect those land which block water access (red) vs. those that do not block the water (blue).

   

   Bar chart with different series Expression

   • Finally, the Series value can be left blank if desired.
9. The next step is to provide the correct data for the chart to use. Bar charts require a category expression and a value expression where the value expression is a field to group the data by (i.e. the names of the X axis) and value expression is the value to sum.

   

   Category and Values

10. To select the category expression choose the Expression editor button and choose one of the fields the report is grouped by (e.g. status). Note that charts in iReport will fail if the category expression is null. In order to account for null values, you will need to modify the expression so that null values are grouped into their own group. The expression should be modified to include the bolded text below. You should replace field with the field that you selected above.

    $F{status} == null ? "N/A" : $F{status}

    

    Set Category Expression

11. Next, select the value expression that contains the desired numeric data for the chart. Note: This should always be one of the variables created in step 3 above (e.g. SUM_status_byAreaSize).

    

    Select the desired value expression

12. Choose Finish and the iReport template displays with the Chart.

    

    iReport displays with Chart

13. The report can now be previewed to ensure it is functioning as expected.

    

    Preview with chart

Modify a Bar Chart

Once a bar chart has been created in iReport Designer, its properties can be edited by selecting the Chart Data option on the right click menu and adjusting the values and properties.

To modify a bar chart:

1. Right click on the chart in iReport Designer and select Chart Data from the menu.
2. The Chart Data properties display.
3. To edit the main properties of the chart, select the Details tab. Additionally, this screen can be used to edit the reset type of the chart which is relevant if the chart is displayed on a band other than the summary band.
4. The Chart Details window displays

   

   Chart Data Properties

5. For Bar Charts this presents the Category Series chooser. Typically there will be only one or two series to choose from here though more can be added at this point. Select the series to modify and choose Modify.
6. The Chart Data properties window will display

   

   Chart Data Properties

7. In this window, the basic properties of the bar chart that were established in the Chart Wizard can be edited. These include:
   • Series Expression: the field used to first group data for charting purposes. To change the field, simply select another field. Note: while this field is required it can be made blank or fixed by being set to a constant such as: "" or "Blank".
   • Category Expression: the field used to group data for charting purposes. To change the field, simply select another field. Note: The field must be used in the creation of the variable used in the value expression or the results will be incorrect.
   • Value Expression: the variable used to store the data to be displayed in the chart. If changes are made this value it is recommended to edit the variable properties as well.
   • Label Expression: the area used to define the labels for the chart. Any valid expression can be used here. See Variable Expressions for more details.