Using Jasper Reports Part 4 (Using sub reports and passing parameters in jasper sub reports )

Welcome to the Part 4 of  Using Jasper Reports Series. In previous article we went through Datasets  and Table component in JasperReports. In this article, let us know How  to Create a sub report and pass parameters to it.

While working with iReports sometimes we come across the situation , when we can’t handle the overall design with a single report , in that case we need to break our report in saveral Sub-Reports . In other words we can say that Subreport is nothing but a simple Report that is included inside another report. This allows the creation of very complex layouts with different portions of a single document filled using different data sources and reports.

To understand the functioning and design of Sub-Reports we have to follow these steps

(A) Creating the Main Report and its custom datasource.

(B) Creating the Sub-Report layout and adding it to the main report.

(C) Passing Parameters from Main-Report to Sub-Report

Creating the Main Report and its custom datasource.

First of all , we need a main report to add a sub-report to it , we have already a Main-Report here :

Main-Report is nothing but a simple report as we have created before .If you don’t know how to create a simple report , please go through the Previous Articles .

Creating the Sub-Report layout and adding it to the main report.

Now let’s create an another simple report to use as a sub-report . Here we have already an another report to use as sub-report :

And we have a Sub-Report and a Main-Report , to add a sub-report open main report in designer and just go to the Pallette Section of the Designer and choose Subreport component as shown in figure :

Lets add this sub-report component to Summary band of Main-Report for now, Now an window w’ll open like this :

We have three options to set the type of sub-report we are creating , lets select second option i.e. Use an existing report for now :

Now browse for sub-report file that we have  already created :

Now click next :

Let the default option be selected for now , click next :

Choose parameters name here let the Expression part empty for now , we w’ll  cover it later , click next :

Here we are asked to specify the Sub-Report location , its better to choose the upper one , because it contains an dynamic value for report path  and we can set the path variables dynamically , click Finish :

Now you w’ll get an icon on Main Report for the component , as shown in figure :

Passing Parameters from Main-Report to Sub-Report.

When viewing a report within iReport Designer  we can select the properties of the subreport within the main report. Like this :

In this there is an option in Subreport Properties called Parameters. Using this we can pass parameters to your subreport.

 Select this and click the Add button from the window , as shown in figure :

Now give a name to parameter and click the button right of the Value Expression  Box as shown in figure :

Next an option screen will pop up where you can select the parameter from the master report you want to pass like this :

In Expression Editor , select Parameters from bottom-left portion as shown by Black Circle , now you will get all the available parameters , in middle-bottom box , select the parameter that you want to pass to your sub-report and click Apply.

Here we are done with passing a Parameter from Main Report to Sub Report . In next part we w'll cover How to Insert  Images into Jasper Reports.

Hope it helps !

Nagesh Chauhan

www.oodlestechnologies.com