About report gadgets
A report gadget embeds an entire BIRT document file, BIRT design file or an element found in either file that has a reference bookmark, such as a single cross tab, table, or chart, into a gadget. The embedded document retains the file access privileges of the original BIRT document.
If the displayed BIRT file includes parameters, other gadgets can affect the data displayed in the report. Parameters enable users to input values into the BIRT document or design file for filtering, formatting or processing data. Parameters can be required to run a file job or they can be optional.
For example, parameters for a BIRT document can appear as a user selectable list. When a user selects a different item in the list, the report gadget updates to show data relevant to the user choice.
You can also use parameters to request a report in a specific language or to add comments into the final report. Parameters are created by BIRT developers using BIRT Designer Professional.
Report gadgets can display parameters as part of the gadget. After selecting your parameters, choose Run to update the report.
Figure 4‑23 shows a report gadget with a parameter as part of the report gadget.
Figure 4‑23 Parameter as part of a report gadget
Use data selection gadgets to search for and send selected values to multiple BIRT reports. After selecting the desired values, the linked report gadgets update to show data related to your selection. These values can filter data displayed in the BIRT report or be used in the BIRT report by scripts.
Figure 4‑24 shows a report gadget with a parameter in a separate selector gadget.
Figure 4‑24 Parameter as a separate data selection gadget
Use parameter gadgets to send one or more selected operators and values to multiple BIRT reports. For example, an Internal Use choice that prints additional information to a report file based on the user selection.
After selecting parameter values and choosing Apply Changes, the report gadget updates the report and displays the new data. For more information about report parameters, see
Using parameters.
Figure 4‑25 shows a sample parameter gadget.
Figure 4‑25 Supplying values to a parameter gadget
You can change the appearance and layout of BIRT document data, when you maximize a report gadget. Report and Reportlet gadgets support multiple drill‑through of charts when the BIRT developer enables this functionality, as shown in
Figure 4‑26.
Figure 4‑26 Selecting a multiple drill-through link from a BIRT chart
Modifications to report gadgets on shared dashboards reset the next time the dashboard refreshes. Modifications to a user dashboard are stored in the user’s personal dashboard file. Refreshing a report gadget or refreshing a dashboard with a report gadget will rerun the report displayed in the gadget.
