I am developing a Swing based client-server application and realized that
Java don't have much cheap (or even free) reporting and printing solution. Any expert here can share your experience with me?
That's my basic idea:
Client tier using Swing application to capture reporting criteria. Then package the criteria into an Report request object including the information of report type, criteria, ordering sequence, output format, scheduled running time, etc. And then send to middle tier (via RMI or
servlet) and wait for the output return.
Middle tier accept the request, identify the report type and route the request to a reporting serving engine (RSE). The RSE process the report request. Retrieve data using
JDBC from DB server, formatting those data to a specific format (using a designed reporting template, best to use XML to describe it. The report may contain graphics, multi-column, complex layout, instead of just simple listing). Generate the output file in PDF, XML, HTML or other format, etc.
And then send back to client tier.
Anyone has similar idea or even code that can share with me? I found most JAVA reporting solution is so expensive that I cannot afford.
Anthony