Summary Fields

A summary generates a count, average, sum, standard deviation or other transformation of a set of data values. A summary applies to a defined group of data or to the entire dataset.

See an example: The SampleComponents catalog, included with JReport Designer, contains reports that have examples of how each component type could be used in a report. For the summary field example, open <install_root>\Demo\Reports\SampleComponents\UsingSummaries.cls.

Inserting summary fields in a report

Summary fields can be inserted in the report areas listed in Component placement.

Notes:

Dynamic summary fields can be inserted into the header/footer/detail panel and all group panels in both banded objects and tables. However, if you are using a static summary it can only be inserted at the group level specified. If no group then it can only be placed into the header/footer/detail panels. If it does specify a Group By column then it can only be placed in the corresponding group panel. Trying to place it anywhere else will display an error.
If you want to insert a summary field defined with a special function into a table or banded object, there must be a group with the same special function in the table or banded object.
When you insert summary fields to a table or banded object, if the table or banded object is in another banded object and it inherits its parent's dataset, the summaries should take Up group level if they are dynamic summaries.
If you insert a summary into the detail panel of a table or banded object, the name of the summary will automatically be inserted as a label into the corresponding header panel. Otherwise the summary and its name label will be placed in the same panel. If you do not want to insert the name label automatically, you can uncheck Insert field name label with field in the Options dialog (File > Options > Component > Insert field name label with field).

Changing the display type of summary fields

JReport Designer provides 13 kinds of display types: Text, Image, Barcode, Rank, Text Field, Hidden Field, Text Area, Checkbox, Radio Button, Image Button, Button, List, and Drop-down List. By changing the display type of a summary field, you can map the summary field to other value or image to be displayed instead.

A summary field in a page report created using query resources can be displayed as one of the following general types: Text, Image, Barcode and Rank. It can also be displayed as a basic web control, including Text Field, Password, Text Area, Checkbox, Radio Button, Image Button, and Button. While the summary fields in a web report or library component can only be displayed as Text.

The Display Type feature is not supported in page reports created using business views.

Binding links to summary fields

You can make the summary fields in a report link with other reports, locations specified by URLs, e-mail addresses, or Blob data type fields. The links can either be simple links or conditional links. With conditional links, different targets can be loaded based on different conditions.

To bind a link to a summary field, right-click it and click Link on the shortcut menu, then take the same procedure as described in Binding Links to Labels.

Adding conditional formats to summary fields

You can add conditional formats to summary fields in a report, then when a specified condition is fulfilled, the format defined on the condition will be applied to the field values automatically. This is very useful to highlight values that might need to be acted on by end users.

To add conditional format to a summary field, right-click it and select Conditional Formatting from the shortcut menu, then take the same procedure as described in Adding Conditional Formats to DBFields.