The JasperSoft Business Intelligence Suite (JBIS) is a family of Java-based open-source offerings that together comprise a BI platform for the organization, including an embeddable reporting engine for Java applications, a report server that can operate as a stand alone server or a Web-services-based reporting engine, an analysis component, and an ETL tool. Each of the components is individually available as an open source download; the project sponsor (JasperSoft Corporation) additionally adds support options and enhanced commercial versions of the tools.

At the core of JBIS is JasperReports, an open source reporting engine that Java developers can use to add reporting capabilities to their applications. Reports generated by JasperReports can be delivered to the screen, the printer, or to PDF, HTML, XLS, CSV, RTF, TXT or XML files.

The basic operational architecture of JasperReports starts with the creation of an XML-based report definition. The report definitions are then compiled into a bytecode form for use within the application; the parent application feeds to the JasperReports report filling methods both the compiled report design object as well as a JDBC connection to the DB from which data will be retrieved to fill the report with. Additionally, parameters can be passed to the report filling routines that enable the modification of the report's results; for example, user names/ids for inclusion within the report and/or for use within the query strings passed to the data source (ultimately modifying the retrieved data set for the report). Once filled, the resulting report can be printed, viewed on screen, or exported to one of the supported output formats.

Features of the reporting platform include support for layout elements (lines, rectangles, images, static/dynamic text fields; including positioning/sizing), subreports, and calculations; data presentation in single/multiple column layouts, free-form, tabular, crosstab (matrix), or chart formats; and support for multi-language Unicode or native encoded data.

Other components of JBIS include:

- JasperServer, a pure Java reporting server built on JasperReports. JasperServer can operate both as a stand-alone report server as well as a Web-services interfaced reporting engine.

- JasperAnalysis, an OLAP tool that maps onto existing relational data sources without requiring data movement and provides tools for analysts including dynamic drill, pivot, filter, and charting. JasperAnalysis leverages (and requires) JasperServer; the two are included in the same download with a license key enabling or disabling the JasperAnalysis module as appropriate (in the commercial version).

- JasperETL, facilitating data extraction, transformation, loading, and aggregation capabilities.

As mentioned, in addition to the open source downloads the vendor offers several commercial flavors of the tools--including Professional and Developer versions--with extended toolsets and commercial features including OEM/distribution rights, support, indemnification, etc.

New features of the latest release of JBIS Professional include an AJAX-based GUI that can be integrated with or embedded within Web-based apps; an ad-hoc dashboard builder; and a metadata layer for data sources targeted primarily to provide point-and-click ad-hoc data access for business users.

The JasperSoft Business Intelligence Suite is available now. Contact JasperSoft for further information.

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