Introduction to FineReport Interface

FineReport includes two parts: FineReport Designer and Decision-Making Platform.

· You can use FineReport Designer to perform operations on forms, graphics, parameters, controls, entry, printing, export, and so on.

· You can use Decision-Making Platform to manage forms, users and settings. The platform includes User, Directory, Permission, System, Intelligent Operations, Security, and other functions. Admins can use Decision-Making Platform to manage reports, including Permission, User, System, and other functions. General users can log in Decision-Making Platform to view reports within their permissions.

Menu Bar

The menu bar includes all the management functions of FineReport Designer. For details, see File.

Report Management Panel

All reports designed through FineReport 11.0 are saved by default in the reportlets folder under the directory %FR_HOME%/webapps/webroot/WEB-INF and are displayed in the report management panel.

Dataset Management Panel

You can save your custom datasets in the dataset panel. Dataset refers to the data obtained from a database through SQL query statements. Datasets can serve as the direct data source for report design.

There are two types of datasets: Template Dataset and Server Dataset. For details, see Dataset.

Preview

Click Preview to select how to view the report.

There are four ways of previewing general reports: Pagination Preview, Data Entry Preview, Data Analysis Preview, and Mobile Preview. The default preview is Pagination Preview.

There are three ways of previewing dashboards: PC Preview, Mobile Preview, and Developing Debug.

Adjusting Format

You can use these buttons to adjust the font and cell format of the report.

· Font: Type, Size, Bold, Italic, Underline, Position, Foreground (Font Color).

· Cell: Border, Background (Background Color).

Quick Access Button

You can place commonly used buttons for report design on the quick access button panel. Quick access buttons include Merge Cells, Unmerge Cells, Insert Data Column, Insert Text, Insert Rich Text, Insert Formula, Insert Chart, Insert Image, Insert Slash, Insert Sub Report, and Insert Float.

Parameter Panel

You can place query controls in Parameter Panel when binding template parameters and dataset parameters to controls for data query.

Body of FineReport Designer

The body of FineReport Design is the interface for designing the report. In the figure below section “FineReport Designer Overview”, you can see the body is a form with infinite rows and columns like Excel. You can use it like using Excel.

When designing reports with FineReport, you only need to understand how to bind data columns with cells. These operations are all handled by background codes, so you do not need to code.

Property Panel

1. Property Panel is divided into six parts: Cell Element, Cell Attributes, Floating Element, Widget Setting, Conditional Formatting, and Hyperlink. They are displayed as vertical tabs.

2. Click  in the upper left corner of Property Panel, and you can fold or collapse the panel. When you fold the panel, there are only the tab icons. When you collapse the panel, there are detailed settings.

When you select a tab, you can click  in the upper right corner to pop up or put back the tab block.

When Property Panel pops up, the height of the panel shrinks. When there is not enough space to display all the settings, there will be a scroll bar at the bottom. When your cursor hovers over the scroll bar, the cursor will become a bidirectional arrow. You can drag to adjust the height of the panel.

When your cursor hovers over the title of the pop-up panel, you can drag the panel to adjust its position.

Log Panel

Click Log to view detailed log information of the designer. For more details about log level and settings, see Log Introduction.

Sheet Management Panel

In Sheet Management Panel, you can add, delete, rename, and copy sheets.

Zoom Scrollbar

You can use the zoom scrollbar in the bottom right corner to zoom in or zoom out the body of the report.

Template Detection Assistant

FineReport 11.0 has the built-in plugin Template Assistant. You can click Template Detection Assistant to check the performance of a template. It will inform you of the possible performance problems and provide solutions. For details, see Template Detection Assistant.

Note: This function only supports cpt templates.

Notification

FineReport 11.0 can show notifications. For example, inconsistency of design environment will be showed at  in the upper right corner.

Decision-Making Platform is FineReport's built-in report management system.

The admin can use Decision-Making Platform to manage reports, including Permission, User, System and other functions. General users can log in Decision-Making Platform to view reports within their permissions.

Initialization

After installation, FineReport Designer will open the initialization interface by default.

If there is no initialization interface, you can click Server > Platform Management on the menu bar to open.

Set the username and password for the super admin on the initialization interface. Click OK > Next.

Note: Remember your username and password. The super admin’s password is not allowed to be changed and cannot be reset. Do not forget the password.

After going to the database configuration interface, select Built-in Database or External Database as needed.

· Built-in Database is used on local devices when individual users are on the free trail. Click Direct Login to log in and start using it.

· External Database is used for formal use by enterprises. Click Configure Database to configure an external database for FineReport. For more details about the configuration of external databases, see External Database Configuration.

After configuration, enter the admin’s username and password on the login interface, and click Login.

Directory Interface

After logging into the platform, the admin can see the reports in directories on the Directory interface.

Manage Interface

In Manage, the admin can configure User, Directory, Permission, System, Intelligent Operations, Security, and so on.

Directory

Directory allows adding, deleting and modifying the directory trees, and adjusting the position of directories.

User

User allows managing the information of the platform users.

Permission

Permission allows making configurations that users can only access the resources within their permissions, according to security rules or security policies set by the system.

Appearance

Appearance allows customizing Login Page, Platform Theme, Platform Style and Directory Style.

System

System includes Login, General, Print, Mailbox, and SMS.

Task Schedule

In Task Schedule, after setting the scheduled tasks, the server will automatically complete the tasks at the scheduled time, generate the required files, and even notify users of the results through email, SMS, and platform message notifications to allow users to analyze and make decisions in time.

Mobile Platform

Mobile Platform includes APP Splash Screen, Device Binding, QR Code Configuration, Theme, Directory, and Others.

Registration

Registration provides Version Information and purchased Function List of the current project.

Intelligent Operations

Intelligent Operations allows managing and maintaining the products.

Data Connection

Data Connection allows creating a new data connection, and viewing or modifying the database connected to the current report system without the designer.

Plugin

Plugin allows installing, deleting, updating, disabling, and enabling plugins.

Security

Security includes Security, Access Control, Anti-SQL Injection, and Watermark Setting.

Template Authentication

Template Authentication allows deciding what reports the user can view. AUTH Method includes Authentication User Password Only, Role Permission Authentication, and Digital Signature Authentication.

Map Configuration

Map Configuration allows customizing the map information.

Extracted Data Cache

In Extracted Data Cache, by caching the query results of the dataset, you can use the cache data without connecting to the database again to make the same query. In this way, you can reuse the resources and reduce the data retrieval time to improve the speed. By regularly extracting and updating cached data, the data accuracy can be improved.