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Development of Stimulsoft products with Angular components
Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:36:53 -0400

Today, we will discuss certain features of the development of Stimulsoft tools, incorporating Angular components. Primarily, we will dive into the reporting tool Reports.ANGULAR, along with our latest product, Forms.WEB, designed for crafting fillable PDFs and online forms in Angular-based applications. Additionally, beginning with version 2023.4 of Stimulsoft Reports, Dashboards, and Forms, support for the Angular viewer has been integrated into the Reports.JAVA product. Therefore, the information in this article is also relevant to this particular product.

New versions of the Angular framework

New versions of the Angular framework are released approximately every six months, with support spanning a total of 18 months - 6 months of active support and 12 months of LTS. Currently, versions 14, 15, and 16 are officially supported. However, in a month, with the release of version 17, support for Angular version 14 will be entirely discontinued.

Compatibility of Stimulsoft products with different versions of Angular

With the release of each new version of the Angular framework, we conduct compatibility tests on our components. Currently, Stimulsoft products, including all libraries and packages for developers, have been thoroughly tested and are fully compatible with Angular versions 14, 15, and 16. Following the launch of a new framework version, we promptly conduct compatibility tests and identify potential errors. Nevertheless, as a rule, changes in Angular do not impact the functionality of our products. Therefore, utilizing them in applications and services developed on the latest versions poses no issues.
Thus, as of writing this article, the oldest supported version of Angular for our components is version 14. Following the conclusion of the long-term support (LTS) for version 14 on November 18, 2023, Stimulsoft products will cease support for this outdated version. Consequently, our components will maintain full compatibility with Angular versions 15, 16, and 17. This pattern will persist in the future: the termination of long-term vendor support for a version will signify the discontinuation of support for that particular version in our components. Note!
When we refer to support, we mean complete compatibility between the platform and our products. This does not imply that Stimulsoft components won't function in projects using older versions of the framework. It signifies that, due to objective reasons, we cannot assure full compatibility.

What if I have a project on an old version of Angular?
Using the "--force" flag

The Angular framework vendor does not ensure backward compatibility between versions, meaning a component compiled on a later version is not guaranteed to function on an earlier one. Naturally, this principle also applies to our products. Especially in such cases, we recommend using "--force" to compel the installation of an older version. For instance, if you are integrating our product into a project written in Angular version 12, installing our component is only possible with the “--force” flag.

Initial values for List Box or Combo Box elements
Mon, 16 Oct 2023 09:39:45 -0400

In today's article, we will discuss one of the innovations in the 2023.3 release - the ability to change the initial values for dashboard elements like List Box or Combo Box.

What are initialization values?

List Box or Combo Boxes list elements can contain data columns with keys, representing the values used for data filtering on the dashboard, as well as a data column containing the names corresponding to these keys, which are the values displayed in these elements.
So, initial values refer to the initial selections of List Box or Combo Box elements when viewing the dashboard in the viewer.

How did it work before?

In previous versions, initial values for List Box or Combo Box elements followed these rules:
  • In selection mode as one without the All option, the initial value for the elements was the first value from the data column in the Key field;

  • In selection mode as one with the All option, the initial value for the elements was All;

  • In selection mode as multi with or without the All option, the initial values for the elements included all the available values for the element.

How does it work now?

Starting with version 2023.3, the initial values of List Box or Combo Box elements now depend on the Initial Value parameter in the element editor. By default, this parameter is unselected, which means that the initial values of the elements will be determined as in previous versions, based on the selection mode and the presence of All.
However, when developing or editing a dashboard, you have the option to specify a different initial value for the List Box or Combo Box element. Note!
The initial values for List Box or Combo Box elements must correspond to the values from the data column specified in the Key field of that element. If the value provided in the Initial Values parameter field does not match any of the values in the data column with keys, the initial values of the elements will be set as in previous versions, based on the selection mode and the presence of All.

How many initial values can you specify?

The number of initial values depends on the value of the Selection Mode parameter for List Box or Combo Box elements. In selection mode as one, you can choose only one initial value in an element. In selection mode as multi for an element, you can select either one value or a list of values separated by a semicolon in the Initial Value parameter field.
As a result, when designing and editing dashboards with List Box or Combo Box filtering elements, you can now configure the initial state of the analytical panel with greater flexibility.

Stimulsoft Reports, Dashboards, and Forms 2023.4 version has been released!
Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

We are happy to introduce the latest version of Stimulsoft products – 2023.4! This release comes with numerous enhancements and innovations aimed at making your data-related tasks in report, dashboard, and form creation even more convenient and efficient. The standout feature of this release is the new product, Reports.AVALONIA, designed for working with reports in applications developed using Avalonia technology on the .NET Core, .NET 6, and .NET 7 platforms. Additionally, we have implemented support for the Angular viewer in the Reports.JAVA product, introduced a new digital signature element for .NET reporting tools, added caching for Reports.JS, and adapted Stimulsoft BI Server for .NET Framework 4.7.2. Let us dive into the details of each improvement.

A list of the new features in version 2023.4


Reports.AVALONIA

Introducing our latest product – Stimulsoft Reports.AVALONIA! This reporting tool for the Avalonia UI framework comes equipped with a robust data processing engine and an interactive viewer that supports multi-level drill-down, sorting, grouping data, and much more. Additionally, the new product offers a wide range of export formats for generated reports, including PDF, Excel, MS Word, and many others. It also supports all the data formats used in Stimulsoft for connection, such as MS SQL, Firebird, MySQL, PostgreSQL, XML, JSON, and more. Please note that Reports.AVALONIA is exclusively available in the Stimulsoft Ultimate subscription.

Python data adapters

We have incorporated support for Python data adapters in Reports.JS and Dashboards.JS. Now, they can be utilized to fetch data from various sources, including MS SQL, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and others.

The Angular viewer in Reports.JAVA

The latest release introduces support for the Angular viewer in the reporting writer for Java. This is a full-featured, fast, modern report viewer that is compatible with Angular platform versions 14 and above. On the server side, a fully functional reporting engine is utilized, running on the Java platform version 1.8 and higher.

Unloading assemblies from memory

For reporting tools operating on the .NET Core 3.1 platform and higher, we have implemented automatic unloading of the compiled report assembly from memory upon completion of the report. This prevents memory leaks when rendering reports in compile mode.

The new signature component

We have introduced a new digital signature component for exporting reports to PDF. The PDF Element component is used to define the digital signature's location and choose options for displaying certificate information. When the report is exported to PDF, the digital signature is populated with certificate data. Configuration of the PDF element component can be done either in its editor or by using properties.

Data source conversion

We have added the capability to change the type of data sources. For instance, file data sources can now be converted to SQL sources, and vice versa. This can be easily accomplished using the Change Type command, accessible in the context menu of the data source connection. Please be aware that while the data source type will change, the request body will not undergo conversion.

Caching for Reports.JS

Creating a report with a substantial number of pages demands a significant amount of RAM. Consequently, when rendering big reports, the Out of Memory error often occurred. In this release, we have incorporated the option to enable caching for JavaScript reporting tool. To enable caching for JS component in both the web browser and Node.js, you can use the reportCacheMode option of the report object. Please note that the cache size is restricted by the available resources of the web browser.

New data sources

In version 2023.4, support for multiple data sources has been introduced for JavaScript components. Now, you can retrieve data from MongoDB sources. Oracle support has also been implemented in Node.js. Additionally, you have the capability to create a GIS data source based on WKT or GeoJSON files. With the data obtained from these sources, you can then develop reports and dashboards.

Custom color

We have introduced the capability to use any color for the report designer. You can set a custom accent color for the designer by utilizing the CustomThemeAccentColor component option. In Stimulsoft Cloud, color selection is performed in the Options menu of the report designer, specifically on the GUI tab. The Color Accent parameter should be set to Custom, and using the Color parameter, you can choose the desired shade.


Document viewing security

We now offer the ability to protect reports from unauthorized access after exporting to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This can be achieved by specifying a password for the "Encrypt with Password" option in the Document Security group when exporting the report.

Document editing security

When exporting reports to Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) files, you can protect them from unauthorized editing. To achieve this, set the Restrict Editing parameter to Yes or Except Editable Fields. Then, specify the password as the value of the Password parameter in the Document Security group of the export settings. After this, editing the protected part of the documents will only be possible after entering the correct password.

Updated filter editor

We have updated the filter editor for dashboard elements. Now creating a filter is done using the Add Filter button, and commands for working with the clipboard have also been added to the context menu. With their help, you can now copy, cut, paste and delete a filter in the editor.

Setting up titles for maps

The new version has introduced a group of properties called Labels for the Region Map element and the Map component. With this set of properties, you can configure the font, text color, and shadow color for labels on maps in dashboards and reports, respectively.

.NET Framework 4.7.2 for Stimulsoft BI Server

We have updated Stimulsoft BI Server to .NET Framework 4.7.2, enabling us to update dependent packages to the latest versions and enhance speed and stability on new server OS and cloud services.


Numbering in the Table

The ability to number rows has been added to the Table element in Stimulsoft Forms. To achieve this, version 2023.4 introduced the Line variable, which can be specified as an expression in line headers. After that, when viewing the form both in the viewer and in PDF, the Line variable will be replaced with a numeric value. Line numbering starts from one.

Transition to .NET Framework 4.7.2 in Stimulsoft BI Server
Mon, 25 Sep 2023 04:23:11 -0400

Today, we are announcing an important change to our BI Server product, a full-cycle client-server reporting system. Starting with the upcoming version 2023.4, we have decided to update Stimulsoft BI Server to .NET Framework 4.7.2.

End of support for .NET Framework 4.5.2

Microsoft discontinued support for the .NET Framework 4.5.2 on April 26, 2022. Accordingly, from that point onward, there have been no further platform updates related to functionality and security, and technical support is no longer provided. Most of the dependent modules used in BI Server have ceased releasing updates with fixes for this framework version for quite some time. As a result, they may work unstable on new server operating systems and cloud services.

Migration to .NET Framework 4.7.2

Starting with the release 2023.4, BI Server will be updated to .NET Framework 4.7.2. We have made this decision for several reasons:
  • this version is supported by Microsoft, ensuring regular updates;
  • security patches are regularly released for .NET Framework 4.7.2;
  • version 4.7.2 is compatible with both new and older operating systems;
  • our tool of Stimulsoft Reports and Stimulsoft Dashboards product lines were migrated to .NET Framework 4.7.2 over a year ago.

Summary

Switching to a more recent version of the .NET Framework will enable you to update dependent modules to their current versions. This, in turn, will allow you to use Stimulsoft BI Server on servers with new systems and frameworks, increasing data security and enabling us to further improve our product.

Utilizing the reporting tool Stimulsoft Reports.JS on the Express framework for Node.js (including samples)
Tue, 19 Sep 2023 09:21:43 -0400

Stimulsoft Reports.JS stands as a powerful tool for creating and displaying reports within web applications based on frameworks such as Vue.js, React.js, Node.js, and others. In this article, we will guide you through the utilization of our JavaScript report writer in projects and applications built upon the Express framework for Node.js. We will provide a step-by-step guide on how to work with it, along with some samples to help you kick-start your journey.

Step 1. Project setup

To get started, you must either create a new Express.js project or use an existing one. Install the required dependencies by executing the following command in your project directory:
npm install stimulsoft-reports-js express

Step 2. Express.js Server Configuration

Next, create a new file in your Node.js project, for example, server.js, and import the necessary modules:
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000; // - any port. 
Next, set up a route for the viewer.html page:
app.get('/viewer', (req, res) => {
	res.sendFile(__dirname + '/viewer.html');
});

app.get('/stimulsoft.reports.js', (req, res) => {
	res.sendFile(__dirname + "/node_modules/stimulsoft-reports-js/Scripts/stimulsoft.reports.js");
});

app.get('/stimulsoft.viewer.js', (req, res) => {
	res.sendFile(__dirname + "/node_modules/stimulsoft-reports-js/Scripts/stimulsoft.viewer.js");
});
Start the server by adding the following code to the end of the file:
app.listen(port, () => {
	console.log(`Server running on port $`);
});

Step 3. Creating a Viewer Page

Generate a new HTML file in the project directory and append the subsequent code to it. This will incorporate the essential Stimulsoft Reports.JS libraries and initialize the viewer:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
	<head>
		<title>Stimulsoft Reports.js Viewer</title>
		<script src="https://www.stimulsoft.com/stimulsoft.reports.js"></script>
		<script src="https://www.stimulsoft.com/stimulsoft.viewer.js"></script>
	</head>
	<body>
		<div id="viewer"></div>
		<script>
			var options = new Stimulsoft.Viewer.StiViewerOptions();
			var viewer = new Stimulsoft.Viewer.StiViewer(options, "StiViewer", false);
			viewer.renderHtml("viewer");
		</script>
	</body>
</html>

Step 4. Create a report template

Create a new file in the directory, for example, SampleReport.mrt. Use Stimulsoft Designer to create a report and save it as SampleReport.mrt.

Step 5. Displaying the report in the viewer

Next, set up a route to load the report template and pass it to the viewer:
app.get('/report', (req, res) => {
	res.sendFile(__dirname + '/SampleReport.mrt');
});
Then add the code to viewer.html:
var report = new Stimulsoft.Report.StiReport();
report.loadFile("/report");
viewer.report = report;

Step 6. Starting the project

Initiate the project by running node server.js and access http://localhost:3000/reports in a browser to preview the page. Once the template has been integrated into the project, the report will be showcased within the viewer.

Report Designer

To enable the report designer to function, you need to establish a route initially for the stimulsoft.designer.js file and subsequently for the designer.html page.
app.get('/designer', (req, res) => {
	res.sendFile(__dirname + '/designer.html');
});

app.get('/stimulsoft.viewer.js', (req, res) => {
	res.sendFile(__dirname + "/node_modules/stimulsoft-reports-js/Scripts/stimulsoft.designer.js");
});

Create a designer page

The workflow remains consistent - we generate a new file, such as designer.html, within the project directory. Then, we incorporate the subsequent code into the HTML file to load the essential Stimulsoft Reports.JS libraries and initialize the designer:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
	<head>
		<title>Stimulsoft Reports.js Designer</title>
		<script src="https://www.stimulsoft.com/stimulsoft.reports.js"></script>
		<script src="https://www.stimulsoft.com/stimulsoft.viewer.js"></script>
		<script src="https://www.stimulsoft.com/stimulsoft.designer.js"></script>
	</head>
	<body>
		<div id="designer"></div>
		<script>
			var options = new Stimulsoft.Designer.StiDesignerOptions();
			var designer = new Stimulsoft.Designer.StiDesigner(options, "StiDesigner", false);
			designer.renderHtml("designer");

			var report = new Stimulsoft.Report.StiReport();
			report.loadFile("/report");
			designer.report = report;
		</script>
	</body>
</html>

Samples

We have prepared examples of using our reporting products and dashboards on the Express framework.

Conclusion

We trust that this article will assist you in configuring Stimulsoft Reports.JS within Express for Node.js, enabling you to effectively generate, edit, view, and print reports. Our JavaScript reporting tool empowers you to collaborate with any web server; you only need to configure your web server to transmit and subsequently download JS scripts to the browser. Remember to set up the paths and filenames to align with the specific settings of your project.