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EspressoViews is a standalone Java tool for reporting and analysis of data stored on relational databases (Oracle and MySQL).
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EspressoViews merges the results of many SQL statements and displays them in a data tree, which can be expanded and collapsed by the user.
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It connects a theoretically unlimited number SQLs to a report as simple as adding phrases to a text.
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More About? Check the Wiki pages!
You should first read how to define an EspressoViews report and then follow the few syntax rules needed to create a report definiton XML file. And finally you connect to a database server using EspressoViews and you let the tool process your report defintion file.
1. Java Runtime
You need to have the Java Runtime installed installed on your machine. The plain report code requiers the version 1.7. But the provided JDBC drivers, which are used to connect and exchange with the database server, require at least Java 1.8. You can replace the provided JDBC driver packages with older versions if you have to stick with the version 1.7 (see further down information how to replace the JDBC driver packages).
To check the version of your Java Runtime type in the command line:
java -version
If you have the right Java version but the Java executable was not found from the command line, then make sure the Java PATH system variable is set correctly (see more: https://www.java.com/en/download/help/path.xml).
Then download the EspressoViews file EspressoViews.zip and unpack it in an own folder. No further installation steps are required. The application is started either by double-klicking Java runnable file EspressoViews.jar or by typing in the command line
java -jar EspressoViews.jar
If the application has started correctly, then you should be able to see this database log-in dialog:
2. An XML report definition file.
This definition file is made of your SQLs queries and of instructions, which specify how to organize and display the data retrieved with these SQL queries. To see how such an EspressoViews definition is created please read first these introductory words on how to define an Espresso Views report and then the XML report definition syntax
3. Connection credentials for a (Oracle or MySQL) database server
As of now this tool supports Oracle and MySQL.
The EspressoViews.zip file contains the JDBC driver packages for Oracle and MySQL database server. They are placed in the folder EspressoViews_vx.xx_lib. The provided JDBC driver for Oracle databases works at least with the Oracle Versions between 12.1 and 21.1 and the JDBC driver for MySQL databases works at least with the MySQL versions 5.6, 5.7 and 8.0.
These drivers can be also downloaded from internet and you should do so if the version provided is not compatible with the database system version you try to access.
In that case replace or add the downloaded JDBC driver package in the EspressoViews_vx.xx_lib folder, then open the MANIFEST.MF file of the EspressoViews.jar package and then replace the current driver package file name with new driver package file name in the class path defintion (for instance replace the file name ojdbc8.jar with ojdbc10.jar).
4. Press the OK Button on the bottom to generate the report
There is a lot of space to improve funtionality and user experience. You are welcome to contribute with your feedback, ideas and/or coding experience and help this project to evolve. There are many ways to contribute to this open source project.
Espresso Views, Version 0.62
Copyright © Radu-Marcel Dumitru
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE, Version 3 as published by the Free Software Foundation on 29 June 2007 This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.