Product Information: Accessing XML Data Sources

When Using the API

The data source URL can be dynamically specified by replacing the URL with a parameter, e.g., $(filename), when creating a new XML data source. The value for this ‘filename’ parameter can be specified using script or the programming API, just like with any other report parameters. If the parameter value is not provided to the report engine via script or the programming API, then the user will be prompted for it.

Every XML data source must contain at least one request. For more complex XML data sources, it is often necessary to create multiple requests. Each request can have different parameters and a different XML output type. If the URL is not HTTP based or does not need to have any parameters, simply create a request without specifying any parameters.

XML Element Types

The XML Element Types can be specified as any one of the following pre¬defined types:

For date and time data types, a date format can be supplied to create a date parser. The format string should be constructed according to the format specified by java.text.SimpleDateFormat class. For example, to parse the date ‘01/30/2000 01:30:59’, use the format ‘MM/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss’. The ‘double’ element type requires that the decimal format be specified. The format string should be constructed according to the pattern defined by the java.text.Decimal class. For example, to add commas to a number, use ‘#, ###, ###. ##’.

XML element types do not normally need to be specified. This is only necessary if the element is used in the query selection conditions as a non-string type. For example, if the birthday is compared in a conditional expression with another date value, the type must be specified for the XML element, otherwise it will be treated as a string and the comparison will be meaningless.

Since only one schema is defined for each request, a request can only generate XML data in the specified schema. A separate request must be defined in the data source for each different XML output type.

“Flexible product with great training and support. The product has been very useful for quickly creating dashboards and data views. Support and training has always been available to us and quick to respond. - George R, Information Technology Specialist at Sonepar USA

Scenarios of Using the API to Create Dashboards from XML Data Sources

Using InetSoft's API to create dashboards from XML data sources opens up a range of possibilities. Here are some scenarios illustrating how this can be beneficial:

1. Dynamic Data Integration:
   • Scenario: Your organization receives XML data from various sources, and you want to dynamically integrate this data into dashboards.
   • Use Case: Utilize the API to programmatically fetch XML data, transform it as needed, and populate dashboards in real-time, ensuring that the information is always up-to-date.
2. Automated Dashboard Generation:
   • Scenario: You have a system that generates XML reports regularly, and you want to automate the creation of dashboards based on these reports.
   • Use Case: Develop a script using the API to automatically generate dashboards from incoming XML reports, saving time and ensuring consistency in dashboard creation.
3. Custom XML Schema Support:
   • Scenario: Your XML data follows a specific schema, and you want to create dashboards that adhere to this custom schema.
   • Use Case: Leverage the API to map the XML data to the dashboard components, ensuring that the visualizations and analytics reflect the structure of your custom XML schema.
4. Cross-Platform Integration:
   • Scenario: You need to integrate XML data from a variety of platforms into a centralized dashboard system.
   • Use Case: Use the API to connect to different XML data sources, standardize the data, and present it in a unified dashboard. This is particularly useful for organizations dealing with diverse data formats.
5. Real-time Monitoring of XML Feeds:
   • Scenario: Your business relies on real-time data updates from XML feeds, and you want to monitor and analyze this data continuously.
   • Use Case: Implement the API to fetch real-time XML updates and reflect these changes instantly on dashboards, providing decision-makers with live insights into critical data.
6. Parameterized Dashboards:
   • Scenario: You have XML data with parameters that influence the displayed information, and you want to create parameterized dashboards.
   • Use Case: Develop a solution using the API to enable dynamic parameter handling, allowing users to interactively adjust parameters and see the corresponding changes in the dashboard visuals.
7. Data Transformation and Enrichment:
   • Scenario: The XML data needs transformation or enrichment before being presented in a dashboard.
   • Use Case: Utilize the API to preprocess XML data, apply necessary transformations or enrichments, and then feed the refined data into the dashboard, ensuring data accuracy and relevance.
8. Scheduled Dashboard Updates:
   • Scenario: You want to schedule updates for XML-based dashboards to ensure that they always display the latest information during specific time intervals.
   • Use Case: Use the API to schedule automatic updates for dashboards, fetching and incorporating the latest XML data at predefined intervals without manual intervention.

View live interactive examples in InetSoft's dashboard and visualization gallery.

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