Connect to XML data source

The Bold Reports^® allows you to connect to the XML data source that retrieves data from XML file, a string in XML format or a external URL.

How to create XML data source

To configure the XML data source, follow the below steps:

1. Click on the Data icon in the configuration panel.
2. In the DATA configuration panel, click on the NEW DATA button.
3. In the connection type panel, choose the XML data source type.
4. Specify the data source name without special characters, in Name field.

You can connect XML data using the following three options,

• Inline - Inline data
• File Path - Load from disk
• External - Load from external URL

Inline data

1. Choose Inline in Type drop-down.

2. Specify a string that contains XML data in the Inline text area.

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <root>
      <element>
         <FirstName>First Name 1</FirstName>
         <ID>1</ID>
         <IDBook>1</IDBook>
         <LastName>Last Name 1</LastName>
      </element>
      <element>
         <FirstName>First Name 2</FirstName>
         <ID>2</ID>
         <IDBook>1</IDBook>
         <LastName>Last Name 2</LastName>
      </element>
   </root>
   

3. Click on the Connect to proceed with query design pane. The query design pane will show the specified XML data’s structure in left pane.

4. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute.

5. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name to proceed with designing report.

Load from disk

1. Choose File option in Type field. Now, the upload option will start displaying like below.
2. Click on the three-dotted button to open upload box. Browse the XML file and click open,
3. Click on the Connect to proceed with query design pane.
4. The query design pane will show the specified XML data’s structure in left pane.
5. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute.
6. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name to proceed with designing report.

Load from external URL

1. Choose External option in Type field.
2. Specify a external URL in the External text area.
3. Click on the Connect to proceed with query design pane. The query design pane will show the specified XML data’s structure in left pane.
4. Drag and drop the table from the left pane in the query design view page and execute.
5. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name to proceed with designing report.

Note:

• In schema tree, the nested fields in the XML data will be shown as flat structure.
• When the XML data contains duplicate key names at different levels, Bold Reports^® ensures uniqueness and avoids conflicts by appending the parent keys to each field name using the following format: <fieldName>__<topLevelParentKey>_<nextParentKey>_..._<immediateParentKey>_.

See also

Formatting Columns

Dataset Parameter