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. Data icon configuration panel
  2. In the DATA configuration panel, click on the NEW DATA button. New Data Panel
  3. In the connection type panel, choose the XML data source type. Connection types panel
  4. Specify the data source name without special characters, in Name field. XML datasource properties

You can connect XML data using the following three options,

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

Source types

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. Left schema

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

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

Load from disk

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

Load from external URL

  1. Choose External option in Type field. New connection panel
  2. Specify a external URL in the External text area. New connection panel
  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. New connection panel
  5. Click Finish to save the data source with a relevant name to proceed with designing report. New connection panel

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