JSF and reports in PDF

Question

Hello Everybody,
I�m using jasper reports to generate PDF reports. First thing user do is select the begin date and the end date for the report, after data I would like the report being open in a new window.
I�m processing the report in a Managed Bean method, and then writing on the response (which I changed the type for pdf). Because of that I�m using commandLink, or commandButton, not outputLink.
Do anybody know some way of oppening in a new window without using outputLink?
Thank you very much,
[ ]s

Answer 1

Hello to all,
weeks ago I was proving with iText (library pdf), this is the source code that I am using... I hope that it serves to you!
report.jsp
<h:form>
    <h:commandButton value="Imprimir" action="#{RegistrarEstudiante.export}" />
</h:form>
Estudiante.java
public String export() {
        try {
            FacesContext context = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
            ExternalContext external = context.getExternalContext();
            HttpServletResponse response = (HttpServletResponse) external.getResponse();
            response = configureResponse(response , "oferta-estudiante");
            // step 1: creamos el documento.
            Document document = new Document();
            // step 2: configurando el documento
            document = configureDocument(11.5f, 14f, 0.5f);
            // step 3: creamos el escritor que escucha el documento y redirecciona la salida de PDF.
            ByteArrayOutputStream baos = new ByteArrayOutputStream(1024);
            @SuppressWarnings("unused")
            PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.getInstance(document, baos);
            // step 4: abrimos el documento.
            document.open();
            // step 5: anadimos el texto a mostrar
            Font normal = FontFactory.getFont(FontFactory.TIMES_ROMAN, 8, Font.NORMAL);
            Font negrita = FontFactory.getFont(FontFactory.TIMES_ROMAN, 8, Font.BOLD);
            Font titulo = FontFactory.getFont(FontFactory.TIMES_ROMAN, 14, Font.BOLD);
            Rectangle border = new Rectangle(0f, 0f);
            border.setBorderWidth(0f);
            PdfPTable table = null;
            Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
            String fecha = calendar.get(Calendar.DATE) + "/";
            fecha += calendar.get(Calendar.MONTH + 1) + "/";
            fecha += calendar.get(Calendar.YEAR);
            // colocando la cabecera.
            table = new PdfPTable(2);
            table.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            table.addCell(makeCell("Tecnologico Nacional \"Andres Bello\"", Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal, border));
            table.addCell(makeCell(null, Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal, border));
            table.addCell(makeCell("Cochabamba - Bolivia",Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal ,border));
            table.addCell(makeCell("Fecha: " + fecha,Element.ALIGN_RIGHT, normal, border));
            document.add(table);
            // colocando el titulo.
            table = new PdfPTable(1);
            table.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            table.addCell(makeCell("MATERIAS ASIGNADAS", Element.ALIGN_CENTER, titulo, border));
            document.add(table);
            // colocando los datos de la persona.
            PdfPTable table2 = new PdfPTable(2);
            table2.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            table2.addCell(makeCell("Nombre: " + persona.getNombrecompleto(), Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal, border));
            table2.addCell(makeCell(null, Element.ALIGN_RIGHT, normal, border));
            table2.addCell(makeCell("Carrera: " + carrera.getNombre(), Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal, border));
            table2.addCell(makeCell("T.C.: Bs." + getTipoCambioActual().getMonto(), Element.ALIGN_RIGHT, normal, border));
            document.add(table2);
            // separador
            document.add(new Paragraph(""));
            // colocando el detalle.
            table = new PdfPTable(3);
            table.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            // colocando la cabecera.
            table.addCell(makeCell("COD. MATERIA", Element.ALIGN_CENTER, negrita, border));
            table.addCell(makeCell("NOMBRE MATERIA", Element.ALIGN_CENTER, negrita, border));
            table.addCell(makeCell(null, Element.ALIGN_CENTER, negrita, border));
            document.add(table);
            // colocando el detalle.
            table = new PdfPTable(3);
            table.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            for (Materia materia : listamateriasofertadas) {
                table.addCell(makeCell(materia.getCodigomateria(), Element.ALIGN_CENTER, normal, border));
                table.addCell(makeCell(materia.getNombre(), Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal, border));
                table.addCell(makeCell(null, Element.ALIGN_CENTER, negrita, border));
            document.add(table);
            // colocando el total
            table = new PdfPTable(2);
            table.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            table.addCell(makeCell("N�mero Materias: " + listamateriasofertadas.size(), Element.ALIGN_LEFT, negrita, border));
            table.addCell(makeCell("Monto Mensual Pagar ($us): " + listaplanes.get(0).getMontopagar(), Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal, border));
            document.add(table);
            // colocando el literal
            table = new PdfPTable(2);
            table.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            table.addCell(makeCell("ADMINISTRACION", Element.ALIGN_CENTER, negrita, border));
            table.addCell(makeCell("INTERESADO", Element.ALIGN_CENTER, negrita, border));
            document.add(table);
            // colocando la nota.
            table = new PdfPTable(1);
            table.setWidthPercentage(100f);
            table.addCell(makeCell("Nota: El alumno tiene 15 d��as a partir de la fecha para retirar � adicionar materias.",
                       Element.ALIGN_LEFT, normal, border));
            document.add(table);
            // step 6: cerramos el documento.
            document.close();
            // step 7: colocamos el tama�o del archivo en ela respuesta necesario para MSIE!!!
            response.setContentLength(baos.size());
            // step 8: escribimos el ByteArrayOutputStream en el ServletOutputStream
            ServletOutputStream out = response.getOutputStream();
            baos.writeTo(out);
            baos.flush();
            context.responseComplete();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        return message.FAILURE;
    private HttpServletResponse configureResponse(HttpServletResponse response, String fileName) {
        response.setHeader("Expires", "0");
        response.setHeader("Cache-Control",  "must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0");
        response.setHeader("Pragma", "public");
        response.setContentType("application/pdf");
        response.addHeader("Content-disposition", "attachment; filename=\"" + fileName +".pdf\"");
        return response;
    private Document configureDocument(float width, float height, float margin) {
        Document document = new Document();
        float widhtPage = (width / 2.54f) * 72f;
        float heightPage = (height / 2.54f) * 72f;
        document.setPageSize(new Rectangle(widhtPage,heightPage));
        float marginPage = (margin / 2.54f) * 72f;
        document.setMargins(marginPage, marginPage, marginPage, marginPage);
        return document;
    private PdfPCell makeCell(String text, int hAlignment,
            Font font, Rectangle border) {
        PdfPCell celda = new PdfPCell(new Paragraph(text, font));
        celda.setVerticalAlignment(Element.ALIGN_MIDDLE);
        celda.setHorizontalAlignment(hAlignment);
        celda.cloneNonPositionParameters(border);
        celda.setNoWrap(true);
        celda.setPaddingTop(4f);
        celda.setPaddingBottom(4f);
        celda.setPaddingLeft(2f);
        celda.setPaddingRight(2f);
        return celda;
    }The most important method is configureResponse(response, fileName), this forms the exit from the document to a file pdf.
In the line: response.addHeader("Content-disposition ", "attachment; filename = \ "" + fileName +".pdf \""); I indicate that type of exit will be your special document in the parameter attachment if you want to keep the document or inline if you want to see contracted in the page Web.