i-net Clear Reports

1 Introduction

i-net Clear Reports is a self-hosted Java reporting engine by i-net software GmbH, founded in 1996. It creates reports, dashboards, and electronic invoices in ZUGFeRD 2.4 / Factur-X 1.08 and Peppol from databases and files and takes over existing Crystal Reports templates. Licenses are available per server installation, per cloud node, and for sites, enterprises, SaaS, and OEM, each with an unlimited number of users and reports; the free trial license is valid for 90 days.

1.1 About i-net Clear Reports

Reporting requirements in companies are as diverse as the business processes themselves. Many reporting solutions are either too complex for end users or too limited for developers. i-net Clear Reports serves both groups: developers who build reports via Java, .NET, or the WebAPI, and end users who create evaluations through AI-powered ad hoc reporting in the browser - from simple tables to complete documents with complex layouts and visual elements. 40+ chart types, Crystal Reports compatibility, and export to PDF, Excel, HTML, CSV, RTF, and DOCX make it suitable for:

• Business applications: Integration into existing systems with automatic report generation
• Dedicated reporting departments: Centralized reporting solutions for companies with high reporting requirements
• Self-service reporting: End users can create evaluations independently without involving the IT department.
• Automated workflows: Regular report distribution and scheduling with the Task Planner (Plus edition)

i-net Clear Reports runs as a server for teams, as a desktop Designer for report authors, or embedded via Java, .NET, and the WebAPI. The Dashboard application adds configurable overview pages and system widgets for operational monitoring. The plugin architecture adds custom data sources, chart types, and export formats as well as industry requirements such as e-invoicing. Authentication is available via LDAP, Active Directory, OAuth, and 2FA.

2 Use Cases

2.1 Business Intelligence and Reporting

i-net Clear Reports suits companies with high reporting requirements:

• Management dashboards: Visual representation of KPIs and business metrics for various management levels
• Automated reports: Regular evaluations of business statistics and performance metrics
• Ad hoc analyses: End users can independently analyze business trends and data distributions
• Compliance reports: Automated creation of reports for audits and compliance requirements

2.2 System Integration and Development

For developers and IT departments, i-net Clear Reports offers:

• ERP integration: Integration into existing enterprise resource planning systems
• API-based reports: Programmatic creation of reports via Java and .NET APIs
• Custom applications: Embedding of reporting functionality into your own applications
• Workflow automation: Integration into existing business processes and workflows

3 Features

Key characteristics at a glance:

• Two user groups: Tools for developers and for end users
• Platform independence: Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS as well as in Docker
• Integration: Embedding into Java and .NET applications
• Crystal Reports compatibility: Takes over existing templates (see Crystal Reports Compatibility)
• Multilingual support: Translatable reports and user interface
• Scalability: From small workgroups to company-wide use
• Security: Permission system and various authentication options
• Performance: Filtering in the database; with the Plus edition, additional hard disk and database caching

3.1 Reporting Features

i-net Clear Reports is designed as a band renderer. This means that strips of sections are always rendered. During rendering, the data records of the data source are iterated and transformed into the target format in accordance with the report design.

3.1.1 Report Templates and Designer

To create reports, templates in RPT format are required, which can be created using i-net Designer, for example, and converted by the server into the desired output format. A wide range of formats are supported, including simple text formats, images, archivable PDF, OpenDocument, and Office files.

i-net Designer is programmed entirely in Java and runs on any supported platform. It shows an instant preview while you create reports and saves reports in a zipped file format similar to OpenDocument. With the Plus edition, the Designer can be started directly from the Report Drive; no installation of the Designer is required, but Java 21 to 25 or OpenWebStart is. The Designer also opens Crystal Reports templates (see Crystal Reports Compatibility).

i-net Designer uses the same data sources as i-net Clear Reports - any JDBC or ODBC connection or user-defined data source can be used. i-net Designer is free of charge for non-commercial use; for commercial use, it is included with every i-net Clear Reports license.

The Designer can also be integrated into your own Java applications - a corresponding Java API is available for this purpose. In addition to the libraries for Java as .jar and .NET as .dll, the i-net Clear Reports SDK provides documentation and application examples. This allows you to embed the reporting functionality into your own applications. Alternatively, i-net Clear Reports supports the completely API-driven creation of reports using programming interfaces in Java and .NET.

3.1.2 Layout Elements and Extensibility

Layout elements and embedded documents are available for rendering reports, with extensions via Java Beans or plugins. In addition to tables and crosstabs, you can design complete documents with 40+ chart types, barcodes, and calculated fields.

• 40+ chart types: Bar, line, area, 3D surface, radar, bubble, scatter, and combined charts - with zoom, drill-down, and conditional highlighting
• Crosstabs: Aggregate data into crosstabs via drag-and-drop, with conditional formatting and grouped totals
• Formulas: Calculated fields and conditional formatting via the formula editor, extensible with Java
• Barcodes: Linear and 2D barcodes - Code128, EAN-13, QR code, DataMatrix, and more
• Images: PNG, JPEG, and GIF; with plugins, further formats such as PDF, SVG, JPEG2000, or WebP
• Visual database wizard: Data sources can be linked visually or with SQL statements
• Group management: Groups based on the data source keep relevant data close together
• Parameter inputs: Reports can use parameters that prompt the user for input during execution
• Default options: Global default options for fields and elements
• Field options: Individual options for the format and design of text fields and other elements
• PDF format: The following options are available for export, among others:
  • Signing of the created PDF files (Plus edition)
  • PDF/A and PDF/UA formats in various versions
  • Creation of PDF forms filled with data
  • Electronic invoices in ZUGFeRD 2.4 / Factur-X 1.08 and Peppol BIS Billing 3.0

3.2 Crystal Reports Compatibility

i-net Clear Reports takes over existing Crystal Reports templates:

• Reading and editing: You can continue to read, edit, and execute your existing Crystal Reports templates
• Versions 7 to 8.5: The Designer reads these templates directly
• Version 9 and higher: Templates are taken over via a supplied converter

During editing, the templates are automatically converted to the i-net Clear Reports RPT format. This allows existing Crystal Reports reports to be migrated step by step without recreating them from scratch. Depending on the report, individual adjustments in i-net Designer may be required.

3.3 Data Sources

Reports are usually designed to query databases in order to prepare and display their data. i-net Clear Reports supports a wide range of data sources. The most important are:

• JDBC/ODBC: Any database for which a JDBC or ODBC driver is available can be used.
• File-based data: For example, JSON, XML, CSV, or weblog formats can be processed.
• NoSQL databases: E.g., MongoDB and Cassandra
• Direct data: Primarily from the host application without going through a database
• Custom plugin: If a required data source is missing, it can be created via a plugin and added to the system.

3.4 Output Formats

The reports can be displayed live in your application, and the user can navigate through the pages. This live view is possible in browsers as well as in Java and C# applications. From the report viewer, the user can export to a variety of formats, e.g., PDF, HTML, DOCX, RTF, XLSX, ODS, TXT, CSV, and the image formats JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and SVG. Naturally, not everything can be displayed in every format; for example, TXT cannot display colors. Individual export formats can be disabled if necessary, for example, if the sensitivity of the data requires it.

In addition, ODT and - with the required plugin - Factur-X and Peppol are available as output formats, including via URL and API.

3.5 Factur-X/ZUGFeRD and Peppol

i-net Clear Reports can be used to create PDF files that comply with the ZUGFeRD 2.4 / Factur-X 1.08 standard for electronic invoices and to generate standalone UBL 2.1 XML invoices conforming to Peppol BIS Billing 3.0. i-net Designer helps you create the necessary templates so that your software can generate electronic invoices with your data - both output formats from a single plugin.

While Factur-X embeds machine-readable data directly in a PDF/A-3 file (the hybrid format used in Germany and France), Peppol produces a standalone XML document designed for transmission over the Pan-European Public Procurement Online network. Both formats use the same field mappings - you configure them once and switch between output formats via a URL parameter.

3.6 Dynamic Reports

Reports can be made dynamic using parameters and formulas in two syntaxes (Crystal syntax and Basic syntax). Parameters are set via URL or API. If a report contains parameter fields, the end user is asked to specify values for them during report execution.

This results in flexible and reusable report templates that can be adapted to different requirements and user groups.

3.7 Drill-Down Functionality

By clicking on a group, you can display its details. i-net Clear Reports supports unlimited grouping levels, enabling in-depth data analysis.

The drill-down functionality is particularly valuable for interactive reports, where users can navigate from an overview to detailed information without having to create separate reports.

3.8 Embed Fonts

By embedding fonts, you can make a report look almost identical on any operating system. These options are essential, especially for symbolic fonts or barcodes.

3.9 Print Barcodes

i-net Clear Reports includes a range of barcode beans for generating and printing 2D or QR codes, for example. Additional fonts can be used without any further requirements.

The barcode functionality is particularly valuable for applications in logistics, retail, or manufacturing, where barcodes are needed for identifying and tracking products or documents.

3.10 Internationalization

3.10.1 Reports

The labels and formatting of a report can be translated into multiple languages. i-net Designer offers a translation dialog for the static content of the report.

Users who access the reports receive a localized version if a translation has been provided for the language of the browser or system.

3.10.2 User Interface

The server user interface is available in English and German by default. Further languages can be added via translation files.

3.11 Ad Hoc Reporting

Developers typically create the report templates with i-net Designer and deploy them in their application. i-net Designer offers many features but requires training and an understanding of the database structures used.

For end users, there is therefore ad hoc reporting. With data templates approved by the administrator or developer, no special knowledge of database structures is required. Users can create their own evaluations that go beyond those specified by the developer without having to use Excel. Optionally, AI assistants help with creating evaluations.

Ad hoc reporting runs in the browser and can be embedded in other applications. In i-net Designer, the ad hoc component serves as a report wizard for new reports.

3.12 Report Drive

The Report Drive (Plus edition) is a central storage location on the server where users can save and execute reports directly. Together with system and report permissions, visibility and execution permissions can be managed for users and groups.

Microsoft OneDrive can be connected as an external storage location alongside the server drive. Its files and folders can then be managed directly in the Report Drive.

The Report Drive enables you to:

• Store reports centrally on the server
• Start reports directly from the server
• Search, load, modify, and save reports via the web interface
• Load and save reports directly from i-net Designer
• Start i-net Designer as the remote Designer directly from the Report Drive
• Manage permissions for individual reports or report categories
• Share reports between users and groups

3.13 Task Planner

A typical task in reporting is regularly recurring evaluations, e.g., at the end of the month. The Task Planner handles this. It is available as a plugin and is part of the Plus edition.

The Task Planner executes reports at a specific time and distributes them in a specific output format, e.g., via email, FTP, file system, Report Drive, or print. Thanks to its modular structure, the Task Planner can be extended with plugins, allowing you to implement custom destinations in the host application and custom actions.

Task Planner definitions can be inspected through the WebAPI, and each task keeps a separate execution history. Calendar-aware scheduling and read-only API access support controlled automation.

3.14 Dashboard Application

The Dashboard application adds dedicated overview pages alongside reporting and server administration. You arrange widgets on a flexible grid with drag-and-drop placement, resizing, and an edit mode with copy and paste, and choose visualizations such as values, gauges, progress, traffic lights, ratings, charts, and tables; all widgets are updated in real time. Dashboards can be named, grouped, and styled; they support sharing with users and groups at read, write, or manage level, import and export as .dashboard files, conditional highlighting, and fullscreen for presentations.

For customers who run the reporting server themselves, the system dashboard shows server health in one place: system widgets display, for example, CPU and RAM usage, disk space, certificate expiration, HTTP endpoint checks, active users, and logs. This helps to detect bottlenecks before users run into slow or failed reports. Details of individual widgets are in the product documentation.

3.15 Report Permissions and Security

There are various settings to restrict the visibility of reports or a specific area within a report. The permission system allows:

• System level: Control over access to individual reports
• Area level: Restriction of the visibility of certain areas within a report
• Data level: Filtering of data based on user permissions
• Function level: Control over available functions and export formats

3.16 User and Group Management

The user and group management of i-net Clear Reports manages users and groups centrally, with complete user accounts.

3.16.1 Centralized User Management

• Full user accounts: Users have full accounts with multiple authentication methods
• Multiple authentication: A user can use multiple login providers for the same account, e.g., Windows AD and GitHub
• Custom groups: Create your own groups independently of external authentication systems
• Group assignments: Users can be assigned to multiple groups
• Permission management: Configuration of permissions for applications and functions
• Effective permissions: Review of a user's cumulative, effective permissions

3.16.2 Data Protection Features (GDPR)

• User data access: Users can view information stored about them
• Data protection control: Transparency about collected and processed data
• Account control: Users have control over their own accounts

3.17 Authentication

i-net Clear Reports includes built-in authentication. It does not have to be used if the host application handles authentication itself. The focus is on single sign-on (SSO) for the user. Additional plugins support identity management systems such as OAuth/OpenID (e.g., Microsoft ADFS), LDAP, Windows, and PAM. Users and groups can also be provisioned via SCIM v2, for example from Microsoft Entra ID.

If no central authentication system is available, users can be stored directly with a password. Passwords are stored only as salted hashes. The rules for password complexity are adjustable.

For even greater security, two-factor authentication or passkeys can be used. By optionally enforcing two-factor authentication, each user is required to provide a second factor the next time they log in. Depending on the server configuration, token-based authentication via app, email, or hardware key, among other options, is available for this purpose.

4 Integration and Interfaces

4.1 i-net Clear Reports Server

The i-net Clear Reports Server runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and in Docker and provides reports on the intranet or internet. Via the browser interface, it also provides the remote Designer: i-net Designer, started from the Report Drive (Plus edition).

4.2 Browser Interface

The i-net Clear Reports Server is configured and used via the browser interface. Among other things, it provides access to:

• Configuration Manager: Central management of all server settings
• User and Group Management: Central management of users and groups with complete accounts
• Report Drive (Plus edition): Central storage and management of reports
• Ad hoc report creation: Browser-based report creation
• Remote Designer (Plus edition): i-net Designer, started from the Report Drive
• Task Planner (Plus edition): Time-controlled and automated report execution
• Dashboard application: Customizable overview pages with widgets, real-time updates, and system metrics
• Data source configuration: Management of all data sources
• Server statistics and diagnostics: Monitoring of server health and log files
• WebAPI: Testing of WebAPI requests with direct output
• Translations: Localization of server labels and user interface
• Plugin Store: Search for updates and install new features
• Avatar system: Upload avatars or use popular avatar services

The browser interface is secured by a permission system that allows individual features to be enabled or disabled per user. This way, different user groups receive different feature sets.

Almost all applications on the server offer a search. Access is via http://<hostname>:<port> or, for application servers, via http://<hostname>:<port>/<servletcontext>.

4.3 Interfaces

The functions of i-net Clear Reports can be accessed in different ways. Depending on the architecture of the host application or your requirements, usually only one interface is used; several or all of them can also be used at the same time.

• Java API: The Java API allows full control over the report creation process.
• .NET API: Reports can be created directly from your .NET applications via a Process Bridge.
• WebAPI: Alternatively, a central server is used via a REST API, documented with OpenAPI/Swagger. This suits applications written in a different language.
• Web interface: Users retrieve reports via the user interface of a server.

4.4 Java Integration for Developers

i-net Clear Reports was developed entirely in Java and offers a comprehensive Java API for integration into existing Java applications. Java integration enables:

• Complete control: API covering the entire report creation process
• Direct embedding: Integration into Java applications without an additional server
• Plugin development: Extension of the platform with your own Java plugins
• Platform independence: Runs on any system with supported Java versions
• Application servers: Compatible with Jakarta EE 11 or higher

Developer resources:

• Java API documentation for all versions
• Platform Programming Guide for plugin development
• Java Viewer Programming Guide for viewer customizations

4.5 .NET Integration for Developers

With i-net Clear Reports .NET, developers remain within the .NET environment. The reporting runtime can be embedded into your own applications with a few lines of code; the connection uses server bridging for systems with .NET Standard support. Key features include:

• Bridging technology: API access via .NET with automatic server operation
• Same file format: Uses the same RPT files as the Java version
• Embeddable .NET viewer: Customizable viewer for .NET applications
• Visual Studio integration: SDK package with dll files

The supported .NET and Windows versions are listed in the system requirements in the online documentation.

4.6 Report Viewer Integration

The report viewer for live viewing of reports is available for Java, C#, and HTML. In other development environments, you can work with a web view.

4.6.1 Java Report Viewer

The Java Report Viewer is available as a jar file. It is implemented in Swing and uses the default look and feel of the host application, so it blends into the host application visually. Its extensive API allows customization, e.g., hiding certain buttons in the toolbar.

4.6.2 .NET Report Viewer

The C# viewer is available as source code. It can be completely customized and compiled into any .NET application. The .NET viewer offers:

• Customizability: Source code available for individual customizations
• Native .NET integration: Embedding into .NET applications
• Visual Studio support: Designed for the .NET development environment
• Embeddable component: Can be embedded directly into Windows Forms or WPF applications

4.6.3 HTML Report Viewer

The HTML Viewer has an embedding mode that disables top-level navigation. This allows it to be embedded in another web page. The i-net Clear Reports theme also lets you customize the appearance of the HTML Report Viewer.

4.7 Plugins

i-net Clear Reports is based on a plugin architecture. The Plugin Store offers plugins with general functions. With the SDK, you can also write your own plugins in Java for your application or company.

Plugins are ZIP files located in the plugins folder in the installation folder and are written in Java. They are installed via the Plugin Store in the browser interface. If the server is connected to the internet, the Plugin Store shows available plugins and newer versions. Alternatively, plugins can be sideloaded, for example after downloading them from the public Plugin Store or for in-house developments.

5 Operation and Performance

5.1 Server Statistics and Diagnostics

Administrators have access to important server statistics via special applications while the server is in operation. Among other things, the following is displayed:

• Session statistics: How many sessions there were and currently are
• Report statistics: Which reports were rendered and how often
• Cache viewer: Overview and management of the report cache
• Log files: Direct access to log files with search function, e.g., for error diagnosis and performance optimization

5.2 High-Performance Reports

Report performance begins with optimizing data queries. Use as few tables, joins, and data sources as possible. Filters and joins should be designed to use database indexes and be executed directly in the database rather than in the reporting engine. Tuned SQL queries or database views avoid unnecessary data transfer and utilize the computing power of the database system.

Reports can be accelerated by reducing fields, labels, and data records. Layout settings such as "Keep Together" or "Print at Bottom of Page" should be avoided as they cause time-consuming re-pagination. A uniform font choice simplifies the calculation of font metrics, while complex formulas are better outsourced to Java code or expander functions. It is also advisable to divide reports into main and sub-reports to reduce data volume and complexity.

A smaller output size results in higher speed. Data can be saved by suppressing duplicate content and reusing embedded images via consistent "image keys". The number of embedded fonts should also be limited. At the configuration level, metadata caching (for stable schemas), reducing font embeddings, and optionally disabling compression (at the cost of higher bandwidth requirements) can further improve performance.

5.3 Memory Usage

Stable report processing is achieved when the available memory is used in a targeted manner. The -Xmx parameter adjusts the JVM heap to the available RAM. This gives the application sufficient reserves without overloading the system.

Queries can be designed so that the database already filters the data. This means that only the data actually needed is loaded, while the memory is used for rendering and document caching.

Further optimizations are achieved by setting a row buffer limit or by dividing large reports into main and sub-reports. With the Plus edition, a hard disk or database cache can be used instead of memory; this reduces memory requirements for very large or long-running reports.

6 Licensing

The licensing of i-net Clear Reports is based on two criteria: In which environment is the application used, and is the Standard or the Plus edition needed? All licenses include unlimited users and concurrently rendered reports - limited only by the hardware used. All licenses apply to both the Java and .NET versions.

6.1 Licensing Models

License	Deployment	Key Feature
Single-Server	Physical server, static IP	Perpetual license per server installation, no cloud/container
Site	Company location (DNS)	Unlimited instances per site
Public Cloud	AWS, Azure, GCE	Per node, public cloud via port 80/443
Private Cloud	Private cloud, e.g., AWS VPC	Per node, preconfigured URL, always with all Plus features
SaaS	Self-operated, without containers	The only license that allows renting or leasing to your customers; i-net software GmbH does not host it
Enterprise	Worldwide within one organization	Unlimited deployment within the company
OEM	Embedded in your application	Resale with your product

Docker and other container environments are permitted only with Site, Cloud (private or public), and Enterprise licenses.

Current prices are available on the i-net Clear Reports product page.

6.2 Editions

Edition	Key Features
Standard	All reporting functions, for teams with basic reporting requirements
Plus	Additionally Report Drive, Task Planner, PDF signing, and hard disk and database caching for large reports

The Private Cloud license always includes all Plus features. For the other license models, you choose between the Standard and Plus editions.

The Plus edition includes:

• Report Drive: Central storage and management of reports with permission management, including the remote Designer
• Task Planner: Time-controlled and automated report execution with distribution
• PDF signing: Digital signing of PDF reports to ensure integrity and authenticity
• Hard disk and database caching: Instead of the memory cache, for very large or long-running reports

6.3 Requirements per License Type

6.3.1 Single-Server License

• The server must be physical
• The server must not be hosted in the cloud (AWS/EC2, Azure)
• The server must have a static IP address that is physically connected
• The static IP address must not be provided via a Wi-Fi adapter
• The software must not run in a containerized environment (Docker, Kubernetes)

6.3.2 Site License

• Server must have a hostname that can be verified via DNS (no internet required)
  • Example: Licensed domain is internal.my-company.com
  • Hostnames can be: testing.internal.my-company.com, production.internal.my-company.com, or similar
• OR the server must have a verifiable external FQDN internet address (reverse DNS lookup)

6.3.3 Public Cloud License

• Server must be accessible from the internet via port 80 or 443 (standard HTTP/s ports)
• Server must have a verifiable external FQDN internet address (DNS lookup)

6.3.4 Private Cloud License

• Server must be accessible via a preconfigured URL
• URL must be set in the configuration under "Web server" → "Externally visible URL"
• Server license must match the FQDN part of the configured URL

6.4 OEM License

For software providers, we offer OEM licenses that enable the integration of i-net Clear Reports into your own application and the resale of this application, including i-net Clear Reports, to customers. Various license models are available depending on the scope.

If you only need a few licenses, you can opt for a license pool such as the OEM License 10. With this license pool, you can distribute i-net Clear Reports up to "n" times (e.g., up to 10 times) with your application.

If you need large quantities, you can choose the "1-year unlimited OEM license," which allows you to sell as many OEM licenses, including your product, as you need without counting them exactly. After one year, you can decide whether you want to renew the license agreement or whether you no longer want to distribute our software. The license agreement can also be concluded for two or three years. This license includes both premium support and the update subscription free of charge.

6.5 Trial License

A free trial license is available for evaluating i-net Clear Reports:

• 90 days of free use without functional restrictions
• Limited to 2 concurrent connections during the trial period
• Docker: the container needs internet access to obtain the trial license; without internet access, please contact support
• Free standard support during the evaluation
• License key can be generated via the website
• All features of the Standard and Plus editions available

With the trial license, you can evaluate all features of i-net Clear Reports before purchasing a commercial license. You can also try out all license types and test the technical integration into your environment in advance.

7 System Requirements

7.1 Server

Area	Requirement
Processor	At least 2.0 GHz and 2 cores for a simple report; more depending on complexity and the number of concurrent reports
Memory	1 GB RAM in addition to the other components on the server; more depending on report complexity. With the Plus edition, a hard disk cache lowers the requirement
Disk space	At least 1.5 GB free space (500 MB installation directory, 1 GB temp directory)
Operating systems	Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016; Windows 11, 10; Linux; macOS 13+; Docker (production use only with a Site, Cloud, or Enterprise license)
Java	At least Java 21, currently Java 21 to 25 supported. The Java VM (Eclipse Temurin) is included with i-net Clear Reports
Graphical interface	Not required on the server
Clients	Current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge; depending on the browser, also installable as a PWA

The binding reference is the system requirements for the current version in the online documentation. The version support page shows which Java versions and operating systems are supported per product version.

7.2 Installation and Deployment

• The setup supports installation via dialog as well as text setup, e.g., for Linux and Unix systems without a graphical interface
• Operation in application servers (Jakarta EE 11 or higher), such as Jetty and Tomcat; alternatively, embedding in Java applications
• Operation in Docker (see below)

7.2.1 Docker Installation

i-net Clear Reports is available as a Docker image. For production use in containers, the license conditions from the Licensing Models section apply.

• Docker image on Docker Hub
• Quick start with: docker run -d -p 9000:9000 -e CONF_listener__port=9000 --name reporting inetsoftware/i-net-clear-reports
• Configurable ports and environment variables

8 Support and Versions

8.1 Documentation

• Getting Started: Getting started with i-net Clear Reports
• Getting Started with i-net Designer: Getting started with the report designer
• Security Information: Security features and permissions
• Platform Programming Guide: Plugin development
• Docker Container Guide: Operation in Docker environments
• FAQ: Frequently asked questions and solutions

8.2 API Documentation

• Java API: API reference for all versions
• .NET API: .NET integration and SDK
• REST API: WebAPI; the server provides the complete OpenAPI/Swagger file at /api/swagger.json
• Plugin APIs: API documentation of further plugins for custom extensions

8.3 Version Support and Maintenance

i-net Clear Reports is released with two major versions per year (.4 and .10). The x.10 versions are Long-Term Support (LTS) versions.

• General support: Up to 5 years
• Critical bug fixes: Up to 4 years for x.10 versions
• Regular bug fixes: Up to 3 years for x.10 versions
• Bug fixes for x.4 versions: Up to 1 year
• New features: Only in the next version

An overview of the currently supported versions, Java versions, and support cycles is available on the version support page.

8.4 Support and Contact

Email support is included in the license. We respond within 24 hours on business days; support hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CET/CEST).

• Email support: clearreports@inetsoftware.de
• Documentation: Online documentation

9 Definitions

• 2FA: Two-factor authentication - login with an additional, independent second factor
• Active Directory: Microsoft directory service for central management of users and resources
• Ad hoc reporting: Browser-based creation of custom evaluations by end users based on approved data templates
• ADFS: Active Directory Federation Services - Microsoft solution for single sign-on, connected via OAuth/OpenID
• API: Application Programming Interface - programming interface for integration into other applications
• Band renderer: Rendering concept in which reports are created in horizontal strips (bands) of sections
• Cassandra: NoSQL database for big data applications
• Crystal Reports: Reporting software from SAP whose templates i-net Clear Reports can take over
• CSV: Comma-Separated Values - text file format for tabular data
• Dashboard: Application for customizable overview pages with widgets
• Docker: Container technology for platform-independent deployment of applications
• Docker Hub: Cloud-based registry for Docker images
• DOCX: Microsoft Word file format (Office Open XML)
• Factur-X: German-French (European) format for the exchange of electronic invoices
• FQDN: Fully Qualified Domain Name - complete domain name with hostname and domain
• FTP: File Transfer Protocol - protocol for file transfer
• GDPR: General Data Protection Regulation - EU regulation for the protection of personal data
• Host application: The business application in which i-net Clear Reports is embedded
• i-net Designer: Report designer of i-net Clear Reports for creating RPT templates
• Jakarta EE: Enterprise Edition - Java platform for enterprise applications (successor to Java EE)
• JDBC: Java Database Connectivity - standard API for accessing databases in Java
• JPEG2000: Image format with wavelet-based compression
• JVM: Java Virtual Machine - runtime environment for Java applications
• Kubernetes: Container orchestration platform for managing container applications
• LDAP: Lightweight Directory Access Protocol - protocol for accessing directory services
• LookAndFeel: Exchangeable appearance (theme) of Java Swing user interfaces
• LTS: Long-Term Support - versions with extended support and bug fix periods
• MongoDB: NoSQL database for document-based storage
• NoSQL: Not Only SQL - databases that are not relational
• OAuth: Open standard for secure authorization in web applications
• ODBC: Open Database Connectivity - standard API for accessing databases
• ODS: OpenDocument Spreadsheet - spreadsheet format
• OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer - licensing model for software integration into own products
• OpenAPI/Swagger: Specification and tools for describing and documenting REST APIs
• OpenWebStart: Tool for launching Java applications via JNLP, e.g., the remote Designer
• PAM: Pluggable Authentication Modules - authentication framework for Unix/Linux
• Parameters: Input values that are passed to reports at runtime
• Passkey: Passwordless login based on cryptographic keys (FIDO)
• PDF/A: ISO standard for long-term archiving of PDF documents
• PDF/UA: ISO standard for accessible PDF documents (universal accessibility)
• Peppol: Pan-European Public Procurement Online - EU-wide network and standard for electronic invoicing and public procurement, based on UBL 2.1 XML
• Plugin: A functional extension of the platform
• Plugin Store: Central point of contact for updates and installation of new features
• Process Bridge: Communication mechanism between .NET and Java processes
• QR Code: Quick Response Code - 2D barcode for fast data capture
• Report Drive: Central storage location on the server for reports with permission management (Plus edition)
• REST API: Programming interface over HTTP following the Representational State Transfer architecture style
• Row Buffer: Memory buffer for optimizing data processing in reports
• RPT: Report Template - file format for i-net Clear Reports report templates
• RTF: Rich Text Format - text file format with formatting
• SaaS: Software as a Service - provision of software as a service for customers
• SCIM: System for Cross-domain Identity Management - standard for provisioning users and groups
• SDK: Software Development Kit - development tools for programmers
• Sideload: Manual installation of a plugin file without the integrated Plugin Store
• SSO: Single Sign-On - authentication method for one-time login
• SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics - vector image format
• Swing: Java GUI toolkit for desktop applications
• Task Planner: Application for time-controlled and automated report execution (Plus edition)
• Tomcat: Apache Tomcat - Java-based web and application server
• UBL: Universal Business Language - XML standard for business documents such as invoices
• VPC: Virtual Private Cloud - private cloud environment in public cloud providers
• WebP: Google image format with high compression
• Webview: Component for displaying web content in native applications
• XLSX: Microsoft Excel file format (Office Open XML)
• ZUGFeRD: Central User Guide of the German Electronic Invoice Forum - standard for electronic invoices

10 About Us

Based in Berlin, i-net software GmbH has been a reliable provider of Java-based software solutions since 1996. Our product portfolio includes tools for reporting, helpdesk, document comparison, and GDPR-compliant self-hosted team communication, which are used worldwide.

At the heart of our company is a commitment to technical excellence, long-term product quality, and customer satisfaction. Our experienced team of developers, designers, and consultants is passionate about ensuring that our software remains robust, user-friendly, and relevant to today's business challenges.

i-net Clear Reports has been developed over decades in line with the wishes of a large global user community. Our support team works hard to find the right solution for every customer. Software security plays a crucial role in our development process, and we implement "Made in Germany" standards to ensure quality.