One of the features of Jaspersoft Reports is the ability to include static graphics — logos, for instance — in the completed reports. These graphic files are normally listed in the JRXML configuration file by reference — meaning that what is stored in the configuration is a file name and not the graphic itself. Most times the configuration file and the ancillary graphics files are uploaded to a JasperReports Server for execution. In the environment that I’m working in, CollectionSpace, the report generator is embedded in the application without the JasperReports Server endpoint. The JRXML files must be compiled into the application, which makes keeping track of the ancillary graphics files somewhat troublesome.

Ideally, I would like to embed the graphics into the JRXML file itself, similar to what is done in with the data URI schema in HTML and CSS files to reduce the connection latency between client and server. This is possible, but the instructions and hints you find out on the internet to do it are out of date or incomplete. The instructions below are correct for Jaspersoft Studio version 6.2.0.