You can access the Report Parameters smart panel while in the Layout view of a report by opening the Report menu and choosing Report Parameters or by clicking the ellipsis button next to the ReportParameters (Collection) property of the report.
You can also access this by right-clicking in the area below the report, selecting Properties, and clicking the Parameters page.
The Report Parameters smart panel has two main sections: Parameters and Properties.
Parameters
The Parameters section displays a list of the current report parameters. Add parameters to match those in your query by clicking the Add icon. You can add, remove, or change the order of the parameters using the buttons.
Properties
The Properties section allows you to set specific properties for the selected parameter.
General Page
- Name: The value you supply for this property appears in the parameters list and must match its corresponding query parameter.
- Data type: This value dictates the type of interface presented to the user in addition to indicating the data type. This value must match the data type of the field.
- Boolean: presents the user with a drop-down selection of True or False
- DateTime: presents the user with a calendar picker if you do not supply a default value (see Values below) or a drop-down selection of available values
- Integer: presents the user with a text box or a drop-down selection of available values
- Float: presents the user with a text box or a drop-down selection of available values
- String: presents the user with a text box or a drop-down selection of available values
- Text for prompting users for a value: The value you supply for this property appears in the user interface to request information from the user. By default this is the same as the Name property.
- Allow null value: Select this check box if you want to allow null values to be passed for the parameter. It is not selected by default.
- Allow blank value: Select this check box if you want to allow blank values to be passed for the parameter. It is not selected by default.
- Multivalue: Select this check box to allow the user to select multiple items in the available values list.
- Hidden: Select this check box to hide the parameter interface from the user and instead provide a default value or pass in values from a subreport or drillthrough link.
Values Page
For each parameter in the list, you can provide a list of available values from which the user can select. Create a separate dataset to supply values for dataset parameters. You can also supply a default value. The Value is what is passed to the query parameter, and the Label is what is shown to the user. For example, if the Value is an employee number, you might want to supply a more user-friendly Label showing employee names.
- Available values: These values are used to fill a drop-down list from which the end user can choose.
- Non-queried: You can supply Labels and Values by typing in static values or using expressions.
- From query: You can select a Dataset from which to select a Value field and Label field.
- Default values: This is the value that you give for the parameter if the user does not supply one, or if you hide the parameter user interface.
- Non-queried: You can supply a default Label and Value by entering a static value or using an expression.
- From query: You can select a Dataset from which to select a Value field and Label field.
- None: You can have your users provide a value for the parameter.