Modifying report parameters

Use this procedure to modify the report parameters that were published into the Reporting Services repository. Either the report's owner or an administrator can modify report parameters.

When you publish a Crystal report into Reporting Services, Reporting Services retains all of the parameter information that you included in the report. However, when you modify these parameters, Reporting Services saves the changes to the published report, only. Reporting Services does not write any additions or modifications back to the original Crystal report file that reside outside of Reporting Services.

Note: You can add user parameters to a Crystal report from Reporting Services.
  1. Open the Tools dashboard and select My Reports. The Reports screen is displayed.
  2. Click the details link for the report to which you want to add parameters.
  3. Click Customize Report Parameters. The Parameter Defined in Report screen is displayed.
  4. Select the parameter name.
  5. Specify this information:
    Parameter or Filter Type
    Read-only. It indicates that the parameter is a report parameter.
    Source
    Read-only. It indicates that the parameter was defined in the Crystal Report and during publication, it was imported into the Reporting Services repository.
    Data Type
    Read-only. It indicates the data type that the parameter uses.
    To change this value, you must change the parameter's data type in the Crystal Report and republish the report into Reporting Service.
    Allow Multiple
    This field is read-only. It indicates whether the user can specify multiple values for the parameter.
    To change this preference, you must change the parameter's data type in the Crystal Report and republish the report into Reporting Service.
    Allow Null Values
    This field is read-only. It indicates whether the user can specify null values for the parameter.
    To change this preference, you must change the parameter's data type in the Crystal Report and republish the report into Reporting Services.
    Prompt Text
    Any prompting text that was added to the report parameter defaults into this field. You can edit this text. This text is displayed on the parameter prompt page.
    Description
    Specify a description of the parameter. This description does not display on the parameter prompt page.
    Always Prompt
    Select whether you want the system to prompt the user to specify a parameter value.
    If Hidden is True, you must select No.
    Hidden
    select whether you want to hide the parameter prompt from the user. If you select True, the system will not display the parameters page to the user and instead use the parameter's default value that you specify in the Values section.
    If you select True, you must also set the Always Prompt to No.
    Parameter Index
    Optionally, specify a parameter index number. This number determines the order in which the parameter is presented on the Report Details - Parameters screens.
  6. In Value Source Type, specify how you want Reporting Services to fetch the parameter values. Reporting Services provides different option fields depending upon the source type that you select.
    • User Entered Value

      The system displays to the user a text box into which they type a value.

      You can add a default value, or minimum and maximum values, that will default into the parameter screen. Users can accept or modify these default values.

      Note: You must select this option and specify a default value if you specified False in the Hidden field.
    • Available Values List

      The system builds a list of available values when the user requests the report. If you select this option, you must also specify how you want the values list to display.

      Use the Type of List for Value Selection option to specify how you want Reporting Services to display the value options to the user. Select Drop Down List to display all available values in a drop down list. This option is useful for shorter values lists. However, if the values list contains many values, select Value Picker. This option launch a separate window that groups the available values into browse-able pages that each contain 20 values. The Value Picker also contains a search functionality that allows the user to easily locate a value.

      Use the Prompt Display Format field to specify how you want the system to display the options to the user.

    • Reporting Rights

      The system builds a list of available values based on the user's reporting rights. If you select this option, you must also select a rules structure element that the parameter is mapped to. For example, if you selected this option and Accounting Unit, the system builds a list of values based on the accounting units specified on the user's rights record.

      Note: If you select this option and schedule the report, you must specify a default parameter value on the schedule.
    • Custom Program

      Use a URL or Java Class to load the parameter values. Use this option if you are embedding Reporting Services into another application, such as Lawson Budgeting and Planning. If you select Custom Program, you must also specify how you want the values list to display, the Java Class or URL, and any cascading parameters.

      Use the Type of List for Value Selection option to specify how you want Reporting Services to display the value options to the user. Select Drop Down List to display all available values in a drop down list. This option is useful for shorter values lists. However, if the values list contains many values, you should select Value Picker. This option launch a separate window that groups the available values into web pages that each contain 20 values. The Value Picker also contains a search functionality that allows the user to easily locate a value.

      Use the Program Type field to specify the type of call (URL or Java Class) and URL or program path.

      Use the Values Dependent Upon field to create cascading parameters. For more information about creating cascading parameters, see Adding and maintaining cascading parameters.

  7. Click Save. If you are scheduling the report to which you added parameters, you must access the schedule and specify the parameter values that you want to default when the scheduled report runs.