Adding and maintaining user parameters

Use this procedure to create and add user parameters to a Crystal or Lawson Applications Office report. You can also use this procedure to modify a report's existing user parameters.

  1. Open the Tools dashboard and select My Reports. The Reports screen is displayed.
  2. Click the details of the report to which you want to add or modify parameters.
  3. To add a new parameter, click New Parameter. The Parameter screen is displayed. To modify an existing user parameter, click the Maintain Parameters link. The Parameters and Selection Formula screen is displayed. Click the link that you want to modify
  4. Specify this information:
    Parameter or Filter Specify
    If you are modifying a parameter, this field is read-only. If you are creating a parameter, specify the type of parameter that you are creating. Values are:
    • Record Filter: A parameter is created that appends a field value to the report's selection formula.
    • Selection Formula: A parameter is created that you manually add to the report's selection formula. Nothing is appended to the selection formula; instead, this type of parameter functions as a variable in the selection formula.
    • Event Parameter: If you have set up an event for the report, this parameter allows you to prompt the user for feedback that is then returned to the event program that you created and assigned to the report.
    Available Report Fields
    This field is displayed only if you selected Parameter or Filter Type > Record Filter. Select the field that you want to append to the filter statement and for which you want to prompt the user for a value.
    Name
    This field is displayed only if you are creating a new parameter. Specify a name for the parameter. Reporting Services displays this name in the Maintain Parameters table. This name does not appear on the parameter prompt page.
    Source

    This field is read-only. It indicates that the parameter was defined in Reporting Services. Reporting Services displays the parameter source (User) in the Maintain Parameters table to help you identify which parameters were defined in Crystal Reports (report parameters) and which were defined in Reporting Services (user parameters).

    Data Specify
    Select that data type that the parameter will use. When users specifies parameters, they will have to use this data type.
    Data Size
    Specify the number of characters that the user can type into the parameter field.
    Allow Multiple
    Displays whether the user can specify multiple values for the parameter.
    Allow Null Values
    Displays whether the user can specify null values for the parameter.
    Prompt Text
    Specify the parameter's prompting text. This text is displayed on the parameter prompt page and instructs the user what to specify in the provided field.
    Description
    Specify a description of the parameter. This description does not display on the parameter prompt page.
    Always Prompt
    Specify whether you want the system to prompt the user to specify a parameter value. If the Hidden field is set to True, you must set this field to No.
    Hidden
    Specify 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 set this option to True, you must also set the Always Prompt value 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.
  5. In the Value Source Type field, specify how you want Reporting Services to fetch the parameter values. Reporting Services provides different value options depending upon the source type that you select. Consider the following options:
    • 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.

  6. Click Save.
  7. Optionally, if you created a Selection Formula parameter, you must access the report's selection formula and add the parameter to the selection formula. For more information, see Adding or modifying a selection formula.
  8. Optionally, 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.