Parameter Field Attribute Descriptions
As with report fields, parameter fields also have attributes that you can change when you define a parameter field. For more information on field attributes, see Online Field Attributes.
Parameter Name
The Parameter Definition form defaults the name of a field or range parameter from the database definition of the field. It defaults the name of the other types of parameter fields to the parameter name (for example, Sort Order for an order parameter). You can change the parameter name.
Size
The Parameter Definition form defaults the size, or length, of a field or range parameter from the database definition of the field. It defaults the size of other types of parameter fields to a single character. You can change the parameter size.
Required
The program requires you to type a value in a required parameter field. You do not have to type a value in a parameter field that is not required.
Default Value
You can define a default value for a parameter field. If you do not type a value in the parameter field when you run the report, the system puts the default value in the parameter field. If the database definition of the field has a default value, the default value entered during parameter definition overrides the database default value.
Select Records
You can define a record selection condition on a field or range parameter. The program processes only the records that satisfy the condition. The condition is in the format
DatabaseField Operator ParameterFieldValue
Valid operators are equal to (=), not equal to (≠), greater-than (>), greater-than or equal to (≥), less-than (<), and less-than or equal to (≤). When you run the program, you type a value in the parameter field. The program processes only the records that satisfy the condition.
For example, you can define a select records condition to list only employees whose start date is before a certain date. Select the field Start Date as a field parameter. Select the less-than (<) operator in the Select Records field when you define the attributes of the field parameter.
Values and Translations
The Parameter Definition form assigns values to task, order, optional summary, and record selection parameters. You can change these values, define an alternate value for an option, and give a translation (description) to an option.