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Working with Parameter Fields

A parameter in Report is a variable whose value is determined at runtime. The runtime parameters help you dynamically control your report. This topic introduces how you can insert parameter fields in a report and apply conditional formatting to the parameter fields.

For the parameter fields in a report, you can use them as the trigger object of links, and change their display types if you want.

This topic contains the following sections:

• Inserting Parameter Fields in a Report
• Adding Conditional Formatting to Parameter Fields

Inserting Parameter Fields in a Report

You can insert parameter fields in the report areas listed in Component Placement in Different Report Type.

To insert a parameter field into a report, in the Data panel, select a dataset from the dataset drop-down list, then select the parameter from the Parameters node and drag it to the destination. When the predefined parameters are not what your want, you can select <New Parameter...> to create a parameter. For a business view-based report, you can also create local parameters to use in the report specifically.

For a query-based page report, you can also use dialog box to insert a parameter field into it.

1. Position the mouse pointer at the allowed report location where you want to insert the parameter.
2. Navigate to Insert > Parameter or Home > Insert > Parameter. Designer displays the Insert Fields dialog box.

   

3. Select a dataset from the dataset drop-down list. Designer then lists all resources in the specified dataset. However, if you are inserting parameter fields into a data component, you should not change the dataset. You can only apply one dataset in a data component.
4. Select the parameter you need from the Parameters node. You can select multiple parameters to insert them all at a time.
5. When you select multiple parameters, in the Insert Layout box, specify the layout of the parameter fields in the report. By default, Designer arranges them in the default layout. You can arrange the parameter fields horizontally or vertically by selecting Horizontal or Vertical, and customize the space between them.
6. Select Insert to insert the parameter fields into the destination.

If you insert a parameter into the detail panel of a banded object or table, Designer automatically inserts its name as a label into the corresponding header panel; otherwise, Designer places the parameter and its name label in the same panel. If you do not want Designer to insert the name label automatically, clear "Insert field name label with field" in the Component category of the Options dialog box.

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Adding Conditional Formatting to Parameter Fields

You can add conditional formatting to parameter fields in a report, so the field values that meet a specified condition can automatically apply the formatting you define for the condition. This is very useful to highlight values that users may need to act on at runtime.

To apply conditional formatting to a parameter field, right-click it and select Conditional Formatting from the shortcut menu, then take the same procedure as described in Adding Conditional Formatting to DBFields.

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