To specify parameter values:

The following are considerations when specifying parameter values for a procedure:

• The maximum number of characters for each individual parameter value is 3200. You can store multiple values for a single parameter. Multiple values for a parameter is stored as one entry which must not exceed the 3200 maximum character limit.
• ReportCaster displays the description for the parameter when it is specified in the procedure. Otherwise, ReportCaster displays the parameter name.
• ReportCaster performs field validation for numeric and alpha formats, and range value validation.
• ReportCaster displays default variable values, as well as static or dynamic single-select and multi-select lists.

  Note:

  • The 'Select All' option is displayed for static multi-select lists. When selected, this option includes every value for the selected parameter. The 'No Selection' option is displayed for dynamic multi-select lists. When selected, this option does not perform any data selection test on that field.
  • Using the -HTMLFORM command to create a dynamic selectable list of parameter values is not supported in ReportCaster.
  • As an alternate method of creating a dynamic selectable list of parameter values, you can use the schedule technique in the HTML Composer.
• The Specify All Parameter Values check box is always enabled if there is any parameters available for the report (Standard Report, My Report, or WF Server Procedure). You can check or uncheck this option to quickly enable or disable the check boxes for each individual parameter. If the check box for an individual parameter is unchecked, the input field for the parameter value is disabled, the default parameter value(s) are displayed (but cannot be changed), and no parameter data is saved to the ReportCaster Repository.
• ReportCaster will not prompt for variables with defaults set by the -DEFAULTH command. The purpose of the -DEFAULTH command is to be able to assign amper variables a default value and not be dynamically prompted for that variable.
• When specifying parameters with special characters (for example, %, &, |):

  If you are specifying the entire WHERE condition as the parameter value, you must enclose the value within two single quotation marks rather than a double quotation mark. For example: ''WHERE CAR NOT LIKE MOTO%''

  If you are only specifying a value as the parameter value, you do not need to enclose the parameter value within quotation marks. For example: O&DINFO

Note: You can only schedule saved procedures using ReportCaster; HTML forms cannot be scheduled using ReportCaster. Parameter prompting is not available in pre or post processing procedures. For more information about WebFOCUS auto prompting, see the Coding a User Interface chapter in the ReportCaster Development and Administration manual.

Tip: Since ReportCaster requires considerations for special characters, Information Builders recommends using the syntax specified in the following examples.

The following procedure sets a default value of NY for the STATE (2-3 letters for US State) field, and a default value of Web Sales for the SNAME (Store Name) field. Note that there must be an ampersand in front of the field name in the -DEFAULT command for the amper variable(s) to contain a default attribute in ReportCaster.

-DEFAULT &STATE=NY
-DEFAULT &SNAME=Web Sales 
TABLE FILE CENTORD
SUM QTY_IN_STOCK BY STATE BY SNAME BY PRODNAME
ON TABLE SUBHEAD
"Inventory Report"
WHERE STATE EQ '&STATE.2-3 letters for US State.'
WHERE SNAME EQ '&SNAME.Store Name.'
END

The parameters for this procedure appear as follows in the Report Parameters window. Note that a default parameter value of NY is displayed for the STATE field, and a default parameter value of Web Sales is displayed for the SNAME field:

The following procedure provides a list of static values that are valid for the SNAME (Store Name) field.

-DEFAULT &STATE=NY
TABLE FILE CENTORD
SUM QTY_IN_STOCK BY STATE BY SNAME BY PRODNAME
ON TABLE SUBHEAD
"Inventory Report"
WHERE STATE EQ '&STATE.2-3 letters for US State.'
WHERE SNAME EQ '&SNAME.(eMart,TV City,Web Sales).Store Name.'
END

The parameter values for the Store Name parameter appear as follows in the Report Parameters window. You can select only one value from the drop-down list:

The following procedure provides a list of values that are valid for the PRODNAME (Product Name) field. This list is dynamically populated with values from the CENTORD data source.

-DEFAULT &STATE=NY
TABLE FILE CENTORD
SUM QTY_IN_STOCK BY STATE BY SNAME BY PRODNAME
ON TABLE SUBHEAD
"Inventory Report"
WHERE STATE EQ '&STATE.2-3 letters for US State.'
WHERE SNAME EQ '&SNAME.(eMart,TV City,Web Sales).Store Name.'
WHERE PRODNAME EQ '&PRODNAME.(FIND PRODNAME IN CENTORD).Product Name.'
END

The parameter values for the Product Name parameter appear as follows in the Report Parameters window. You can select only select one value from the list.

The following procedure provides a list of static values that are valid for the SNAME (Store Name) field.

-DEFAULT &STATE=NY
TABLE FILE CENTORD
SUM QTY_IN_STOCK BY STATE BY SNAME BY PRODNAME
ON TABLE SUBHEAD
"Inventory Report"
WHERE STATE EQ '&STATE.2-3 letters for US State.'
WHERE SNAME EQ &SNAME.(OR(eMart,TV City,Web Sales)).Store Name.
END

The parameter values for the Store Name parameter appear as follows in the Report Parameters window. You can select more than one value from the list, as shown in the following image. You can also Select All to include every parameter value.

The following procedure provides a list of values that are valid for the PRODNAME (Product Name) field. This list is dynamically populated with values from the CENTORD data source.

-DEFAULT &STATE=NY
-DEFAULT &SNAME='TV City' 
-DEFAULT &PRODNAME='''120 VHS-C Camcorder 40 X''' 
TABLE FILE CENTORD
SUM QTY_IN_STOCK BY STATE BY SNAME BY PRODNAME
ON TABLE SUBHEAD
"Inventory Report"
WHERE STATE EQ '&STATE.2-3 letters for US State.'
WHERE SNAME EQ &SNAME.(OR(eMart,TV City,Web Sales)).Store Name.
WHERE PRODNAME EQ &PRODNAME.(OR(FIND PRODNAME IN CENTORD)).Product Name.
END

The parameter values for the Product Name parameter appear as follows in the Report Parameters window. You can select more than one value from the list, as shown in the following image. You can also select No Selection if you do not want to perform any data selection test on that field.