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After you create a report parameter, you can reference this parameter in the report's filter string, in expressions, and in a control's Text property. You can also bind control and data source parameters to report parameters. Refer to the sections below for more details.

You can reference a report parameter in the report's filter string. This allows you to conditionally filter the report's data loaded from a data source.

reference parameter in report filter string

Tip

When you use a report's filter string to filter data, all the data is loaded from a data source before the filter is applied. If you use a large dataset, filter data at the data source level. Refer to the following topic for more information: Filter Data at the Data Source Level.

You can reference a report parameter in expressions of controls and calculated fields.

Reference report parameters in expressions

This allows you to conditionally change the data a control or calculated field displays.

You can use the Field List to create an Label control that displays only a parameter value. To do this, drag the parameter from the Field List and drop it onto the report's band.

Drag and drop a report parameter

You can also use parameters in expressions to specify the visibility of a report's bands or conditionally change a control's appearance.

Reference parameters in the Expression Editor

Refer to the following topics for more information:

•Conditionally Change a Band's Visibility

•Conditionally Change a Control's Appearance

You can use a report parameter in a control's Text property.

Reference a parameter in a control's Text property (Designer)

This allows you to create a placeholder (embedded field) that is substituted by a parameter value.

Reference a parameter in a control's Text property (Preview)

Refer to the following topic for information on embedded fields: Use Embedded Fields (Mail Merge).

You can create parameters for the CrossTab and Chart controls and bind these parameters to report parameters. This allows you to conditionally filter data at the control level. Refer to the following topic for details on how to filter data for the Сhart control: Use Charts to Visualize Grouped Data.

You can also specify a parameter for the Subreport control and bind this parameter to report parameters. This allows you to pass parameter values from the main report to the subreport and conditionally change the subreport's data and appearance.