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About parameters

A parameter is a variable whose value can be set at runtime (for example, from the Runtime Parameter Form or the command line). Parameters are especially useful for modifying SELECT statements and setting PL/SQL variables at runtime.

Reports Builder automatically creates a set of system parameters at runtime, but you can create your own as well. You can create parameters to replace either single literal values or entire expressions in any part of a query. You can reference parameters elsewhere in the report, such as in PL/SQL constructs providing conditional logic for the report. Note that while you can delete or rename a user parameter, you cannot delete or rename a system parameter.

Parameter values can be specified in these ways:

System parameters

Oracle Reports is shipped with the following system parameters. You can change their default values as described above.

COPIES

Is the number of report copies that should be made when the report is printed.

DESFORMAT

Is either:

  • the output format for the report (for example, PDF, HTML, HTMLCSS, RTF, XML, SPREADSHEET, DELIMITED, or DELIMITEDDATA for bitmapped reports).

  • the printer definition to use when formatting the report when DESTYPE=FILE and DESNAME=filename. If MODE=BITMAP, this is the name of the printer. If MODE=CHARACTER, this is the character mode printer definition file (.prt file).

DESNAME

Is the name of the output device (for example, the file name, printer's name, mail user ID).

DESTYPE

Is the type of device that will receive the report output (for example, SCREEN (to format the report using screen fonts), FILE, PRINTER, MAIL, SYSOUT, CACHE, or LOCALFILE.

MODE

Is whether the report should run in CHARACTER mode or BITMAP.

ORIENTATION

Is the print direction for the report (LANDSCAPE, PORTRAIT, DEFAULT).

PRINTJOB

Is whether the Print Job dialog box should appear before the report is run.

User parameters

You can create a user parameter in the following ways:

See also

About referencing columns and parameters

Creating a user parameter

Using a pre-defined system parameter

Creating a list of values (LOV) for a parameter

Selecting parameters to include in the Paper Parameter Form

Validating a parameter value at runtime

Passing parameters to reports running in batch mode