An Actuate SQL parameter is a variable that is used in an information object query. When a user runs the report, the user provides a value for this variable on the Parameters page.
If an Actuate SQL query defines a parameter in a WITH clause but does not use the parameter, the query does not return any rows if no value is provided for the parameter when the report runs. For example, the following query does not return any rows if no values are provided for the lastname and firstname parameters when the report runs: