Providing the user with a list of values
To create a helpful prompt, you can provide the user with a list of values from which to choose. Do not assume that the report user knows what values to supply. For example, a user probably does not know that an order status field takes one of three values, Open, Closed, and In Process. In some cases, providing a list of values, such as customer names or invoice numbers, is necessary.
You create a list of values using one of the following techniques:
Create a static list of values. In a static list, the values you select to display to the report user are fixed in the report design. You can either select from a list of values, or type values to populate the list of values.
Create a dynamic list of values. In a dynamic list, the software generates the list of values when the report runs, using the current values in the report table or the data set. You can create a dynamic list of values at the data set level, or at the report column level.
Create a dynamic list for values that are frequently updated in the data source. For example, fields such as new customer names or product names are periodically updated in data sources. If you create a static list of these values, you need to update the list manually to match the values in the data source. Create a static list if you want to control the list of values displayed to the report user, for example, if you want to display only some of the values.