A parameter is an element defined in a report or dashboard gadget that provides user input to select data used in a file job. Report developers use parameters to request report data from users. User input may define which records are retrieved, the sorting sequence of the data, and the output format for a report.

If an Actuate file has parameters, the user sets the parameter values when running the file job or uses the default parameter values set by the developer. If a report parameter file is available, the user starts a report and loads the report parameters with predefined values.