Enabling user filtering at query run time
As described previously, a report parameter enables or requires users to specify a value that determines the data to include in a report. When they run a report that uses a JDBC data source, BIRT updates the SQL query with these values before retrieving any data. The data source then returns only the rows that match the user-specified values.
To enable users to filter database data, complete the following tasks in the recommended order. For detailed information about these tasks, see the corresponding topics later in this section.
Create report parameters to prompt the user to specify values that determine what rows to retrieve.
Insert parameter markers in the SQL query.
Create a data set parameter to supply a value for each parameter marker.
Bind the data set parameter to the report parameter, so that the data set parameter gets the user-specified value from the report parameter and passes it to the SQL query.
Determine how to present the report parameters.
Test the report parameters.