Parameter with Value, or Null or empty sting.
I have a question regarding parameter that could have value or Null value or empty string “” value.
For example I have report with four fields: field1,field2,field3,field
For every field I have parmeter Par1,Par2,Par3,Par4.
I understand that parameter is filter applied in selection criteria against a field.
Records will be selected based on value or values of the parameter or parameters for the field or fields.
Sometimes user asks for option to have specific values, multiple values or All values option for particular parameter.
I am ok with that situation and I know how to provide it and what this selection will bring back.
However I was not sure about situation when there are scenario that in the same filed could be values and could be null values too and user ask selection on this way to be done:
You have parameter e.g. Par3 for that field3. In report as I mentioned you have other fields with their parameters.
You select other fields based on their parameter values and you came to the Par3 you select value and for example there is no value-match for that filed it means complete record will not be pulled out, does not matter that other fields have value.
Lot of times customer wants and asks to pull out that record out and show empty field in our case field3 that Par3 was filtering and hit Null or empty string.
I never was sure how to provide it.
Any Idea?
For example I have report with four fields: field1,field2,field3,field
For every field I have parmeter Par1,Par2,Par3,Par4.
I understand that parameter is filter applied in selection criteria against a field.
Records will be selected based on value or values of the parameter or parameters for the field or fields.
Sometimes user asks for option to have specific values, multiple values or All values option for particular parameter.
I am ok with that situation and I know how to provide it and what this selection will bring back.
However I was not sure about situation when there are scenario that in the same filed could be values and could be null values too and user ask selection on this way to be done:
You have parameter e.g. Par3 for that field3. In report as I mentioned you have other fields with their parameters.
You select other fields based on their parameter values and you came to the Par3 you select value and for example there is no value-match for that filed it means complete record will not be pulled out, does not matter that other fields have value.
Lot of times customer wants and asks to pull out that record out and show empty field in our case field3 that Par3 was filtering and hit Null or empty string.
I never was sure how to provide it.
Any Idea?
Do you want to allow the user to specifically ask for the records where field X is null or an empty string (instead of asking for some other value), or do you want to include those records, no matter what value the user asked for?
mlmcc's suggestion should give you the second one, although he left out the ")" for the IsNull function:
(IsNull({Field3}) OR {?Par3} = {Field3})
If you want to allow the user to specifically ask for the null values, you could have a special parameter value for that. One obvious choice would be "Null", assuming that your field will never be that string. Then that part of the formula would look something like:
(
({?Par3} = "Null" and IsNull ({Field3})) or
{?Par3} = {Field3}
)
If you want them to be able to ask for the records where the field is an empty string, they could just enter an empty string in the parameter. If you want to combine that with the "Null" option, so that it gives you both the null and empty string records, you could use:
(
({?Par3} = "Null" and (IsNull ({Field3}) or {Field3} = "")) or
{?Par3} = {Field3}
)
James
mlmcc's suggestion should give you the second one, although he left out the ")" for the IsNull function:
(IsNull({Field3}) OR {?Par3} = {Field3})
If you want to allow the user to specifically ask for the null values, you could have a special parameter value for that. One obvious choice would be "Null", assuming that your field will never be that string. Then that part of the formula would look something like:
(
({?Par3} = "Null" and IsNull ({Field3})) or
{?Par3} = {Field3}
)
If you want them to be able to ask for the records where the field is an empty string, they could just enter an empty string in the parameter. If you want to combine that with the "Null" option, so that it gives you both the null and empty string records, you could use:
(
({?Par3} = "Null" and (IsNull ({Field3}) or {Field3} = "")) or
{?Par3} = {Field3}
)
James
ASKER
James I am interested in for that first option you mentioned.
Let say can we put both option empty string “” and Null value for the field3 as “NoEntry”.
To not confuse user with "" or "Null" , he see that as no entry.
Now when parameter is opened in front of the user he sees next choices e.g. :
A
B
C
D
NoEntry.
If he wants e.g. A and B he will pick up A and B and selection will pull only records for A and B no other.
If he wants A and B plus those with empty string or Null values he will select : A, B, NoEntry.
How code with Par3 looks for this?
Let say can we put both option empty string “” and Null value for the field3 as “NoEntry”.
To not confuse user with "" or "Null" , he see that as no entry.
Now when parameter is opened in front of the user he sees next choices e.g. :
A
B
C
D
NoEntry.
If he wants e.g. A and B he will pick up A and B and selection will pull only records for A and B no other.
If he wants A and B plus those with empty string or Null values he will select : A, B, NoEntry.
How code with Par3 looks for this?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Thanks a lot.
You're welcome. Glad I could help.
James
James
(IsNull({Field3} OR {?Par3} = {Field3})
mlmcc