#### How to create a basic report parameter

1. In Data Explorer, right-click Report Parameters, and choose New Parameter.
New Parameter appears, as shown in Figure 12-10.

Figure 12-10 New Parameter
2. Specify the following basic properties:

1. In Name, type a name for the parameter. It is good practice to use a prefix, such as RP, in the name to help distinguish report parameters from other parameter types, such as data set parameters. For example, a report parameter used to filter on a quantityinstock field might be named RP_quantityinstock. The value you specify in Name appears as the prompt to the report user, if you do not specify a value for the next property, Prompt text. Rather than specify only a Name value for the parameter, you should use a technically descriptive value in Name, and provide a user-friendly value in Prompt text.
2. In Data type, select a data type for the parameter.
The data type that you select does not have to match the data type of the field in the data source. Values in an orderID field, for example, can be stored as integers in the database, but the report parameter that is associated with this field can be of decimal or string type. The data type that you select for the report parameter determines the formatting options that are available if you choose to provide a default value or a list of values for the report parameter.
For date fields, you can select either DateTime or String. Specifying the string data type provides more flexibility for the user to specify dates in a variety of formats. For example, the user can type 02/04/2004, 2/4/04, or Feb 4, 2004. The trade-off is that you cannot use date-and-time formats to change how dates appear if you choose to provide the user with a list of date values.
3. Choose OK.
The parameter appears under Report Parameters in Data Explorer.