Looping through a multiple value parameter array

Question

I have a parameter that allows multiple values. Its for a name field in my database. What I want to be able to do is allow the user to put in a name and then have crystal fi

Answer 1

Another approach (I thought it made sense to create a separate answer), if you have Oracle, is to make use of the REGEXP_LIKE expression.

• Create a report that uses a Command.
• Create a string parameter ({?QUERY}) in the Command's panel; set the default value to 'ALL' (without single quotes).
• Add the query to the Command; reference the parameter:

SELECT customer_name FROM customers WHERE ( '{?QUERY}'='ALL' OR REGEXP_LIKE(customer_name, '{?QUERY}') )

• Add fields to the report as usual
• When prompted (running the report), enter a regular expression in the QUERY parameter. The pattern 'A|B|C' is equivalent to LIKE '%A%' OR LIKE '%B%' OR LIKE '%C%'.

Answer 2

Luckily CR can handle this situation automatically (at least in CR2008, where I just confirmed it). You can just do {?Customer Name}="All" or {NAMEFIELD} like {?Customer Name}.

It will be up to the end user to use the wild cards appropriately, but you can add a blurb to the parameter's help text or force the *Name* format with an edit mask.

Answer 3

Create a multi-value parameter ({?Customer Name}) with these properties:

• Default Value: ALL
• All multiple values: TRUE

Add a row to the parameter's pick-list grid; supply 'ALL' and 'ALL' (without single quotes)

Create a Custom Function (named 'Delimit') with this text:

// Delimit()
// enclose each value in array in **, returning an array
Function (Stringvar Array params)

  Split("*" + Join(params, "*,*") + "*", ",")

Modify the report's record-selection formula:

If {?Customer Name}<>"ALL" Then
    {TABLE.CUSTOMER_NAME} LIKE Delimit({?Customer Name})
Else
    True

Optionally, create a formula to display the parameter's values with this text:

//{@Customer Name}
Join( Delimit({?Customer Name}), ";")