HP 3000 Manuals

HP ALLBASE/BRW Reference Manual

Execution Defaults 

For convenience when you execute a report, you can specify report
execution defaults on the Define Selection screen.  You can create a
default for:

   *   parameter values

   *   printer characteristics, (that is, number of copies, output
       device, output file name, whether to have CCTL codes in
       printfiles, and the environment file)

   *   job input priority

   *   schedule for the report job

This section of the Define Selection screen illustrates execution
defaults:


            

Any defaults you define at the Define Selection screen are also displayed
on the Request Report screen for a specific execution file.  You can
change the defaults on the Request Report screen before you execute the
report.  If you change the defaults, you don't have to recompile the
report.  [REV BEG]The exception to this rule is if "freeze screen field"
or "Value required" are used.  See the examples for "Frozen Defaults" and
"Required Parameters" in this chapter.[REV END]

In addition, all defaults, except for schedule details, are used if you
execute the report directly using the BRWEXEC program without specifying
parameter values.  See Requesting Reports Stand-alone  in Chapter 11  
for details.

Example:  Frozen defaults 

You can freeze the schedule, printer characteristics and parameter values
for security purposes by adding an asterisk (*) in the right corner of
each of these fields on the Define Selection screen.  This prevents
values from being modified at report execution time.

The schedule and parameter values in the following selection set cannot
be changed at run time because there is an asterisk for the parameter in
the Default Values field and for the time value in the Scheduled field.


            

Required parameters can be specified if a formula in the report
specification requires a parameter value.  When an R is in the right hand
corner of the Default Values field, the report requester is required to
enter a value at report execution time.

To specify a required parameter: 

   1.  At the Parameters screen, type X in the Value Required field.

   2.  Choose Add Parm and Exit.

Or...

   1.  At the Define Selection screen, space over to the far right of the
       Default Values field and type R.

   2.  Press Enter or choose Add Selection.

       In the example below, the parameter month must have a value
       entered at execution time.


            

The difference between these two methods is that when you mark Value
Required at the Parameters screen, that requirment affects any and all
reports executed, regardless of the selection set used.  If you type the
R on the Define Selection screen, that parameter is only required when
you run a report using that selection set.

Example:  Specifying a required parameter 

Suppose your Sales Report for all areas contains a COUNTRY item.  You
know the WEST, NORTH, and SOUTH areas are all within the United States,
so you don't need the COUNTRY field.  But the EAST area includes England,
Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.  You want the EAST report to be
subdivided by country.  You can create a selection set for the EAST that
requires a parameter for COUNTRY. When you request the EAST report, you
use the selection set that requires a value for country.

MPE/iX 5.0 Documentation