This is one of my favorite tricks for making a report easier to test and it is similar to my post on 10/2/06.

I create many reports with a parameter that selects a date, a month number or some other input that can control the records included and often even the layout of the report. But if I want to test different values for that parameter I have to refresh the report each time. This can be slow with a large database and it can be impossible if I am working with saved data from a remote customer. So instead of using the parameter directly in my formulas I create a feeder formula that contains just the parameter. I then use the feeder formula within the other formulas.

Now if I want to try a different parameter value I can simply open the feeder formula and change it from:

{?parameter}

to

{?parameter} – 2

The report formulas will now respond as if I had changed the parameter but without having to refresh the data.

There is also one other advantage to this method. Sometimes a customer will want to change from using a parameter prompt to having the report calculate the date automatically, based on today’s date or some other calculation. I can simply change the feeder formula and delete the parameter. All of the other formulas rely on the feeder.