Filters and parameters control the data that is included in the report.
Filter: allows the user to apply criteria to a field.
Parameter: allows the user to apply criteria to a field, but its value can be amended each time the report is run.
📌 Note: For more information on what criteria to add into the report, please visit the built in manual for thankQ and search for search operators.
Adding filters to a report
For this example, we want to create a report that filters on all the records where the date of birth is within a particular year.
Open the Report Builder.
Select the Type of report to create from the ribbon.
Select the Entities and Fields.
For example: Select the Contact entity and tick the Serial Number, Full Name (in the Details folder) and Date of Birth field (in the Biographical folder).
Select the button against the Date of Birth field.
This will open the Filter form, enabling the user to determine the criteria.
Once the criteria are entered, click the Go button.
The results will be displayed in the preview pane on the right.
To delete a filter at any time, click the Filter button and then click Clear.
Adding parameters to a report
For this example, we want to create a report that displays a list of donations for a particular payment type.
Open the Report Builder.
Select the Type of report to create from the ribbon.
Select the Entities and Fields.
For example: select the Contact entity, and tick the Serial Number, then select the Payment entity and tick the Payment Type, Date of Payment, Destination and Payment Amount fields.
Select the ? button against the field to set a parameter for, in this case, the Payment Type field.
The parameter value will now display in the Report Builder on the right-hand side of the screen, just beneath the report title.
Sset specific criteria against the parameter by clicking the ? button in the preview pane and applying the filter options.
Also add a picklist to the parameter to not have to remember data, such as Destination Codes and Serial Numbers, when running the report.
Select the button next to the parameter in the preview pane.
This will open the Properties Parameter form. From the form, either add a Default value or select a value from the picklist drop-down menu and click OK.
When running the report select the different values for the parameter.
Please be aware that when using Master Detail style reports, you will need to preview the report in edit mode, then select the part of the report that contains the entity you want to add the parameter to. The Parameter will only show in this section, and not at the top of the report.
📌 Note: If you have a filter set on a field and then add a parameter this will override the filter as it will expect the user to enter the parameters.