This will become an important
distinction later on, when we start to use Report Parameters in ways that affect the
layout and logic of a report that are separate from data.
Creating Parameter Binding the Easy Way
The last example was a good introduction to using parameters with data. In older
versions of BIRT, it was the only way to create the binding between Data Set
Parameters and Report Parameters. However, there are some tedious steps involved,
which cause some confusion. Using the above method, you either need to know
before you put your queries in what your Report Parameters are going to be and
build them before you create your Data Set, or you need to double back as we did
above. That seems a little counter-intuitive to typical Report Design. Fortunately
there is an easier way to create Data Sets, Report Parameters, and bind them in one
simple procedure. You might remember the button next to the Linked to Report
Parameter text box that I said we would come back to. In the following example, we
will revisit the process of creating a Data Set Parameter to show how
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much easier it is to do the linking of Report Parameters and Data Set Parameters in
later versions of BIRT. In the next exercise we are going to go through the same steps
as the previous exercise, except now we are going to use the quick method.
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