Optional Parameter in Crystal Report XI designer

Question

Hi,
Is there a way to have parameter as optional in Crystal Reports XI ?
I am okay to have the parameter shown but I dont want it to be mandatory.

Answer 1

In CR XI the only way to make a parameter optional is to assign it a default value.
For example:
If it is a date range parameter then give the date range parameter a default value say '1900-01-01'. Set this by editing the parameter and clicking on 'Default Value' in the options section.
Then, in your selection criteria have logic similar to this.
If minimum({?date parameter}) = date(1900,01,01)
and minimum({?date parameter}) = maximum({?date parameter}) then
{database.date} = {database.date}
else
{database.date} in {?date parameter};
If the users do not change the default value for the date range then it will pick up all records otherwise limited to the date range.
If it is a numeric parameter then assign a value of zero and for string perhaps 'z' (make sure the default value will never be equal to a DB value) and then in the selection criteria use:
If {?parameter} = 'z' then {database.field} = {database.field}
else
{database.field} = {?parameter};