Passing parameters to a report via URL : using 'like' and '%' ?

Question

Hi,
I have created a report by sql query, and I'm calling it by the means of a URL with a '.show' extension, and then I can specify as many parameters as I wish.
In my case I use a string as a bind variable ans I would like to pass it as a condition to render the report.
Thus I tried to use that :
"[call_url].show?p_arg_names=_[...]_cond&p_arg_values=like&p_arg_names=_[...]_[bind_variable]&p_arg_values=[xxx]"
To be able to use it I have to add a '%' at the end of it, so that I get all the rows beginning with the letters I specified, ie 'xxx' could be 'A%', so that I get all the rows beginning with an A.
The problem is that this character is not effective. I succeeded with the '_' character, but it brings a limitation to the length of the field, and it's not what I want. I also tried this : "...p_arg_values=A'&'%'", but I didn't manage to make it work !
Any idea appreciated !
Regards,
gael.

Answer 1

Hi Gael,
your URL is made up of :
[ProcedureName]?[parameter1]=[value1]&[parameter2]=[value2]
creating URLs like this can have problems especially with spaces and punctuation.
the answer is a FORM
the following will create a hidden form :
FORM ACTION="[ProcedureName]" METHOD="POST" name="F1"
INPUT type="HIDDEN" name="[parameter1]" value="[value1]"
INPUT type="HIDDEN" name="[parameter2]" value="[value2]"
/FORM
you can set the values in the form using:
document.F1.[parameter1].value="abc123%%&&$$!";
document.F1.submit();
will submit the form and the PL/SQL procedure should receive the text as it was contained in the form.
the only characters that can now cause problems are :
" as it delimits the field.
' as it may cause problems in PL/SQL.
\ as it is a special character.
Regards Michael