Report Builder: Lexical References

Question

I need to use a lexical reference for the whole sql statement in one of the quries of my report since I have multiple clauses. For example I'm using
select &depttable
where depttable is a user parameter. According the the help of the Report Builer this is possible but it is reporting an error of missing expressing when closing the query boc. I'm really confused now and this is the only way possible. Can anyone help please?

Answer 1

It is easy. You can declare a lexical parameter for the whole query, but you have to enter an initial value for the parameter
which restricts the number and datatypes of output columns.
Declare the parameter (1 parameter for the whole Select) before you open the query editor.
You have to decide on the number and datatypes of the columns in the select clauses of the statements
you are going to use with this report.
Assuming the Statements will use one number and one character column in their select clauses:
Declare the parameter for the whole query as follows:
datatype character
width 500 (depending on how long your queries can get)
initial value: write any select that contains a select and a from clause (must be a parsable statement)
The select clause must (to fit this example) contain a number and a character column in the correct order.
Write for example: SELECT EMPNO,ENAME FROM EMP. (assuming you have EMP table in your schema)
Then open the query editor and write the parameter name with a leading&. (f.e.: &p_1)
When you close it , Reports parses the query with the initial value for the parameter and saves information on the output columns.
Design a layout. You will then be able to run the report with any SELECT that outputs a number and char column (in the correct order)
For example: select deptno,dname from dept where deptno< 40 order by deptno desc.