Parameter Controllers

About 699 wordsAbout 2 min

2026-09-04

A Parameter Controller lets a report user change a parameter's current value. Query components that use the parameter refresh after the controller publishes a value. The controller does not rewrite the parameter definition's Default value.

Choose a compatible controller

Parameter definition	Compatible controller
Numeric + Any value	Numeric Slider
Text or Numeric + SQL	List/Dropdown or Button
Text or Numeric + List of values	List/Dropdown or Button
Text + Any value	No compatible controller
Date created in the current parameter editor	No compatible controller

Only compatible parameters appear in a controller's parameter picker.

Add and bind a controller

Open a report in the designer.
Open Components > Parameters.
Add List/Dropdown, Numeric Slider, or Button to the canvas.
With the controller selected, open Data > Parameter and choose a Report or Global Parameter.
Configure the controller under Style, test it in preview, and save the report.

Parameter Controllers in the Components panel

The picker groups definitions under Report parameters and Global parameters. Choose New parameter when the report needs a new Report Parameter. For the full definition workflow, see Creating Parameters.

Use List/Dropdown when users choose from an SQL result or a maintained list of values.

Under Style > Style, choose List to keep the choices visible or Dropdown to save canvas space.
Selection is single by default. Turn on Multiple selection only when the consuming query supports several values.
Turn on Search for a long list. Search is case-insensitive and filters the displayed choices; space-separated terms must all match.
When Multiple selection is turned off, the last selected item remains selected.

Clearing every selection does not create a durable blank query value: query evaluation falls back to the parameter's Default value. Define a deliberate default instead of relying on an empty selection.

Numeric Slider

Use Numeric Slider for one Numeric parameter whose Suggested values setting is Any value. It selects one value, not a minimum-to-maximum range.

Set Minimum Value, Maximum Value, and a positive Step explicitly. Then choose the required presentation options:

Layout: Horizontal or Vertical.
Input box: lets the user type a value. Press Enter to apply it.
Slider: lets the user drag to a value. The value is applied when the handle is released.
Slider Label and Track Labels: show the current value or scale labels when needed.

Keep at least Input box or Slider visible so the report remains operable.

Button

Use Button for a short set of choices. Each candidate is rendered as a button, and selection is single. The controller does not provide search or multiple selection.

Use Content fit when button widths should follow their labels, or Same size for an aligned group. For long candidate lists, use List/Dropdown instead.

Default value and current value

Value	Where it is defined	What it controls
Default value	Parameter definition	Starting fallback value.
Current value	Bound controller or runtime input	Value used by report interactions and affected queries.

When no runtime value has already been supplied, binding a controller initializes it from the parameter default. A controller interaction changes runtime state; it does not edit that default. To change the starting fallback, edit the parameter definition.

Common issues

Symptom	Check
The parameter is missing from the picker.	Match its type and Suggested values setting to the compatibility table.
The List/Dropdown has no choices.	For SQL, execute and validate the query. For List of values, add and save the candidates.
A slider change is not applied yet.	Release the slider handle, or press Enter after typing a value.
The controller appears blank when the report opens.	Set a valid parameter Default value and confirm that it exists in the controller's candidate list.
A tab opens from the wrong multi-select value.	Use single selection for tab navigation. Tab switching uses only the first selected value.