Issue/Question
- How do parameters in CORE work?
- How do I use single select parameters?
- How do I use the wildcard symbol in CORE?
- How can I tell when a parameter allows wildcards?
- Why is there a percentage sign in a CORE report parameter?
- How do I know when a parameter allows multiple entries?
- Can I use operators in CORE?
- Can I use begins with in CORE?
- Can I use ends with in CORE?
- Can I choose how I want a filter to be applied?
Environment
- Oregon State University
- CORE
Explanation
The reports in CORE use a variety of parameters to allow people to select the type of data they want from a report. This article documents the types of parameters in CORE reports and how to use them. Troubleshooting issues with CORE report parameters are documented in other articles.
Using parameters in most CORE reports
In most CORE reports all the parameters must have a value in them for the report to run and they must be entered in the order the parameters are numbered (1, 2, 3, etc.). Many parameters in CORE reports are cascading, which means the options available in a parameter is based on the values entered in previous parameters. For example, if you select a term, college and campus, but a major does not appear in the major parameter list this is possibly because no students are in that major for the selected term, college and campus.
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Caution: Values will not appear in a parameter if the previous parameters it relies on have not been filled in. For example, a major parameter may not show any options because you have not supplied the year and term you want to look at. To avoid this fill in the parameters in the order they are numbered (1, 2, 3, etc.). This will insure that all parameters will have a value when you get to them.
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Optional Parameters and Ad Hoc Reports
In a small set of CORE reports not all parameters are required for the report to run. In that case the optional parameter's value will default to "no filter." To use the parameter remove the "no filter" option and enter or select the value you want to filter on.
There is also a small set of ad hoc CORE reports in which all parameters are optional except for the year, month or period and a few other parameters. These ad hoc reports also allow you to select the fields you would like to see in the results using the Fields or Display Fields parameter. In most CORE reports you cannot change the fields in the report.
Ad Hoc Reports in CORE:
- Student
- STU2561 (Student Ad Hoc Lite: OSU Transcript/Course Query)
- STU2562 (Student Ad Hoc Lite: OSU Degrees Query)
- STU2563 (Student Ad Hoc Lite: OSU Registration/Schedule Query)
- STU2564 (Student Ad Hoc Lite: Student Demographics and Term Detail Query)
- Finance
- FIN2553 (Operating Ledger Query)
- FIN2554 (Operating Statement Query by Period)
- FIN2555 (General Ledger Query)
- FIN2556 (Transaction Ledger Query)
- FIN2557 (Transaction Ledger - Invoice - Vendor Query)
Resolution
Single Select
The single select parameter is a dropdown list that only allows you to select one value for the list of options.
Multi-Select
Multi-Select Fields allow you to select multiple values from a dropdown list.
Single Entry
The single entry field allows you to manual entry a single value in a field. You can tell when a field is a single entry field because it does not include drop down arrows. You can type or paste into the field an allowed value (e.g. an Index Field requires an OSU Index as the value).
Wildcards in Single Entry Parameters
Single entry parameters will sometimes allow you to use a wildcard (%) in them. The wildcard is used to replace unknown or missing letters or numbers in the search box or a report parameter field.
If a single entry parameter allows wildcards it will either default to the %:
or the parameter title will indicate wildcards are allowable:
Either of these search functions will produce the same result.
Examples of using the wildcard:
- 79 followed by the wildcard: 79%
- Search Result: All accounts which begin with 79
- Wildcard followed by 79: %79
- Search Results: All accounts which end with 79
- Wildcard followed by 79 followed by a wildcard: %79%
- Search Results: All accounts that contain 79 in them
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Notes on Wildcards
- The more characters used with the wildcard symbol in the parameter the fewer records the report will return. If you are expecting more results try removing characters before or after the wildcard (e.g. change 793% to 79%)
- A wildcard may cause a report to take longer to run or to timeout. If this happens try reducing the results by adding characters before or after the wildcard (e.g. change 79% to 793%).
- It is general recommended to include at least one character before or after the wildcard. Otherwise the report will bring back all results for the parameter, which for certain data sets could be millions of rows.
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Multi-Entry
Multi-Entry Fields allow you to enter or paste in a list of multiple values to use in a CORE report. This field is represented by a blank text box with a down arrow, like that of a dropdown list, but the drop down is blank. The values can be individually typed into the text box with one entry per line. You can also copy and paste a list of values (one per line) from another source like excel.
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Caution: Do not include punctuation (, > < =) in the mulit-entry parameter as this will cause the report to not return results. The parameter will automatically add commas between the values in the list based on the line breaks.
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Operators
The operator parameters allow you to select a operator (equals, beings with, etc.) to use when searching for a value. This provides much more flexibility than other standard parameters. There are two required fields and both must have values entered in order for the report to return results.
Operators that are in CORE are:
- No Filter: Returns all results for that parameter. There is no filter in this field. Leave corresponding parameters blank.
- Equal: Returns results for items equal the value entered. Does not accept Wildcard (%).
- Between: Returns results between the entered first and second values. Must enter values with only a space in between on a single line, value1 value2.
- One Of: Returns results for all of the values entered. Enter a list of values, one per line. Option: Copy and paste list from another source but format must be one value per line.
- Contains: Returns all results for items that contain any part of the entered value. For example, partial text, partial index (ABC or 123), etc. Does not accept the Wildcard (%).
- Begins With: Returns results for the partial/beginning values. For example, QF will return all indexes which begin with QF. Does not accept the Wildcard (%).
- Ends With: The opposite of Starts With. Returns results for the partial/ending values. For example, an index ending in 201 will return all indexes which end in 201. Does not accept the Wildcard (%).
- Not Begins With: Returns results for values that do not begin with the entered value. Everything except the entered value.
- Not Equal To: Returns results for values that are not equal to the entered value. Everything except the entered value.
- Not End With: Returns results for values that do not end with the entered value. Everything except the entered value.
- Not Contain: Returns results for values that do not contain the entered value. Everything that does not contain the entered value.
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Note: An operator parameter may not allow for all of these operators.
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Example of an operator parameter
- The left field (Activity) is the operator selector where you can choose Equals, Begins With, Ends With, Contains, Null, etc.
- The right field (Activity Code Value) is where you would enter a value to search the activity codes on.
Assistance
For assistance, the Data Reference Desk (DRD)