Passing Null to Stored Procedure in Reporting Services

Hello,

I have a report. I need to make a drop-down parameter optional. I've setup the parameter to use a dataset as its source, and I need to allow the value to be null. I've selected allow nulls check box, and I've even tried setting the default value to System.DBNull.Value. But, when the entry is not selected (blank), no data ever comes back. If the data is blank or null, my procedure works (I've tested it). How do I send a null value to the database through reporting services report? I was hoping to avoid creating a special query just for that purpose.

Thanks.

Since you say that it is Blank, the report is passing a blank '', not a null. In your proc, you could have the statement:

if @.Parm = ''

Begin

Select @.Parm = null

End

In your parameter setup, uncheck the Allow Blank, and select the Allow Nulls...

Then, when running the report, when the NULL check box in the parameter panel is checked, a NULL will be passed to the proc.

hth

BobP

|||

Hello,

I have Allow Nulls checked. I do have that safeguard in my procedure. I don't have the option for the null checkbox in the parameter panel though. I am sure I have Allow Nulls checked in my application. How does that get added to the panel?

Thanks.

|||

You might want to consider modifying the stored procedure to default the parameter in question. You can set up the last (or last few) arguments of a stored procedure to be optional by providing a default value for the argument. For example, if you have a stored procedure defined as:

Code Snippet

create dbo.myProc

( @.anArgument varchar(20) = null

)

as

...

Since you have provided a default value to your parameter (as designated in red), you are no longer required to pass this argument to your stored procedure. Sometimes this can help.

Kent

|||

The null check box only gets added when you check the Allow Nulls box.

Also make sure you uncheck the Allow Blanks box.

BobP

|||

Hello,

I have a default value set to null for my stored procedure. I have allow nulls checked. I have allow blanks unchecked. I have verified my stored procedure and it works with nulls and blanks (SP converts blanks to null), and I have run the stored procedure in the RS designer and it works. I am sure of that... But, no matter what, I do not get a nulls checkbox in the parameter area...

Any ideas?

|||

BobP,

I do have Allow Nulls checked, and still it does not show.

Any ideas?

|||What version of SSRS are you using? 2000 or 2005, and which SP?|||

For some reason, SSRS doesn't seem to support "allow NULL" option for drop-down query-based parameters. You are always required to pick one of the parameter values to proceed with the report.

I created a small test report based on an SP that accepts one optional parameter of type INT. I was able to configure optional drop-down parameter for this report by creating a following dataset for parameter query:

Code Snippet

SELECT NULL party_id, '<all customers>' party_name

UNION ALL
SELECT party_id, party_name FROM party ORDER BY party_name

This will add "<all customers>" option to the list of parameters values and return NULL to the SP if this option is selected.

Hope this helps.

Denis

|||Reporting Services 2000.|||

Hey,

I was hoping not to have to do that, but your right I believe that is the only option.

Thanks.