Creating parameter maps

Use parameters to create conditional query subjects that allow for substitutions when the report is run. Parameter maps are objects that store key-value pairs.

Parameter maps are similar to data source look-up tables. Each parameter map has two columns, one for the key and one for the value that the key represents. You can manually enter the keys and values, import them from a file, or base them on existing query items in the model.

You can also export parameter maps to a file. To modify the parameter map, you can export the map values to a file, do additions or modifications and then import it back into IBM® Cognos® Framework Manager. This is especially useful for manipulating large, complex parameter maps.

All parameter map keys must be unique so that Framework Manager can consistently retrieve the correct value. Do not place quotation marks around a parameter value. You can use quotation marks in the expression in which you use the parameter.

The value of a parameter can be another parameter. However, you must enclose the entire value in number signs (#). The limit when nesting parameters as values is five levels.

When you use a parameter map as an argument to a function, you must use a percentage sign (%) instead of a dollar sign ($).

Assign an alias to a query item that uses a parameter map as part of its name and to add the multilingual names to the object in the Language tab (Properties pane).

Do not base a parameter map on a query item or table with a large result set, such as 50,000 rows. Each time you use the parameter map in an expression or in SQL, Framework Manager executes this large query. Performance is then slowed. Parameter maps should be used for smaller lookup tables.