Force Variable or Control to default empty?

[hespora]

Hi,

I'm using a Data List Box to select Cards in a Data Deck. The deck has a default card, and the control has the No Value List Item enabled.

When the report runs, it defaults to one of the values for the data item in the list box (and right click - show variables confirms that the variable associated with this list box is indeed populated, as well as the respective card is indeed selected).

I don't want that. Instead, I want it to default to the No Value List Item and the variable to be empty, so that the deck's default card shows first. Is that possible? I tried to do that via the variable, but the Set Default Values for that does not seem to offer an option to have an empty default value. I then tried to get that done with the control itself, seeing as I can tell it to auto select either the first or the last item, and I can control where in the list the No Value List item sits - but enabling that property also only auto-selects a value, not the no value item.

Any ideas what I can do here?

[MFGF]

Hi,

I'm using a Data List Box to select Cards in a Data Deck. The deck has a default card, and the control has the No Value List Item enabled.

When the report runs, it defaults to one of the values for the data item in the list box (and right click - show variables confirms that the variable associated with this list box is indeed populated, as well as the respective card is indeed selected).

I don't want that. Instead, I want it to default to the No Value List Item and the variable to be empty, so that the deck's default card shows first. Is that possible? I tried to do that via the variable, but the Set Default Values for that does not seem to offer an option to have an empty default value. I then tried to get that done with the control itself, seeing as I can tell it to auto select either the first or the last item, and I can control where in the list the No Value List item sits - but enabling that property also only auto-selects a value, not the no value item.

Any ideas what I can do here?

Hi,

I'm not sure I quite follow what you're saying, sorry. If you have an active report variable and you don't define a default value for it, and nothing else in the report has set it, it will be empty. If the data deck is driven from this variable, the default card would be shown when the variable was empty. Are you saying something else is happening?

MF.

[hespora]

Yes, something else is happening:

- the variable has no default setting
- the (single one) control that sets the variable has "none" for its Auto Select property
- and yet, on report open, the variable is default set to one of its possible values.

[MFGF]

Yes, something else is happening:

- the variable has no default setting
- the (single one) control that sets the variable has "none" for its Auto Select property
- and yet, on report open, the variable is default set to one of its possible values.

Hi,

So if you go to the Active Report Variables tab and locate your variable, it's only being set by one control (your Data List Box), and it shows as having no default values?

Can you replicate this with the samples and post up an example?

MF.

[hespora]

Here, this shows the same behaviour.

[MFGF]

Here, this shows the same behaviour.

Hi,

This works fine for me?



What version of Cognos Analytics are you using? Could it be an issue in your build? The image above is from your report in the free trial, so you can test it yourself in CA R7

Cheers!

MF.

[hespora]

I'm not on CA, I'm on C10.2.2 - I don't like to think that makes a difference, but maybe it does?

[MFGF]

I'm not on CA, I'm on C10.2.2 - I don't like to think that makes a difference, but maybe it does?

Ok, I just tried it in my 10.2.2 instance and it still works fine for me - exactly as in the CA trial above.

There's something very odd going on with your instance. Have you tried a different browser?

MF.

[hespora]

yea, I've tried both IE11 and Chrome60, both with the same issue.

I wonder if this is an issue in creating the report, or in rendering the output. I've attached the mht that my system generates from the report definition shared earlier. What if you run that? If it's working fine for you, then the issue is with my client displaying the report. If instead that one also shows the errant behaviour, it is an issue with my system creating the report (at which time I'd have to check with my IT anyways)

[MFGF]

yea, I've tried both IE11 and Chrome60, both with the same issue.

I wonder if this is an issue in creating the report, or in rendering the output. I've attached the mht that my system generates from the report definition shared earlier. What if you run that? If it's working fine for you, then the issue is with my client displaying the report. If instead that one also shows the errant behaviour, it is an issue with my system creating the report (at which time I'd have to check with my IT anyways)

Hi,

When I run that mht I see the Warehouse Store retailer type is selected. Are you sure there's nothing setting it in your report?

MF.

[hespora]

Yup, absolutely certain. I've taken this up with my org's IT guys; there seems to be something off on our systems.

[ebaron5760]

I have the same problem.  :-\ Was there something wrong on your server side?  Was there a change you could have made in the report specs themselves?  How did you resolve this?  Thanks!

[hespora]

I have the same problem.  :-\ Was there something wrong on your server side?  Was there a change you could have made in the report specs themselves?  How did you resolve this?  Thanks!

My IT opened a PMR with IBM, but their support was not able to replicate the problem. In the end, I settled for converting the Data List box into a Data Drop Down List instead, which does not exhibit the errant behaviour.

I hope that's an option for you as well.