Problems using a report parameter as a filter "Forward dependencies are not valid"

  • I am building a report that lists fee earners and the unpaid bills that they have outstanding. I am trying to allow users to filter which fee earners they see by creating a report parameter then using that report parameter as a dataset filter. The parameter works fine but when I then configure the dataset filter I get an error message " 'FeeEarnerRef' has a DefaultValue or ValidValue that depends on the report parameter "FeeEarnerRef". Forward dependencies are not valid"My parameter uses a field from my dataset for the available values and default values (I want "Select all" to be a default).

    I am then trying to filter fee earners using the FeeEarner Ref expression.

    Firstly, can you see what I am trying to do? 
    Secondly, am I going about this the right way? If not what am I doing wrong?

  • Hi There,

    You shouldn't need to filter the dataset, that should be handled with a WHERE clause in your query.  The user then selects from a list of Fee Earners which is to your parameter and this passed to your query.

    For Example
    SELECT
    FeeEarner,
    OutstandingBills
    FROM 'YourTable'
    WHERE FeeEarner IN (@FeeEarner)

    This automatically create the FeeEarner parameter in SSRS.  You can then assign a query to get a distinct list of FeeEarners and a Select all option.

    Regards
    Mark

  • You also need to ensure your parameters are set in order that they are needed, that is to say if a parameter is being filtered by the result of another parameter, you need to ensure that this parameter is set before the 2nd one.

    Gordon Barclay

  • I've actually managed to sort this out for myself, I created a separate dataset that just returned the values that I wanted for my parameter and then used that.

    It all works now, thanks for the help guys 🙂

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