Inside the original query, changes were
made that will now only retrieve from the cube the data that matches the selected
parameters; in other words, the query does not retrieve all the data and then filter it
locally; instead, Reporting Services is smart enough to write the query to only ask
for the data necessary for the report.
Figure 10-10 shows what this parameter looks like when previewing the report,
which is also the way it will look to users at runtime in the web interface. You should
notice two things about the parameter: the list allows for multiple selections and that
there is a (Select All) selection as well as an All Products selection. Developers have
the ability to control whether or not a parameter allows for multiple selections, and
they can modify the query to control whether or not two All choices show up in a
multiple selection list.
Figure 10-10 The parameter, as viewed on the report, is by default a multiple selection list.
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In some cases, it may not make sense for a parameter to allow multiple selections.
Developers are able to control the type of list that is used for a report by clicking on
the Data or Layout tab and then selecting Report Parameters from the Report menu.
The Report Parameters dialog box that appears contains many options for controlling
how parameters are used and displayed on a report. For example, parameters have
a name and a data type, though while these options are important, they are invisible
to end users.
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