Optional date range parameter

[gmc1968]

I have a report that needs to be filtered by two different date fields: Date Returned and Transaction Date. I need a parameter that will allow the user to enter a date range for one of them and leave the other one blank. The english logic would be "Date Returned between start date and end date (parameter #1) or Transaction Date between start date and end date (parameter #2)". I'm using Crystal XI and loading the report into BOE XI R2. Right now, I have to enter a date range in both parameters and play around with the "Include this value" option on each one, but I'm not getting the desired results. Is there a way to create an optional parameter? Also, is there a way to have a blank date range parameter at all?

 

[sim133]

I would create two string parameters, BegDate and EndDate
Then in the record selection

(If BegDate <> 'ALL' then
fieldName >= date(BegDate)
else True) and
(If EndDate <> 'ALL' then
fieldName <= date(EndDate)
else True)

I am using 'ALL' as a default value.

 

[gmc1968]

Thanks for the advice. I actually set up a parameter to prompt the user for a filter type selection of 1 or 2. Then I added a formula in select expert to filter the data based on the filter selection.

if {?Filter Selection} = "1" then
fieldname1 = {?Prompt} else
fieldname2 = {?Prompt}