A parameter associated with a database column that passes an expression to dynamically extend the query’s WHERE clause. An ad hoc parameter uses Query by Example (QBE) syntax to restrict the number of rows returned from the data source to the report. The tools that support ad hoc parameters are BIRT Spreadsheet Deployment Kit, BIRT Spreadsheet Designer, e.Report Designer Professional, Information Console, and Management Console. For example, in
Figure G-3 the QBE value, >100, translates to the following SQL (Structured Query Language) expression: