Available parameters for a PDQ in the IUIE

The PDQ form provides several links to metadata (descriptive information).

On the first line of the form, the name of the PDQ is a link to a description of the data returned by the query, as well as general information about the query.

Immediately following the PDQ name are the Instructions and Report Object Help links. The Instructions link displays details on how to control the output returned by the query. The Report Object Help link displays hints and detailed information that will help you use the PDQ effectively.

Each PDQ form field name is linked to a description of the form field, which includes such data as the technical name, the datatype of the field, whether it is a column in a database table, and the business use of the field.

Under "Select the Output Destination", you have several choices:

Wait for Output is the default setting. Your query will run in the foreground until finished, and then the output will display on the browser screen.

The Send Output to Completed Reports Folder and Send Output to Reports Viewer options allow a query to execute in the background, which allows you to continue working within the IUIE without waiting for the query to finish. The report output will go to the specified location (either the Completed Reports folder or the Reports Viewer).

The Push To option allows you to send the results of your report to another user. This output works the same way as sending to Completed Reports; however, it allows you to send a completed report to additional selected users; see Push a report to another user in the IUIE.

Send Output to Printer allows you to enter or select from a drop-down list a four-character Enterprise printer ID to which to send the report output.

Mailing can be an output destination if the publisher has created the PDQ to perform mailings, and if you have authorization to use mailing functionality; see Use mailing functions in a data extract in the IUIE.

Under "Select the Output Format", you may specify a particular output type.

The output types available for your PDQ are defined by the information provider at publishing time. A PDQ may have several output options; choose the one that best suits your needs. Two examples of output types are HTML (for displaying output in a browser), and Plain Text (for loading the output into an alternative viewer). HTML is best suited for quick lookups on small data sets where no further data manipulation is required. Other output type options are better when a large amount of output is expected, or when you expect to modify or manipulate the output.

You may need to configure your browser to automatically access Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, or other desktop tools as appropriate, when returning formatted data for the first time.

Fields marked with "Wildcards Allowed" can accept wildcard characters; see Wildcards and logical operators in the IUIE.

The Save Settings button saves the current PDQ form as a shortcut in My Catalog; see About shortcuts in the IUIE.

The Submit button executes your PDQ against the database.

The Valid Values button displays the possible values for the associated field.

Each valid value is displayed with a checkbox, which, when checked, places it on the PDQ form. If you check multiple values, and the PDQ form field allows multiple values, then a comma-delimited list of values will go to the PDQ form field.

Two buttons are located at the end of a "Valid Values" screen:

• The Return Values button returns each checked value to the PDQ form field.
• The Reset Selection button restores the set of values that were checked before any changes were made.

Authorized testers, Data Managers, developers, and IUIE Admins can use the Run Against Test button to run the production PDQs against test data located on DSS1TST.