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 Report URL parameters with &run.prompt=false throws prompt page ALWAYS

Dave P's profile image
Dave P posted Fri March 14, 2025 11:47 AM

I gave up on this about a decade ago, but a new project requiring prompt/parameter values passed in the URL arose and I decided to revisit.  I’m hoping that one of you super-genius folks can either confirm the bug, or help me better understand the behavior so that I can find a workaround.  Many thanks in advance.

In a minimal report with one parameter (pA) and a prompt page with a text box prompt that sets the value of pA, I append the following parameters to the end of the URL obtained from the Share/LINK page:

&run.prompt=false&p_pA=xyz

When I paste the modified URL into the browser, the first thing I see is the prompt page (!!arrggghh!!) with the prompt control’s value pre-populated with “xyz”.  It recognizes the parameter value from the URL, but it is not respecting the run.prompt=false parameter! I can’t get this report (or any other!) to run without throwing the prompt page, which makes the feature USELESS.

(I started VERY minimal, without even a Query – same results. I thought that maybe the report engine wasn’t recognizing the presence of a parameter without seeing it in a Filter/WHERE clause, so I added a minimal Query with the prompt/parameter value in the Filter, but still same results.)

That's the situation.  Here are some images for additional clarity. (Data source is MSSQL since SAP/BW won't accept a query without FROM.)

Thomas Wolf's profile image
Thomas Wolf posted Mon March 17, 2025 04:02 AM

I never used &run.prompt=false. The parameter by itself should suffice.

To address your problem, you might want to try one of the following:

  • Sometimes Cognos wants a Prompt Control for the parameter. You can set its properties to Not Required and put it in a Block of Box Type: None - Block.
  • Instead of setting the expression to ?pA?, use the prompt macro. It should read something like #prompt('pA'; 'string'; '')#. Depending on your localization, you might need to use comma instead of semicolon.
  • Another idea would be using the ParamValue macro instead of ?pA?: #ParamValue('pA')#.
César CARDORELLE's profile image
César CARDORELLE posted Mon March 17, 2025 06:42 AM

You might also try to change the report's default prompting behaviour in its properties ( Report tab ) from Yes (default value ) to No . ( see below ) .

Dave P's profile image
Dave P posted Mon March 17, 2025 11:00 AM

Thanks @Thomas Wolf - Those are great things to try when having prompting issues. I've tried them without success in this situation.
Thanks @César CARDORELLE - That was my first try, but no success.

Ultimately, I would like the finalized report to show the customized prompt page when launched from the Cognos portal (without saved prompt values), but SUPPRESS the customized prompt page when invoked from a custom URL that supplies valid parameter values for all prompts.  I believe that is the behavior that was intended to be enabled by the run.prompt parameter, but it appears to be defective.

Robert Hofstetter's profile image
Robert Hofstetter posted Mon March 17, 2025 03:00 PM

Agree with Thomas. I don't think &run.prompt was ever a valid parameter. Here is documentation which says it's just &prompt which has always worked for me: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/cognos-analytics/11.2.0?topic=mc-creating-custom-urls-display-run-cognos-analytics-content.

Dave P's profile image
Dave P posted Tue March 18, 2025 09:54 AM

Thanks @Robert Hofstetter - You might be right.  I can't find it in the dox.  It's been floating around on stackoverflow and other sites for years.  It may have been lifted from an old-style default portal action URL.

So sad that with all of the rich functionality in Cognos there isn't a solution for this problem.  And one would think that if all parameters were satisfied that the DEFAULT action would be to skip redundant prompting.

Dave P's profile image
Dave P posted Tue March 18, 2025 10:29 AM

Actually, I did just find it in the current SDK:

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/cognos-analytics/12.0.0?topic=sets-runoptionenum

prompt

Specifies whether the report service will issue prompts, so that users can enter report option values. To specify this option, use the bibus » runOptionBoolean class.

Default: true

Shaveta Srivastava's profile image
Shaveta Srivastava posted Wed March 19, 2025 12:51 PM
Dave P's profile image
Dave P posted Thu March 20, 2025 10:14 AM

Thank You @Shaveta Srivastava!  That works!  Grateful for your keen eye.  Disappointed that I missed it.  Always RTFM (read the friendly manual).