SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

1549213 - Parameter fields show technical names instead of descriptions in Crystal Reports

Symptom

  • Parameter fields show the technical name.
  • How to display the description for the selected parameter value on a report?
  • When reporting off an SAP BW BEx Query in Crystal Reports, the variables display the technical name of the selected values on the report,instead of the description.
      
        
  • Note: Images and data in this SAP Knowledge Base Article is from SAP internal systems, sample data, or demo systems. Any resemblance to real data is purely coincidental.

Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports 2016
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2020
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2025

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In SAP BEx Query Designer, create an SAP BW Query which contains at least one variable.
  2. In Crystal Reports, create a report off the SAP BW BEx Query.
  3. Drag and drop the parameter field on the report.
  4. When refreshing the report, select a value for the parameter.
       
     Var-01.png  
          
       
  5. Notice the value displayed on the report is the technical value, and not the description.
    How to display the description?  ( In this example: SlickRock )
      
    Var-02.png

Cause

  • Crystal Reports only displays the technical value of a parameter.
  • The product was enhanced to display the description in later product update, but by default, it will display the technical value entered in the parameter.

Resolution

  • To display the description of the value selected in the parameter in Crystal Reports:
                
    1. In Crystal Reports, open the report based off the SAP BW Query that have at least one variable.
          
    2. In the "Fields Explorer" pane, right click on the parameter, and select "Edit"
        
       Var-03.png 
        
    3. In the "Edit Parameter" window,  under the 'Value Options', scroll down until 'Show value or description' option is displayed'
          
    4. Then, select "Show Description" for the option "Show value or description"
         
       Var-04.png  
           
         
    5. Now, when viewing the report, it will display the description of the selected parameter value on the report.
       
      Var-05.png

 

Keywords

KBA , BI-RA-CR , Crystal Reports designer or Business View Manager , Problem

Product

SAP Crystal Reports 2016 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2020 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2025