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
- In SAP BEx Query Designer, create an SAP BW Query which contains at least one variable.
- In Crystal Reports, create a report off the SAP BW BEx Query.
- Drag and drop the parameter field on the report.
- When refreshing the report, select a value for the parameter.
- Notice the value displayed on the report is the technical value, and not the description.
How to display the description? ( In this example: SlickRock )
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:
- In Crystal Reports, open the report based off the SAP BW Query that have at least one variable.
- In the "Fields Explorer" pane, right click on the parameter, and select "Edit"
- In the "Edit Parameter" window, under the 'Value Options', scroll down until 'Show value or description' option is displayed'
- Then, select "Show Description" for the option "Show value or description"
- Now, when viewing the report, it will display the description of the selected parameter value on the report.
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
SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public