# Dynamic Pick Lists

Pick Lists are a way to have the user select from a list of choices instead of having to type in values for a parameter. The pick lists that you can create in the Crystal Report Designer are static.

For example, say you want the user to select a customer as a report parameter. If a new customer is added to the customer database, you must remember to go back to each report that uses customer and add the new customer to the list of valid values for the customer parameter.

Dynamic Pick Lists automate this process. Dynamic Pick Lists build the list of available choices from a live database query instead of hard coding them. This reduces the need for time consuming report changes in the Crystal Reports Designer.

You must have a Database Connection created to use the Dynamic Pick List feature. You can create this from the Database Connections link on the Administration Page. The report must also be setup up with a parameter that has at least two values within it so that Ripplestone can detect it as a parameter that can be used for a Dynamic Parameter.