Bug 118644 Hint for Date Time Parameters
The hint you give for date time parameters (Please enter date ... pattern: MM/DD/YYYY ....) is only true if the date is unformatted. If you apply a format, you must enter it according to it. So it's quite confusing!
UI/org.eclipse.birt.report.designer.ui/src/org/eclipse/birt/report/designer/ui/dialogs/ParameterDialog.java
doNotEcho.setSelection( getProperty( CHECKBOX_DO_NOT_ECHO ) );
				}
				else
				{
					doNotEcho.setSelection( inputParameter.isConcealValue( ) );
				}
			}
			else
			{
				doNotEcho.setEnabled( false );
			}
		}
		if ( !DesignChoiceConstants.PARAM_TYPE_STRING.equals( getSelectedDataType( ) ) )
		{
			allowBlank.setEnabled( false );
			allowBlank.setSelection( false );
			checkBoxChange( allowBlank, CHECKBOX_ALLOW_BLANK );
		}
	}
	private void refreshDataSets( )
	{
		String selectedDataSetName = dataSetChooser.getText( );
		String[] oldList = dataSetChooser.getItems( );
		ArrayList avaiableList = new ArrayList( );
		for ( Iterator iter = SessionHandleAdapter.getInstance( )
				.getReportDesignHandle( )
				.getAllDataSets( )
				.iterator( ); iter.hasNext( ); )
		{
			DataSetHandle dataSet = (DataSetHandle) iter.next( );