diff --git a/src/current/include/preproc/symtable.xsl b/src/current/include/preproc/symtable.xsl
index e12e5a4b..069c22b0 100644
--- a/src/current/include/preproc/symtable.xsl
+++ b/src/current/include/preproc/symtable.xsl
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
 
 <xsl:include href="path.xsl" />
 <xsl:include href="../../tame/src/symtable.xsl" />
+<xsl:include href="../../tame/src/symtable/symbols.xsl" />
 
 
 <!-- we will recurse through the entire tree rather than performing a series of
@@ -757,23 +758,6 @@
 </xsl:template>
 
 
-<!-- Will be completed during post-processing so that typedefs can be
-     properly resolved -->
-<xsl:template match="lv:param" mode="preproc:symtable" priority="5">
-  <xsl:variable name="dim">
-    <xsl:call-template name="preproc:param-dim" />
-  </xsl:variable>
-
-  <!-- we use the primitive data type derived from the typedef to ensure that
-       the system can still make use of the type even when the typedef is not
-       exported; indeed, typedefs are simply restrictions that need only be
-       known for compiling (at least at present). Also note the keep="true" to
-       ensure that all param symbols are retained after linking -->
-  <preproc:sym name="{@name}" keep="true"
-    type="param" dtype="{@type}" dim="{$dim}" desc="{@desc}" tex="{@sym}" />
-</xsl:template>
-
-
 <xsl:template match="lv:typedef" mode="preproc:symtable" priority="5">
   <!-- FIXME: this is a kluge -->
   <xsl:variable name="dtype" as="xs:string?"
diff --git a/src/symtable/symbols.xsl b/src/symtable/symbols.xsl
index 14949c77..3738cea3 100644
--- a/src/symtable/symbols.xsl
+++ b/src/symtable/symbols.xsl
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
             xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
             xmlns:lv="http://www.lovullo.com/rater"
             xmlns:symtable="http://www.lovullo.com/tame/symtable"
+            xmlns:_symtable="http://www.lovullo.com/tame/symtable/_priv"
             xmlns:preproc="http://www.lovullo.com/rater/preproc">
 
 <import href="symbols.xsl.apply" />
@@ -72,9 +73,7 @@
 
   @item dim
   Dimensions of@tie{}@obj{} as an integer.
-  Standard dimensions are scalar@tie{}(0),
-    vector@tie{}(1),
-    and matrix@tie{}(2).
+  See @ref{_symtable:str-to-dim#1} for supported strings.
   @emph{Required}
 
   @item dtype
@@ -128,6 +127,42 @@
 -->
 
 
+<!--
+  Convert a string dimension representation into an integer.
+
+  Standard dimensions are @samp{scalar}@tie{}(0),
+    @samp{vector}@tie{}(1),
+    and @samp{matrix}@tie{}(2).
+  If no value is provided,
+    then @samp{scalar} is assumed.
+  All unknown strings will yield a value of @samp{-1}.@footnote{
+    That's not to say that @tame{} can't support an arbitrary number
+    of dimensions;
+      this syntax just doesn't provide that utility.}
+-->
+<function name="_symtable:str-to-dim" as="xs:integer">
+  <param name="str" as="xs:string?" />
+
+  <choose>
+    <when test="empty( $str ) or ( $str = 'scalar' )">
+      <sequence select="0" />
+    </when>
+
+    <when test="$str = 'vector'">
+      <sequence select="1" />
+    </when>
+
+    <when test="$str = 'matrix'">
+      <sequence select="2" />
+    </when>
+
+    <otherwise>
+      <sequence select="-1" />
+    </otherwise>
+  </choose>
+</function>
+
+
 <!--
   @node Symbol Types
   @section Symbol Types
@@ -249,12 +284,64 @@
 
 
   @menu
+  * Parameters: Parameter Symbols.              @code{param}
   * Templates: Template Symbols.                @code{tpl}
   * Program Metadata: Program Metadata Symbols. @code{meta}
   @end menu
 -->
 
 
+<!--
+  @node Parameter Symbols
+  @subsection Parameter Symbols
+
+  Global parameters define all inputs to the program.
+-->
+
+
+<!--
+  Produce a @code{param} symbol with the following attributes:
+
+  @table @code
+  @item name
+  Name of the parameter as provided by @pkgns{param/@@name}.
+
+  @item type
+  The datatype defining the parameter's domain,
+    as provided by @pkgns{param/@@type}.
+
+  @item dim
+  Numeric dimension converted from its string representation in
+    @pkgns{param/@@set}.@footnote{
+      The attribute name @pkgns{param/@@set} is unfortunate and simply
+        incorrect terminology with how it is used.
+      It will be changed in the future.}
+
+  @item desc
+  Description as provided by @pkgns{param/@@desc}.
+
+  @item tex
+  TeX symbol used when rendering parameter in an equation.
+
+  @item keep
+  Always @samp{true} to ensure that the symbol is retained after
+    linking.
+  @end table
+-->
+<template match="lv:param" mode="preproc:symtable" priority="5">
+  <variable name="dim" as="xs:integer"
+            select="_symtable:str-to-dim( @set )" />
+
+  <preproc:sym type="param"
+               name="{@name}"
+               dim="{$dim}"
+               desc="{@desc}"
+               dtype="{@type}"
+               tex="{@sym}"
+               keep="true" />
+</template>
+
+
 <!--
   @node Template Symbols
   @subsection Template Symbols
diff --git a/test/symtable/symbols.xspec b/test/symtable/symbols.xspec
index d4dbdd83..d7135f72 100644
--- a/test/symtable/symbols.xspec
+++ b/test/symtable/symbols.xspec
@@ -29,6 +29,77 @@
              stylesheet="../../src/symtable/symbols.xsl">
 
 
+  <scenario label="lv:param">
+    <context mode="preproc:symtable">
+      <lv:param name="foo_bar"
+                type="footype"
+                desc="Vector param"
+                set="vector" />
+
+      <lv:param name="tex_param"
+                type="tex"
+                desc="Matrix param with TeX"
+                set="matrix"
+                sym="\tex" />
+
+      <lv:param name="scalar_param"
+                type="bar"
+                desc="Scalar param (implicit)" />
+
+      <lv:param name="scalar_param_explicit"
+                type="bar"
+                set="scalar"
+                desc="Scalar param (explicit)" />
+
+      <lv:param name="unknown_dim"
+                type="wtf"
+                set="calabi-yau"
+                desc="Unknown dimension" />
+    </context>
+
+    <expect label="derives symbol data from param">
+      <preproc:sym type="param"
+                   name="foo_bar"
+                   dim="1"
+                   desc="Vector param"
+                   dtype="footype"
+                   tex=""
+                   keep="true" />
+
+      <preproc:sym type="param"
+                   name="tex_param"
+                   dim="2"
+                   desc="Matrix param with TeX"
+                   dtype="tex"
+                   tex="\tex"
+                   keep="true" />
+
+      <preproc:sym type="param"
+                   name="scalar_param"
+                   dim="0"
+                   desc="Scalar param (implicit)"
+                   dtype="bar"
+                   tex=""
+                   keep="true" />
+
+      <preproc:sym type="param"
+                   name="scalar_param_explicit"
+                   dim="0"
+                   desc="Scalar param (explicit)"
+                   dtype="bar"
+                   tex=""
+                   keep="true" />
+
+      <preproc:sym type="param"
+                   name="unknown_dim"
+                   dim="-1"
+                   desc="Unknown dimension"
+                   dtype="wtf"
+                   tex=""
+                   keep="true" />
+    </expect>
+  </scenario>
+
   <scenario label="lv:template">
     <context mode="preproc:symtable">
       <lv:template name="_foo_"