Advanced Database Systems: Module 1

Oracle Forms

Is a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware. Is used to develop and deploy Forms applications.

Oracle Forms Developer

Is used to develop a form that can access an Oracle database and present the data. Wizards and utilities are provided to speed up application development.

Forms Runtime Process

The Forms application is run (interpreted) by what?

Oracle Forms Services

Is a comprehensive application framework optimized to deploy Forms applications in a multitiered environment. It takes advantage of the ease and accessibility of the Web and elevates it from a static information-publishing mechanism to an environment capable of supporting complex applications.

Oracle Database

Is the latest generation of RDBMS. Among the numerous capabilities are unlimited scalability and industry-leading reliability with Oracle Real Application Clusters; high availability technology including advancements in standby database technology (Oracle Data Guard); and built-in OLAP, data mining and Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) functions.

Oracle WebLogic Server 12c

Is an application server for building and deploying enterprise Java EE applications with support for new features for lowering cost of operations, improving performance and supporting the Oracle applications portfolio.

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Includes Web servers, application servers, content management systems, and developer tools that provide complete support for development, deployment, and management of software applications.

Forms Listener Servlet

Is a broker between the Java client and the Forms Runtime process. It takes connection requests from Java client processes and initiates a Forms Runtime process on their behalf.

New Applet Parameters

Allow administrators to enhance an application's look and feel without having to make application code changes. Such functionality would traditionally require the development of Forms Java Beans or Pluggable Java Components or other application coding changes.

New Environment Variables

Allow administrators to enhance the behavior of an application without the need for application code changes.

Applet embedded in HTML

Default configuration.

– Support for SSO, SSO Logout, and Java

Script integration.

– Requires Java Plugin and browser.

JNLP embedded in HTML

Support for SSO, SSO Logout, and Java

Script integration.

– Base64 encodes JNLP code in client-side html source.

– Requires Java Plugin and browser.

Java Web Start

Limited SSO support (requires browser). SSO cookie will not be shared with browsers launched from Forms.

– No support for SSO Logout or Java Script Integration.

– Requires either JDK or Java Plugin (JRE).

– Browser optional (required with SSO).

– Presents application with native appearance.

Standalone

No support for SSO, SSO Logout or Java Script Integration.

– Requires either JDK or Java Plugin (JRE) installation.

– Browser not required.

– Presents application with native appearance.

– Example page available at: /forms/html/fsal.htm

Audio Playback

• Audio files stored in jar files on a remote server and delivered to client.

• End of file playback can be detected using the Audio Completion System Event.

• Is based on JavaFX, therefore most audio formats supported by JFX will be supported by Forms with the exception of the streaming formats.

• Playback control includes PLAY, PAUSE, STOP, TOGGLE MUTE.

Tab Label Icons

• Supports web formatted images (e.g. gif, jpg, etc).

• 16x16 pixel size recommended.

• Can only be set in plsql. Builder support planned in a later version.

SET_TAB_PAGE_PROPERTY(‘tab1’, ICON_NAME, ’blueDot.gif’);

Add Custom Text

• Add up to 255 single-byte characters of alphanumeric to either of these dialogs by setting

FORMS_LOGON_HINT and/or FORMS_CHANGE_PASSWORD_HINT

WEBUTIL_NO_OLE

Can be used when OLE functionality is not used in the module.

JACOB libraries

Are not needed when WEBUTIL_NO_OLE is used.

Oracle WebLogic Managed Server

Maps the request to the Oracle Forms Services application that has a context root named /forms. It maps the request to the Forms servlet using the frmservlet mapping specified in the application.xml file.

Java

In order to start the Forms applet, it’s what code must first be loaded? The location of the applet is specified by the applet codebase and archive parameters.

Default Menu

Which is part of all Oracle Forms Developer applications, is an alternative to keystroke operations. You can replace or customize this to introduce your own functionality into a form module.

Menu Toolbar

Contains buttons corresponding to menu items. At run time, it appears above any user-defined toolbars. It executes the same code as menu items, and it is a shortcut to menu commands that does not duplicate code or effort.

Console

Is the generic name for the standard features that provide information at run time.

Mouse

You can use this to navigate and to perform many user operations in a bitmapped environment without needing to learn the function keys.

Buttons

Web applications often use these as a means of navigation. You can click these with the mouse.

Function Keys

In addition to navigating with the mouse, you can move from item to item in sequence with these.

Enter-Query Mode and Normal Mode

Forms Builder has two main modes of operation

Allows in Enter-Query Mode

• Unrestricted and restricted queries

• Query/Where dialog box

• Record count by using Query > Count Hits

Doesn’t allow in Enter-Query Mode

• Navigation out of current data block

• Exiting run-time session

• Certain functions

• Insert, update, delete

Forms Builder

This is the application-building component of Oracle Forms Developer. You can use this to design and store the definitions of form, menu, and library documents.

Forms Compiler

After your form is built, use the this. This reads the definition of your module and creates an executable run file.

Forms Application

Can consist of many modules—that is, files. A module is a major component of your application and is the basis for storage and ownership. A module owns the objects that it contains.

Form

As the main component of an application, this module presents the objects and data that users can see or interact with. Data items in a form are arranged into records.

Menu

This module can consist of a hierarchy of menus, each with selectable items. Forms Builder provides the default menu for every form.

PL/SQL Library

This library is a collection of PL/SQL program units whose code can be referenced and called from other modules. This library documents can contain program units that can be used by other form and menu modules.

Object Library

This library is a collection of form objects that you can use in other modules. You can create it to store, maintain, and distribute standard objects that can be reused across the entire development organization.

Object Navigator

Is a hierarchical browsing and editing interface. You can use this to locate and manipulate application objects quickly and easily.

Layout Editor

Is a graphical design facility for creating and arranging interface

items and graphical objects in your application.

PL/SQL Editor

Enables you to incorporate PL/SQL code objects into your form. Code objects in Forms Developer include event triggers, subprograms (functions and procedures), menu item commands, menu startup code, and packages. You enter and compile code in this.

Items

These are interface objects that present data values to the user or enable the user to interact with the form, depending upon the item type. Are logically grouped into blocks and visibly arranged on canvases.

Blocks

Is the intermediate building unit for forms. Each form consists of one or more of this. Is the logical owner of items, and each item in a form belongs to a this.

Canvases

Is a “surface” where visual objects, such as graphics and items, are arranged. Can display items from one or more blocks.

Data Blocks and Control Blocks

In Forms Builder, there are two main types of blocks

Data Blocks

Is associated with a specific database table (or view), a stored

procedure, a FROM clause query, or transactional triggers.

Control Blocks

Is not associated with a database, and its items do not relate to any columns within any database table. Its items are called control items.

Data Block Wizard

Enables you to create (or modify) data blocks quickly and easily for use in your application. The wizard can automatically generate code to enforce integrity constraints in the database.