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Introduction to Application Express

(formerly HTML DB)

By Larry Linnemeyer, TUSC

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Agenda

• APEX Defined• Uses – who, what, when, where,

why• Building applications with APEX• APEX Administration and

Monitoring• Tips and Techniques

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APEX Defined

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What is APEX?• Oracle’s answer to “Wizards”• Meta Data (lots of it!)• Dynamic HTML (fast!)• PL/SQL - No Java• Does anything you can do in SQL

or PL/SQL• Nice Web-based team

development environment

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It’s Origin• Originated from Tom Kyte’s “ASK

TOM” site• Used mod_plsql to develop• Became “Project Marvel” then

HTML DB• Now it’s APEX• Also referred to as Einstein

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You’re a good candidate for APEX if you fit the following profile

• You are, or have developers who are, skilled in SQL and PL/SQL

• Your application is database-centric• Your application can be developed using

a hosted service• You are comfortable with a

declarative/4GL programming model • You want to migrate an Access / Excel

application to Oracle

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Scalable?• APEX.oracle• 5,500 active

workspaces• Dell 6550 4x2.0 Ghz

Xeon Processors• 6 GB RAM• Red Hat AS 2.1• 5,500+ schemas

• DB Size ~75 GB• SGA Size ~1.5GB• Average Unique

Page Views: 25,000+ per weekday

• Average Page View Time: <.5 seconds

• 1 DBA – manages 15 other DBs

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Major Components• Administration

• SQL Workshop

• Application Builder

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Components• SQL Workshop

– Interact with your database as with SQL*Plus, but visual

– Data dictionary and object browsing, query by example

• Administration– Manage users– Manage services– Monitor activity

• Application Builder– Centerpiece of APEX– Loaded with wizards– Reports, forms and

charts– Connect pages using

branches– 75 pre-defined widgets– Basic HTML, pop-up lists,

calendars, etc.– Full data entry validation

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More Features• Session and State

Management– Each user has a session– Valid

username/password is required

• User Interface Control– Look-and-feel is separate

from application logic– Extensive templates

• Flexible Authentication and Authorization Schemes– Can use pre-built /

built-in methods or custom

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“Installing” APEX• Apply for a free account at apex.oracle.com

– Set up other developers / users for testing• Can optionally download and install locally

– Run the script on your 9iR2 or better database (also need Apache listener)

– Down / Upload your applications to your home system– Continue development on your home system

• Oracle 10g Companion CD• Oracle Express Edition• Develop your application (read the Help

messages – they really do help!)• Excellent support via OTN discussion forum

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Architecture

BrowserOracle Database

APEXOracle HTTP

Server

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Architecture B

BrowserOracle Database

APEXOracle HTTP

Server

Firewall

Instead of the Oracle HTTP Server, you can use the HTTP Server supplied with Oracle Application Server 9i or 10g

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APEX Uses

Who, What, When, Where, Why…

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What can you do with APEX?

• Select Journal Article review system (developed in 2 weeks)

• Web Collaboration application (developed in 2 days)

• General purpose Customer Survey (developed in 1 day)

• Survey Administration screens (developed in 2 hours)

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Select Journal Article review

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Web Collaboration application

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Customer Survey

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Survey Administration

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Testing Application

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Creating an APEX Application

Generally speaking

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Log into Workspace• Use the Workspace you chose, the

username and password emailed to you

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Home Menu• You’re ready to begin

– Build Applications– Work in SQL– Work with Data– Manage users

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Migrate Data

• Import data from Spreadsheets, XML or Delimited Files

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Load Northwinds?

• I loaded the Northwinds Database from SQL Server

• Used Periscope to load/copy data

• Once loaded, view data using SQL Workshop

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Drill and Create

• Can – Drill into data– Count rows– Insert/Edit rows– Query by Example– View components– Much more…

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Use the Wizards• APEX’s many

wizards will simplify your life – use them!

• Reports, Charts, Forms, Calendars, Trees, etc.

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Create a Hardware Inventory Application

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Building an application “from scratch” – in 5 simple steps

• Login with developer privileges• Use the SQL tools to make your tables,

constraints, triggers, procedures etc.• Start a new application (use the wizard)• Customize the application (check each

change as you make it)• Deploy to the users!

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ExampleHardware Inventory

App• Record and view hardware

inventory• Searchable report • Present analysis graphically as well

as numerically• Design for novice users• Remote users with access to

Internet

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Main Menu

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Import Data (SQL Workshop)

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Converting Data

• Previously, data was stored in an Excel spreadsheet

• Conveniently, this can be made into an Oracle table by simply copying and pasting into the APEX create table wizard

• Select Region• Copy from Excel

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Import Data Wizard

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Paste Your Data In…

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Set Column Preferences

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Create a Primary Keyand sequence

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Object Detail for Table Created (in Object Browser)

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Create Lookup Table

• Select column for look up

• Specify lookup table specifics

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Create an Application

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Create the application form scratch (this time)

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Add Report and Form based on Hardware table

• Notice inclusion of Analysis pages

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Specify Details for Analysis

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Could add as many pages as you want

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Select Levels of Tabs

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Can Share Components for

other applications

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Specify Security and Language

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Choose a Theme

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Verify and Finish

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Run your new Application!(you will need to log in)

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Instant Application!• Searchable report • Links to edit individual rows

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Instant Application!• Edit form with

– Calendar widget– Picklist based off lookup table

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Instant Application!• Analysis Chart and Report

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Good start but improvements can be made

• Makes “codes” more meaningful

• Format output

Edit page through edit link

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Three basic areas for each page

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Elements of a Page

• Shared Components– Tabs– Navigation bar– Templates

• Regions– Items– Labels– Buttons– Widgets

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Most things are created through WIZARDS

• Step by step • Collect

essential info

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EVERYTHINGhas attributes and almost

everything has an edit page

All of the basic attributes collected through the wizards, and many more detailed attributes are editable through an elements attribute/edit page. All of this information is called Meta Data.

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Attribute/Edit Pages

• Attributes in regions by logical groups

• Quick navigation to each region

• Many items are select lists

• Almost all have context sensitive help

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Reuse of Shared Components

LOV used for both report and edit

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Easy Data Validation

• Some validation created automatically based on database.

• Others easily created with wizard.

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Validation Wizard

• Choose the item

• Specify the validation type

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Validation Wizard

• Choose subtype• Specify

sequence and where error message is to be displayed

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Validation Wizard

• Depending on method, provide validation details

• Specify error message

• Always look for help provided– Examples– Item lookups

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MOST things can beCONDITIONAL!

• Many, many different types of conditions available.

• Item is displayed or processed depending on the outcome of the condition.

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Validation• Message displayed by item, central location or

both • Navigation not allowed until validations pass

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Security• Two levels

– Authentication, controls initial access to the application– Authorization, can control access to tabs, pages, regions, items,

buttons, read/write vs read only, …..

• Use APEX built in functionality, totally custom or somewhere in between.

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Make a backup!

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Save the export

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Deployment Process

Development Production

Data

HTML DB App

PL/SQL Code

(Periodic Refresh)

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APEX Administration• Administrator controls

Workspaces • Workspaces control

developer access and provide resources.

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APEX Administration• Workspaces can be

requested.• Workspaces are

“provisioned”• Initial users are

created, more can be created by the “workspace” administrator

• Workspaces/Applications can be monitored.

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Workspace Administration• Workspace

administrator manages services

• Creates and alters workspace / application users

• Monitors Activity

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Workspace Administration

Many reports and charts are available to monitor workspace activity.

Many application reports are also available (to developers also)

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APEX Tips and Techniques

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Sample Applications

• The Sample Applications have great examples

• Take some time to understand the applications

• Standard Sample – Common Concepts

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More Examples

• Collections Showcase – Shopping cart concepts

• Web Services• Presidential

Inaugural Addresses – Oracle Text Examples

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Spend Time onAnalysis/Design

• Time Well Spent– Follows standard design

principals– Storyboard approach

makes it a visual process• Pay me now or pay me

more later…– Poor design, results in a

poor application• Important to understand

Web development to design

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Storyboard Design

• Take the time to map our your tabs, menus, layout and design

Home Page

Products

Consulting Training

A…B…C...

ProductsConsultingTraining

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Debugging

• To view the current value of any object (if you’re a developer), you can click on the session button at any time

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Help!• The online help

that is available is very well written as a reference

• The OTN Discussion Forum is very helpful!

http://forums.oracle.com/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=137

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Web Services

• Web Services provide you the power of running a process on someone else’s machine as if it’s on your own machine

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Creating a Popup

• You can specify a TARGET=NEW for an href if you want the URL / Link to pop up a new page when clicked

• This is useful when referencing other sites

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“Report” on Page

• If you wish to execute a query and return the results to page region that you create, rather than using a PL/SQL block, use a “Report.”

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Adding Images• To add images, static HTML / Docs

and CSS files to the application, click on– Shared Components

• Images• CSS• Static Files

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Beware!

• Bugs do exist in APEX

• Be careful about changing things once they are created– Changing “Types”– Changing Item

Names

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Advanced Topics• Debugging• Using Collections• Authentication & Authorization• Administration• Deployment Process• Available Functions & APIs• Monitoring Activity

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Debugging• Run any page in your application• Turn on debug mode by clicking on

Debug in the developer toolbar• Timing is processor time, not rendering

time• Append &p_trace=YES to your URL to

generate SQL Trace Filehttp://hostname.com/pls/htmldb/f?p=100:1&p_trace=YES

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Using Collections• Enable you to temporarily capture rows

and columns of data• Data is persistent throughout a users

unique session• Examples of when to use a collection:

– A wizard with more than one page– A shopping cart application

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Controlling Collections

• HTMLDB_COLLECTION API– Create– Delete– Truncate– Add/Update/Delete Members– Check Status– Merging– Managing

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Authentication & Authorization

• Establish User Identity Through Authentication

• Provide Security Through Authorization

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Authentication• HTML DB will assign the authenticated

username to the built-in substitution string :APP_USER

• Several Schemes– No Authentication/DAD– LDAP– OracleAS SSO (App as a Partner App)– OracleAS SSO (HTLM DB as Partner App)– HTML DB Internal– Open Door– Custom

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Authorization• Once a user is Authenticated,

Authorization Schemes control what that user can/cannot see & do

• Several Scheme Types– Exists or NOT Exists SQL Query– Item is NULL or NOT NULL– PL/SQL Function– Value of Item = or != Specified Value

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Administration• An HTML DB Administrator’s main task is to

manage the instance of HTML DB• Monitor Activity to ensure good performance• Some common tasks include

– Approving Service & Change Requests– Managing Schema to Workspace Mappings– Managing Schemas & Tablespaces– All Other Associated DBA functions

http://hostname.com/pls/htmldb/htmldb_admin

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Available Functions & APIs

• Four major APIs– HTMLDB_UTIL– HTMLDB_ITEM– HTMLDB_APPLICATION– HTMLDB_CUSTOM_AUTH

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APEX Summary• For additional information, check out:

– http://apex.oracle.com• Externally Hosted Instance

• OTN Discussion Forums• HTML DB “How To” Documents

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Reference Materials

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Referencing Items• Substitution String

– #variableName#• Short Substitution

String– &variableName

• PL/SQL– v(‘variableName’)– nv(‘numericValue’)

• Bind Variable– :variableName

• Items can be used to:– Include a substitution

string within a template

– Create an item at the application or page level

– Use built-in substitution strings to achieve a specific type of functionality

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&variableName.• &variableName is used when you

need to substitute a variable as when you are building a link to another page

• You often need to place a period at the end of the name

• For example:– f?p=&app_id.:2:&session

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#variableName#• #variableName# is similar to

&variableName. but is used in templates and as a parameter in SQL statements

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:variableName• :variableName represents a bind

variable and can be used in SQL Query and PL/SQL regions

• For example:– SELECT project_title, total_cost– FROM projects– WHERE project_id = :P1_project_id

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v(‘variableName’)• v('variableName') or

nv(‘numericVariableName') are functions from the HTML DB APIs that can be used in PL/SQL or SQL statement where a function is called

• For example:– htp.anchor('f?p=' || :app_id || ':2:' ||

v('SESSION'), 'An HTML DB Link') ;

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Implicit Variables• APP_SESSION • APP_USER • IMAGE_PREFIX • WORKSPACE_IMAGES • APP_IMAGES • BROWSER_LANGUAGE • PRINTER_FRIENDLY • HOME_LINK • PROXY SERVER • REQUEST • SYSDATE_YYYYMMDD• DEBUG

• APP_ID • APP_PAGE_ID • APP SCHEMA OWNER • SQLERRM • AUTHENTICATED_URL_PR

EFIX • LOGOUT_URL • PUBLIC_URL_PREFIX • CURRENT_PARENT_TAB_T

EXT • APP_ALIAS • APP_UNIQUE_PAGE_ID

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f?p Syntax• f=function, that

handles it all• p=parameters,

separated by a colon• f?p=16654:104

– 1) Application Number (16654, &APP_ID.)

– 2) Page Number (104)– 3) Session

(&SESSION.)– 4) Request

– 5) Debug– 6) Clear Cache (RP

resets pagination)– 7) Item Names,

comma separated– 8) Item Values,

comma separated– 9) Printer Friendly

• For blank parameters, just include the colon with nothing between

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Summary

• Powerful• Relatively Easy• Fast• Secure• Really works• Hosted

Passionate about the Technology

Best in

the World

Economic

engine

Oracle

TUSC’s Vision

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Questions and Answers

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• htmldb.oracle.com• metalink.oracle.com• technet.oracle.com• otn.oracle.com• www.tusc.com

• Oracle Press, “Oracle HTML DB Handbook” by Lawrence C Linnemeyer and Bradley D. Brown

Where to Get More Information

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• Thank you to Brad Brown, the other team members of TUSC for their contributions to this presentation.

• Please report errors to TUSC. Neither TUSC, or the author warrant that this document is error-free.

• TUSC © 2006. This document may not be copied or reproduced without the express written consent of TUSC.

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