Progressive Skill

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Who Are We?We are a full services Business Consulting and Internet Technology Company.

Our mission is to improve business process and or generate net income for our customers.

We focus on database driven solutions leveraging ‘open source code’ models so that our customers are not ‘Hostage’ to the technology.

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Projects/Clients

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Rapid Application Development

Quick Development of Software Applications Visual Tools for Development Very Little Custom Coding/Programming Easier to Manage Code and Functionality Faster Testing and Debugging Simpler Collaboration among multiple skill sets Shorter Timelines Lower Budgets Greater Flexibility with changing/adding

requirements

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Introduction to Application Express

(formerly HTML DB)

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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(System Global

Area) 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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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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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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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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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 File

http://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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Authentication & Authorization

• Establish User Identity Through Authentication

• Provide Security Through Authorization

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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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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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&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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Summary

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

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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