Introduction to Oracle

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Chapter 2 Introduction to Oracles Forms Builder
9i
2

• In this chapter you will
• Learn about the major Developer 9i Forms Builder
  tools
• Launch Forms Builder and connect to Oracle
• Practice using the main Forms Builder integrated
  design environment (IDE) tools Object Navigator,
  Layout Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL
  editor
• Create a simple form using the Data Block and
  Layout Wizards

3

• In this chapter you will
• Compile and save a form module
• Launch a form using Oracle Forms Builder runtime
  engines
• Learn about the form operating modes and how to
  determine which mode the form is in
• Filter records from the database using the form
  data items
• Use the form function keys

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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools

• Forms Builder consists of three products
• Forms Builder - the integrated development
  environment
• Forms Compiler - used to create the executable
  form
• Forms Runtime (client server) or Forms Server
  (Web) - used to run the form

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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools
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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools

• Forms Builder IDE files have a file extension of
  .fmb.
• Executable Forms Builder files have a file
  extension of .fmx.
• Form Builder 6i can be executed on both the
  client-server and the Web.
• Forms Builder 9i forms can only be executed on
  the Web.

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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools
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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools

• Forms Runtime is used to execute client-server
  forms.
• Forms Server dishes up the form when a URL
  request is received.
• Forms Server changes the form .fmx file into an
  applet and sends it to the Web browser.
• A Java plug-in called JInitiator executes the
  applet in the Web browser.
• JInitiator is downloaded to the client the first
  time a user requests a form from Forms Server.

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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools
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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools

• Forms Builder IDE is launched by selecting the
  Forms Builder option on the Start menu.
• When Forms Builder is first opened a blank form
  module or file will be displayed on the Object
  Navigator.

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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools
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Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools

• One of the first tasks that should be performed
  is to connect to the Oracle database in order to
  take advantage of the Forms Builder wizards.

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Forms Builder IDE Tools Object Navigator, Layout
Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor

• The Forms Builder IDE has four tools. These are
• Object Navigator - used to view the form modules,
  the various form components, and other files.
• Property Palette - used to modify form object
  settings such as background color, number of
  records displayed, or the name of the horizontal
  tool bar.

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Forms Builder IDE Tools Object Navigator, Layout
Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor
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Forms Builder IDE Tools Object Navigator, Layout
Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor

• Layout Editor - used to format the form.
• PL/SQL Editor - used to add PL/SQL scripts to the
  form.

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Forms Builder IDE Tools Object Navigator, Layout
Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor
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Forms Builder IDE Tools Object Navigator, Layout
Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor
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Forms Builder IDE Tools Object Navigator, Layout
Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor

• Forms Builder synchronizes the selected object on
  the various tools.
• Forms Builder provides hot keys and other tools
  that allow the developer to easily move between
  the tools.

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards

• All forms must have at least three components
• Data block with at least one data block item
• Canvas
• Window

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards

• A data block contains items that hold data.
• Data block items receive user input or display
  values received from the database.
• A form cannot be displayed unless at least one
  data block item is available to receive the input
  focus.

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards

• Data blocks interact with the database in the
  following ways
• Issues Select statements against the data blocks
  data source
• Places locks on corresponding database records
• Issues insert, update, and delete statements
  against the corresponding data source

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards

• A canvas is the form object that is displayed.
• Any form object visible to the operator must be
  placed on a canvas.
• Canvases contain data block items, a boilerplate,
  and graphics.
• A window object is necessary to display the
  canvas in the Web browser or on the operating
  system.

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards

• In order to create a form, you must first create
  a form module or file. This is done using Forms
  Builder menu options or Object Navigator tools.
• A data block must be created. This can be done
  manually or with the Data Block Wizard.
• The Data Block Wizard is a series of pages that
  prompt the developer to enter values needed to
  create the data block and associate it with a
  database table, view, or stored procedures.

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards

• The Data Block Wizard will prompt the developer
  for the following
• Data source name
• Items that are contained on the data block
• Primary/foreign key columns used to synchronize
  multiple data blocks
• After completion, a data block and data block
  items will be created. Each item will have the
  same data type, length, and constraints as those
  placed on the corresponding data source column.

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
26
Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
27
Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
29
Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards

• The Layout Wizard is used to associate the data
  block items with a canvas and set some of the
  items display properties.
• The Layout Wizard has a series of pages that
  allow the following
• Identify and set the canvas on which the items
  are to display.
• Identify the items that will be displayed.
• Set each items height, width, and prompt.
• Set the layout of the items (form or tabular).
• Set the number of records displayed on the
  canvas.

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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
31
Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and
Layout Wizards
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Compiling and Saving the Form Modules

• Forms must be compiled before they can be run.
• Forms can be compiled using the ControlT hot
  keys or the Program/Compile Module menu option.
• Forms Builder also has a preference that causes
  the form to be compiled before it is executed
  from the IDE.
• Compiling the form creates an .fmx file.

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Compiling and Saving the Form Modules

• Forms created in Forms Builder 9i must be saved
  before they are executed. If they are not, an
  alert will be displayed and the form closed.
• Forms are saved by pressing the Save tool or
  selecting the File/Save As (or File/Save) menu
  selection.
• Saving the form causes an .fmb binary file to be
  created.

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Launching a Form Using Oracle Forms Builder
Runtime Engines

• Forms are executed by runtime engines.
• Client server forms use Forms Runtime to execute
  the .fmx file.
• Web forms must be called from a Web server.
• Production forms are served from the Forms9iAS
  Web server.
• The Forms Builder IDE has its own internal Web
  server allowing you to run forms from the IDE.

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Launching a Form Using Oracle Forms Builder
Runtime Engines

• Before running a Forms Builder 9i form from the
  IDE two tasks must be performed
• The Web server listener must be started.
• The form file must be saved at least once.
• The listener for Forms Builder 9i is called Start
  OC4J and it is located on the Start menu next to
  the Forms Builder option.

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Launching a Form Using Oracle Forms Builder
Runtime Engines
43
Launching a Form Using Oracle Forms Builder
Runtime Engines

• Web forms will display in the default Web
  browser.
• Inside the Web browser will be an applet area.
• The size of the applet area is controlled by
  settings in the Formsweb.cfg file located in the
  \ora\forms90\server directory.
• A comparable file exists in Forms Server. This
  is the file used for production.

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Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in

• Forms have three operating modes These are
• ENTER QUERY mode in which the data block is ready
  for the operator to enter values that can be used
  as arguments in a SELECT statement
• QUERY mode in which the data block has sent a
  SELECT statement to the database and is waiting
  to receive the result set
• NORMAL mode in which the data block can be used
  to insert, update, or delete records

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Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in

• Data blocks in the NORMAL mode always have at
  least one row that can be used to add records
  (unless this feature is disabled). This will be
  the row following the result set.
• When the form is in the NORMAL mode you can move
  between the result set rows using your mouse, the
  up and down arrows, or the Page Up and Page Down
  keys.

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Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in
47
Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in

• The ENTER QUERY mode occurs when the form is
  prompting the user to enter search arguments.
• Forms Builder flushes the data block of values
  when it places the block in the ENTER QUERY mode.
• The first record of a data block in the ENTER
  QUERY mode is used to enter the search values.
• The ENTER QUERY mode can always be identified by
  a message appearing in the status line.

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Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in
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Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in

• A data block in the QUERY mode only lasts while
  Forms Builder is retrieving records from the
  database.
• Users often confuse an empty data block in the
  NORMAL mode with a data block in the ENTER QUERY
  mode.
• Data blocks are placed in the NORMAL mode by
  default when the form is launched.

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Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in
51
Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in

• A form is placed into the ENTER QUERY mode by
  selecting the Query/Enter menu option, the Enter
  Query tool on the tool bar, or the F11 function
  key.
• A form is placed into the QUERY mode by selecting
  the Query/Execute menu option, the Execute Query
  tool on the tool bar, or the F12 function key.
• The Form will be placed into the NORMAL mode when
  a result set is returned from the database.

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Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a
Form is in

• If the SELECT statement does not return a result
  set, the data block will return to the ENTER
  QUERY mode.
• The ENTER QUERY mode can be cancelled by exiting
  the form. The first attempt to exit returns the
  current block to the NORMAL mode. The second
  attempt closes the form.
• Forms can only be closed when the data block is
  in the NORMAL mode.

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Filtering Records From the Database Using a Form

• All items displayed on the data block can be used
  to enter search values.
• The name of the item will be used as one argument
  and the value the other (i.e. ename like
  SMITH).
• The values can be literal values or numeric
  values.
• The operator can also enter wild card symbols
  (i.e. , _) since the default operator is LIKE.
• Functions such as SUBSTR or UPPER can also be
  used as arguments.

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Filtering Records From the Database Using a Form
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Filtering Records From the Database Using a Form

• The Query Length of the data block item can be a
  constraint since it is set to the size of the
  data source item by default.
• The Query Length property can be enlarged so that
  lengthy arguments can be entered.
• Values entered into the data block items will be
  the same data type as the item. It is not
  necessary to enclose literals with single quotes.

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Filtering Records From the Database Using a Form

• The default evaluation operator (LIKE) can be
  modified by entering the symbol as the first
  character. Forms Builder will then use the next
  symbol as the evaluation operator (i.e. gt 1000)
  .
• A text editor can be called from any item by
  pressing the Edit/Edit menu option or the
  ControlE keys. The text editor can be used to
  enter lengthy values.

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Filtering Records From the Database Using a Form
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Filtering Records From the Database Using a Form

• The Query/Where dialog box can be called by
  placing an ampersand () into an item and
  executing a query. This dialog box can be used
  to enter the entire WHERE clause.
• Any function or column acceptable to Oracle can
  be used in the Query/Where dialog box. Even if
  the column is not included in the data block
  (however, it must exist on the data source).

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Filtering Records From the Database Using a Form
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Function Keys

• Oracle forms have function keys that perform
  tasks such as
• Placing the form into the ENTER QUERY mode
• Exiting the form
• Duplicating values from one record into another
• Committing the record modifications
• Many of the default tool bar and menu options are
  also available as function keys.
• Experienced operators often find function keys
  quicker to use than the mouse.

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Where You Are and Where Youre Going

• You have learned how to create a form module and
  how to create a data block using the Data Block
  Wizard.
• You have learned how to format and set data block
  item properties using the Layout Wizard.
• You have seen how to compile, save, and execute
  the form.
• You have seen how to enter complex search
  criteria into the form and to use function keys
  to perform tasks.

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Where You Are and Where Youre Going

• In the next chapter you will learn how to use the
  Object Navigator to compile, save, and execute
  the form.
• You will also learn how to add synchronized
  detail data blocks to your forms.