Chapter 2 Introduction to Oracle’s Forms Builder 9 i

1. Chapter 2 Introduction to Oracle’s Forms Builder 9i Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

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 Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

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 Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

4. 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 Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

5. Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

6. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

7. Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

8. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

9. Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

10. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

11. Introducing Major Forms Builder 9i Tools Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

12. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

13. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

14. Forms Builder IDE Tools: Object Navigator, Layout Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

15. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

16. Forms Builder IDE Tools: Object Navigator, Layout Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

17. Forms Builder IDE Tools: Object Navigator, Layout Editor, Property Palette, and PL/SQL editor Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

18. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

19. 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 Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

20. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

21. 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 block’s data source • Places locks on corresponding database records • Issues insert, update, and delete statements against the corresponding data source Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

22. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

23. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

24. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

25. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

26. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

27. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

28. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

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 item’s 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 item’s height, width, and prompt. • Set the layout of the items (form or tabular). • Set the number of records displayed on the canvas. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

30. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

31. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

32. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

33. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

34. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

35. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

36. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

37. Creating a Simple Form Using the Data Block and Layout Wizards Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

38. Compiling and Saving the Form Modules • Forms must be compiled before they can be run. • Forms can be compiled using the Control+T 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

39. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

40. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

41. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

42. Launching a Form Using Oracle Forms Builder Runtime Engines Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

44. 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 Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

45. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

46. Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a Form is in Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

48. Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a Form is in Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

49. 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. Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder

50. Form Operating Modes and Determining Which Mode a Form is in Oracle9i Developer: Developing Web Applications with Forms Builder