2. Application Integration for the Web
Forms 6i Open World
Application Integration for the Web

3. Frank Nimphius Product Management
Application Development Tools
Oracle Corporation

4. Forms 6i Services Integration Points The full overview
Forms 6i Open World
Apache
9iAS
Single
Sign-On
Portal
Forms 6i
Java
Oracle 9i
OC4J
Reports
Translations

5. Forms 6i Services Integration Points Coverage in this presentation
Forms 6i Open World
Apache
9iAS
Single
Sign-On
Portal
Forms 6i
Java
Oracle 9i
OC4J
Reports
Translations

6. Reports
Integration 1 38 2

7. Forms Services and Reports Services Web Architecture
HTML,
HTMLCSS,
XML, PDF …
Oracle 9iAS
Reports Services
Sql*Net
Reports Modules
Oracle
Database
Oracle 9iAS
Forms Services
Generic Java Client
Forms Modules
HTTP
HTTPS

8. Reports Services vs. Client Server
In a Nutshell – I
Web Reports are using the same Reports definition files as in Client Server
Web Reports are executed on the middle tier
Reports integrated in Forms are executed on the middle tier
Reports executes in the environment of Reports Services
Run_Report_Object built-in recommended
Run_Product() „still“ supported

9. Reports Services vs. Client Server
In a Nutshell – II
The Reports Services output is downloaded to the requesting client
HTML, HTMLCSS, XML, PDF, RTF, CSV
Reports parameter form doesn‘t work out-of-the box
Use Reports Queue tables to handle detailed user error messages
Use parameter lists in Run_Report_Object as in Run_Product
No „native“ local printer support

10. Run_Report_Object Built-In
How to use it ?
Reports Services are set up by Oracle 9iAS EE
Have Reports Services accessible from Forms Server
SET_REPORT_OBJECT_PROPERTY
v_report_id,REPORT_SERVER,’repSRV’);
Destype must be set using Set_Report_Object_ Property () only
Use timer with low frequency for async. call
Use web.show_document() to get Report output
:parameter.server);

11. Run_Report_Object Built-In
report_id:= find_report_object('report_node1'); (…)
SET_REPORT_OBJECT_PROPERTY (report_id,REPORT_SERVER, ‘RepSRV’);
SET_REPORT_OBJECT_PROPERTY
(report_id,REPORT_COMM_MODE, ASYNCHRONOUS);
(report_id,REPORT_DESTYPE,CACHE);
(report_id,REPORT_OTHER,'paramform=no');(…)
report_message:=run_report_object(report_id, paramlist);

12. Web.Show_Document Built-In
Using the Browser URL for Reporting
Calls a Web URL defined in Forms using PL/SQL
Leverages Reports Services
Report output automatically gets downloaded to the client
All parameters are passed in the browser‘s URL
Not as secure as Run_Report_Object
No response to Forms whether Reports has been executed successfully or not
Syntax: web.show_document(‘URL’, ‘_target’);

13. Web.Show_Document Built-In
(…)
/* create URL in vc_url */
vc_url:=‘
||‘rwcgi60.exe?server=repSRV&report=Reptest.rdf’ || ‘&desformat=htmlcss&destype=cache&userid’ ||
|| ‘&paramform=no’;
/* call Reports URL in a new browser window*/
Web.show_document(vc_url,‘_blank’);

14. Orarrp utility – Local Printer Support
rrpa, rrph, rrpt..
Oracle 9iAS
orarrp
.exe
Reports Services
Oracle
Database
Reports Modules
run a Report using run_report_object ()
print output to a file with orarrp extension
use web.show_document()
for free at otn.oracle.com/products/reports
No official support, only looked at
Windows only

15. What‘s new in Forms 9i No Reports runtime engine support
Reports Integration
No Reports runtime engine support
Means no destype „screen“ or „preview“
Run_Product calling Oracle Reports does not compile
Graphics is supported with Run_Product
Reports 9i Services are called as in 6i
No changes required
Reports Services 9i have 6i proxy

16. SHOW
Reports Integration 1 38 2

17. Translation
Integration 1 38 2

18. Forms Translation Support in the Web
The Challenge!
The Web crosses any borders
The Web does not know you
A „French“ user on the Web is just a user
A „German“ user on the Web is just a user
A …
The point of installation no longer determines the language the user requires

19. Forms Translation Support in the Web
The Solution!
Browser Language detection in Forms 6i patch 9
Forms Listener Servlet to support multiple environments
Translation Tools to translate Forms applications
Oracle Translation Builder
TranslationHub

20. Deploying Multi Language Applications with Patch 9
Formsweb.cfg …
[booking]
envFile=default.env
[booking.it]
envFile=it.env
[booking.en]
envFile=en.env
[booking.fr]
envFile=fr.env it fr de it en
9iAS HTTP Listener
Forms Servlet
OC4J
Forms Listener
Servlet
fr.env
en.env
de.env
it.env
NLS_LANG=Italian_Italy.
WE8ISO8859P1
Forms90_PATH = … …
Forms Runtime
Booking_it.fmx
… and more !

21. What‘s New in Forms 9i Browser Language detection
Translation Integration
Browser Language detection
New translation tool „TranslationHub“
Migration Path from Oracle Translation Builder to TranslationHub

22. Single Sign-On
Integration 1 38 2

23. Single Sign-On Too many passwords compromise security!
Multiple Logons require multiple passwords
Post-it(TM) is not a good password store
Not every user is a database user
Sign-On Solution must support different authentication mechanism (e.g. LDAP)
Has to be fully integrated in a Web architecture

24. Oracle Login Server Oracle’s authentication solution!
Partner Application
Use partner Application API
Don’t perform own authentication
Read from Login Server session cookie
External Application
Use own authentication scheme
Can register with Login Server to provide credentials in Login Server password store
User credentials passed in URL

25. Forms Services 6i and Single Sign On
Forms is configurable as an External Application to Login Server
With Forms Servlet in Forms 6i patch 7+
Support of POST request method
Hiding username/password from the Applet tag
User is authenticated by Login Server
User stores application credentials in Login Server password store
No code changes required
Client/Server applications can leverage Single Sign-On when moved to the Web

26. Configuring Forms Services patch 7+ for Single Sign-On
Create an application entry in formsweb.cfg
[sso_servlet]
(…)
form=reptest
lookandfeel=oracle
serverURL=/servlet/fnimphiuServlet

27. Configure Oracle Login Server
Registering Forms Services
Use Portal access to Login Server administration form
Choose External application administration
Add Forms Services URL
Map „name“ to the username field and „password“ to the password filed
Create parameters for „config“ and „database“
Deploy URL generated by Login Server

28. What‘s new in Forms 9i
Single Sign-On Integration
Integrated Single Sign-On Solution in Oracle 9iAS V2
All products share same authentication
Login Server authenticates through mod_osso module in Apache
Forms Services URLs can be configured to use Single Sign-On authentication
No changes to Forms applications required

29. Single Sign-On Integration
SHOW
Single Sign-On Integration 1 38 2

30. Portal
Integration 1 38 2

31. Forms 6i as a Portlet in Portal page
Portal Development Kit – „URL Services“
Forms displays as a portlet in Portal
Configured using XML file on the Server
URL Services are registered as a provider with Portal
A Forms application is called by its URL when starting the portal page
URL Services are downloadable from otn.oracle.com (PDK)

32. Integrate Forms as a Portlet of URLs
Using The Portal‘s Favorite Portlet
It’s a Bookmark collection
hierarchical or flat display
takes URLs as entries
No special Forms configuration required
In portal page choose “add portlet” icon and add “Favorite” portlet
Customize portlet when running Portal page
Can be configured by end user
Works with Single Sign-On

33. Integrate Forms as a Portlet of URLs
Using A Portal Content Area
Create Content area and name it e.g. “Forms Links”
Click page tab / edit page and remove navigation bar
Click item tab set visible items to URL
Click on Content Area name and create “new folder” for each URL
Add Portlet to page
Choose Content Area “folder” portlet
Click “Customize” link and select “Forms Links”
Works with Single Sign-On

34. SHOW
Portal Integration 1 38 2

35. OC4J
Integration 1 38 2

36. OC4J support, planned for Forms 6i patch 9+
Use Oracle‘s record breaking Servlet container to deploy Forms Services!
Oracle Containers for Java (OC4J) is a J2EE compliant Servlet container
Run OC4J behind Oracle HTTP Server
Plug‘n play load balancer
Runs more users per Servlet engine than Jserv

37. Forms 6i Services in the OC4J Architecture Diagram
Forms runtime engine and
Configuration files
HTTP
HTTP
mod_proxy
Apache
JNDI
JMS
JDBC
JTA
JavaMail
JAF
Java Importer
H T T P
Web Container
JNDI
JMS
Client .jar
Forms Web-app config
JDBC
Client
JTA
OR MI
EJB Container
JavaMail
ORMI/HTTP
JAF
EJB Client
OC4J Server Process

38. Forms Services configuration in OC4J
Deployment using forms60app.ear file
Bind Forms deployment to /forms60
Entry in mod_proxy to point from Oracle HTTP Listener to OC4J
Apache to handle client archive files
formsweb.cfg is the only configuration that needs to be set manually
New: configFileName as context parameter in the forms90 application-deployment directory orion-web.xml

39. What‘s new in Forms 9i OC4J Integration
OC4J is Oracle‘s default J2EE compliant platform in 9i Application Server Release 2
mod_oc4j dispatches between Oracle HTTP Server and the OC4J Servlet container
During installation Forms 9i is automatically configured with OC4J
Forms 9i shares OC4J instance with Reports 9i and Discoverer 9i
All features in Forms 9i and OC4J work the same as in JServ

40. Summary
Information to Go! 1 38 2

41. Summary Reports Integration Translation Integration
Single Sign-On Integration
Portal Integration
OC4J Integration

42. Thank you!
Questions&
Answers
DOAG 2001 1 38 2