1. Progressive Skill

2. 2 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.

3. 3 Projects/Clients

4. 4 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

5. 5 Introduction to Application Express (formerly HTML DB)

6. 6 Abstract You may have heard about Oracle Application Express or HTML DB. It's a powerful and easy way to quickly develop a database-centric HTML Web application. You can install APEX on your own machines or run in a hosted environment on Oracle's site. All development (construction of pages) is done through the browser interface. You can use the SQL Workshop and the Data Workshop to run SQL and add data to your environment. This easy-to-use tool will impress you in no time at all!

7. 7 Agenda APEX Defined Uses – who, what, when, where, why Building applications with APEX APEX Administration and Monitoring Tips and Techniques

8. 8 APEX Defined

9. 9 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

10. 10 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

11. 11 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

12. 12 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

13. 13 Major Components Administration SQL Workshop Application Builder

14. 14 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

15. 15 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

16. 16 “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

17. 17 Architecture Browser Oracle Database APEX Oracle HTTP Server

18. 18 Architecture B Browser Oracle Database APEX Oracle HTTP Server Firewall Instead of the Oracle HTTP Server, you can use the HTTP Server supplied with Oracle Application Server 9i or 10g

19. 19 APEX Uses Who, What, When, Where, Why…

20. 20 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)

21. 21 Select Journal Article review

22. 22 Web Collaboration application

23. 23 Customer Survey

24. 24 Survey Administration

25. 25 Testing Application

26. 26 Creating an APEX Application Generally speaking

27. 27 Log into Workspace Use the Workspace you chose, the username and password emailed to you

28. 28 Home Menu You’re ready to begin –Build Applications –Work in SQL –Work with Data –Manage users

29. 29 Migrate Data Import data from Spreadsheets, XML or Delimited Files

30. 30 Load Northwinds? I loaded the Northwinds Database from SQL Server Used Periscope to load/copy data Once loaded, view data using SQL Workshop

31. 31 Drill and Create Can –Drill into data –Count rows –Insert/Edit rows –Query by Example –View components –Much more…

32. 32 Use the Wizards APEX’s many wizards will simplify your life – use them! Reports, Charts, Forms, Calendars, Trees, etc.

33. 33 Create a Hardware Inventory Application

34. 34 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!

35. 35 Example Hardware 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

36. 36 Main Menu

37. 37 Import Data (SQL Workshop)

38. 38 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

39. 39 Import Data Wizard

40. 40 Paste Your Data In…

41. 41 Set Column Preferences

42. 42 Create a Primary Key and sequence

43. 43 Object Detail for Table Created (in Object Browser)

44. 44 Create Lookup Table Select column for look up Specify lookup table specifics

45. 45 Create an Application

46. 46 Create the application form scratch (this time)

47. 47 Add Report and Form based on Hardware table Notice inclusion of Analysis pages

48. 48 Specify Details for Analysis

49. 49 Could add as many pages as you want

50. 50 Select Levels of Tabs

51. 51 Can Share Components for other applications

52. 52 Specify Security and Language

53. 53 Choose a Theme

54. 54 Verify and Finish

55. 55 Run your new Application! (you will need to log in)

56. 56 Instant Application! Searchable report Links to edit individual rows

57. 57 Instant Application! Edit form with –Calendar widget –Picklist based off lookup table

58. 58 Instant Application! Analysis Chart and Report

59. 59 Good start but improvements can be made Makes “codes” more meaningful Format output Edit page through edit link

60. 60 Three basic areas for each page

61. 61 Elements of a Page Shared Components –Tabs –Navigation bar –Templates Regions –Items –Labels –Buttons –Widgets

62. 62 Most things are created through WIZARDS Step by step Collect essential info

63. 63 EVERYTHING has 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.

64. 64 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

65. 65 Reuse of Shared Components LOV used for both report and edit

66. 66 Easy Data Validation Some validation created automatically based on database. Others easily created with wizard.

67. 67 Validation Wizard Choose the item Specify the validation type

68. 68 Validation Wizard Choose subtype Specify sequence and where error message is to be displayed

69. 69 Validation Wizard Depending on method, provide validation details Specify error message Always look for help provided –Examples –Item lookups

70. 70 MOST things can be CONDITIONAL! Many, many different types of conditions available. Item is displayed or processed depending on the outcome of the condition.

71. 71 Validation Message displayed by item, central location or both Navigation not allowed until validations pass

72. 72 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.

73. 73 Make a backup!

74. 74 Save the export

75. 75 Deployment Process DevelopmentProduction Data HTML DB App PL/SQL Code (Periodic Refresh)

76. 76 APEX Administration Administrator controls Workspaces Workspaces control developer access and provide resources.

77. 77 APEX Administration Workspaces can be requested. Workspaces are “provisioned” Initial users are created, more can be created by the “workspace” administrator Workspaces/Applic ations can be monitored.

78. 78 Workspace Administration Workspace administrator manages services Creates and alters workspace / application users Monitors Activity

79. 79 Workspace Administration Many reports and charts are available to monitor workspace activity. Many application reports are also available (to developers also)

80. 80 APEX Tips and Techniques

81. 81 Sample Applications The Sample Applications have great examples Take some time to understand the applications Standard Sample – Common Concepts

82. 82 Spend Time on Analysis/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

83. 83 Storyboard Design Take the time to map our your tabs, menus, layout and design Home Page Products ConsultingTraining A… B… C... Products Consulting Training

84. 84 Debugging To view the current value of any object (if you’re a developer), you can click on the session button at any time

85. 85 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

86. 86 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

87. 87 Adding Images To add images, static HTML / Docs and CSS files to the application, click on –Shared Components Images CSS Static Files

88. 88 Advanced Topics Debugging Using Collections Authentication & Authorization Administration Deployment Process Available Functions & APIs Monitoring Activity

89. 89 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

90. 90 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

91. 91 Authentication & Authorization Establish User Identity Through Authentication Provide Security Through Authorization

92. 92 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

93. 93 APEX Summary For additional information, check out: –http://apex.oracle.comhttp://apex.oracle.com Externally Hosted Instance OTN Discussion Forums HTML DB “How To” Documents

94. 94 &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

95. 95 Summary Powerful Relatively Easy Fast Secure Really works Hosted

96. 96 Questions and Answers

97. 97 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