1. Introduction To Form Builder
Part A
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2. Forms
Application with a graphical user interface that looks like a paper form
Used to insert, update, delete and view database data
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3. Primary Form Uses Viewing/retrieving records
Inserting/updating/deleting records
Counting the number of records a query will retrieve
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4. Data Block Forms
Form associated with a specific Oracle database table (object)
System automatically creates:
Text fields associated with table fields
Programs for inserting, modifying, deleting, and viewing data records
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5. Data Block Forms
ORACLE 10g forms are displayed on web browser as a web page.
They are displayed in Forms Services Window.
The form specification is translated into Java Applet.
They are Dynamic Web Pages.
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6. Displaying Forms in a Web Browser
Developer10g displays forms as Web pages
In Web browser
Form appears in Forms Services window within browser window
Forms Services application displays menus and toolbar
Provide general functions for all form applications
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7. Architecture of the World Wide Web
Web browsers (IE, Mozilla, Foxfire)
Web servers
Web page
Static (always displays the same information )
Dynamic (the content varies based on user inputs or data retrieved from external resources )
Forms Builder form
Dynamic Web page
Derives content from Oracle 10g database
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8. How Forms Builder Displays a Form in a Browser
Java applet
Self-contained Java program that runs in a web browser generic java runtime environment
OC4J Instance
Translates compiled .fmx file into Java applet
Downloads Java applet to Web browser
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9. Using a Data Block Form Block Data block Text items Form menu
Group of related form items
Data block
Corresponds to specific database table
Contains objects that display values from table’s data fields
Text items
Form menu
Contains selections to manipulate form
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10. Using a form to view table record
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11. Form Modes Normal Enter Query
You can view records and sequentially step through records
Enter Query
You can enter search parameters in form fields and then retrieve the associated records
To place the form in Enter Query mode, click the Enter Query button
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12. Forms Services Window
Form menu contains selections that allow you to manipulate the form
Has a toolbar with buttons to insert, view, modify, and delete records
At bottom of the window are lines that display information about form status
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13. Forms Services Window
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14. Inserting New Records
In Normal mode, click the Insert Record button to insert a new blank record
Type the data values in the form fields
Click the Save button to save the values in the database
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15. Retrieving Records
Click the Enter Query button to place the form in Enter Query mode
Type a search condition
Click the Execute Query button to retrieve selected records
If you click , do not enter a search condition, and then click , all table records will be retrieved
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16. Form Search Types
Exact search: only retrieves records that exactly match the entered search condition
Restricted search: retrieves records that fall within a range of values
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17. Restricted Search Operators
_: wildcard replacing a single character
%: wildcard replacing multiple characters
>, <: greater than, less than
>=, <=: greater than or equal to, less than or equal to
<> or !=: not equal to
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18. Scrolling Through Retrieved Records
To view the next record, click the Next Record button
To view the previous record, click the Previous Record button
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19. Updating and Deleting Records
Retrieve the record to be updated or deleted
To update, change the data value and click the Save button
To delete, click the Remove Record button
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20. Closing a Form and Committing Changes
To close a form:
Click Exit button
Click Action on the form menu and then click Exit
Close browser window
If unsaved changes exist, dialog box will prompt to save changes
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21. Creating Data Block Form
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22. Start Oracle Form Builder
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23. Start OC4J Instance
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24. Creating a new form Create a new module Create a data block
Create a layout
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25. Data Block Form File Types
.fmb
Form design file, used by form programmer in Form Builder
.fmx
Form executable file, run by form users
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26. Creating a Data Block Form
When creating a form for a table, Forms Builder automatically creates:
Labels
Text entry fields
Insert, update and delete and select queries
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27. The Object Navigator
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28. The Object Navigator
Displays Forms Builder objects and underlying components
As hierarchical tree
Forms Builder toolbar displays buttons
Form module
Object node
+ indicates lower-level objects
- indicates node expanded fully
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29. Form Components Form module: form application Form window
Title bar on top
Horizontal and vertical scrollbars
Can be resized, maximized, minimized
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30. Form Components Canvas Block Form items
Surface that displays form items
Block
Object that contains form items
Form items
Command buttons, radio (option) buttons, text items
Items in the same block can appear on different canvases
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31. Form Components Window Canvas Block of items Name Cash Check
Credit Card
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32. Creating a New Data Block Form
Create a new form module
Create a new data block using:
Data block wizard
Manual process
Using Data Block Wizard:
Select table name
Move editable fields from Available Columns list to Database Items list
Use Layout Wizard to create form layout
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33. Layout Editor Use to customize form display
Can add images and static text to enhance form appearance
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34. Layout Editor
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35. Creating a Data Block Form
Steps:
1. Create the data block using the Data Block Wizard
2. Create the form layout using the Layout Wizard
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36. Data Block Wizard Welcome page Type page Table page Finish page
Select table or view on which to base the block source
Table page
Select table associated with form
Enforce Integrity Constraint Check Box
Finish page
Option to use the Layout Wizard to automate creating the layout
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37. Layout Wizard Canvas page Data Block page Items page Style page
Select the canvas where the block is displayed
Data Block page
Select the fields that are displayed on the layout
Items page
Specify the column labels, heights and widths
Style page
Specify to create a form- or tabular-style layout
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38. Layout Styles Form style Tabular style
One record appears on the form at a time
Tabular style
Multiple records display on the form in a table
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39. Create a new form based on MODULE1
Go to File/New/Form – a new module is added to your object navigator window
Click on MODULE2 and rename it into STUDENT
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40. Create a data block based on a table
Right click on the STUDENT module and select Data Block Wizard
Click next on the Data Block Wizard welcome page
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41. Creating a data block (cont’s)
Select Table/view option
Select a table by clicking on Browse button
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42. Selecting a table (cont’d)
When you click browse, you will be prompted to log in
Login into your usual account and select table STUDENT from the displayed list
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43. Select database items
Move all the attributes into selected attributes pane using arrow buttons
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44. Name your data block
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45. Select the “… then call the Layout wizard” option
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46. Creating a layout Layout wizard allows you to create a form layout
Click next on the welcome page and select content canvas type
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47. Select items to be displayed
Modify the labels (prompts) and widths of corresponding text boxes if necessary
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48. Select a layout Select form layout Name the frame
Select the number of students to be displayed
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49. Complete and view the form
Complete and view the form design
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50. Form Builder Wizards Are Re-entrant
You can select a block or layout, then re-enter it and modify its properties using the Wizard
A Wizard is in re-entrant mode when its pages appear as tabs
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51. Creating a Form to Display Multiple Records
Tabular layout
Display multiple records on same form
Select Tabular on Style page of Layout Wizard
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52. Creating a Form to Display Multiple Records
Use tabular layout to edit multiple table records at the same time
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