Creating an Application

Creating an Application Based on Tables or Queries

You can create an application based on a table, query, or drill-down query by selecting Create Application in the Create Application Wizard.

To create an application based on a table, query, or drill-down query:

1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

2. Click the Create button.

3. For Method, select Create Application and click Next.

4. For Name, enter the following and click Next:

   1. Name - Enter a name to identify the application.

   2. Application - Enter a unique integer value to identify the application.

   3. Create Application - Select a creation method:

      • Select From scratch to manually add all pages

      • Select Based on existing application design model to copy page definitions from a previous application model.

        Note that you will still have to define all other application attributes, or you can choose to copy some attributes by choosing to copy shared components from another application (See step 7 and "About Application Models and User Interface Defaults").

   4. Schema - Your application will obtain its privileges by parsing all SQL as a specific database schema. Identify the database schema owner.

   Next, add pages to your application.

5. For Pages:

   1. Select the type of page you want to add. Options include:

      • Blank creates a page with no built-in functionality.

      • Report creates a page that contains the formatted result of a SQL query. You can choose to build a report based on a table you select, or based on a custom SQL SELECT statement or a PL/SQL function returning a SQL SELECT statement that you provide.

      • Form creates a form to update a single row in a database table.

      • Tabular Form creates a form to perform update, insert, and delete operations on multiple rows in a database table.

      • Master Detail creates a form that displays a master row and multiple detail rows within a single HTML form. With this form, users can query, insert, update, and delete values from two tables or views.

      • Report and Form builds a two page report and form combination. On the first page, users select a row to update. On the second page, users can add a record or update or delete an existing record.

      Action displays the currently selected page type. For each selection, the wizard prompts you for a different types of information, such as selecting a table name or report implementation.

      Report pages include the Include Analysis Pages check box. Select this option and follow the wizard prompts to extend a simple report or a report on a form to include multiple drill-down reports and charts.

   2. Click Add Page.

      The page (or pages) appear at the top of the page. To delete a page, click Delete icon.

   3. Repeat the previous steps until all pages have been added.

   4. Click Next.

      Tip:

      To exit this wizard early and utilize Application Builder Defaults, click the Create button. To configure Application Builder Defaults, see "Leveraging Application Builder Defaults" in Oracle Application Express Administration Guide.

6. For Tabs, determine whether to include tabs in your application and click Next.

7. For Shared Components, determine whether to import shared components from another application. Shared components are common elements that can display or be applied on any page within an application.

   To include shared components, select the following:

   1. Copy Shared Components from Another Application - Select Yes.

   2. Copy from Application - Select the application from which you want to import shared components.

   3. Select Components to Import - Select the components to import.

   4. Click Next.

   Next, select a default authentication scheme. Authentication is the process of establishing users' identities before they can access an application. See "Establishing User Identity Through Authentication".

8. For Authentication Scheme, select one of the following:

   • Application Express - Uses the user account credentials created and maintained with the Application Express Service Administration application. These are the accounts you use to log in to the Application Express development environment. You can also create accounts in this user account repository for end users of your applications.

   • No Authentication - Also known as database authentication, this option enables users to access your application using the account credentials stored in the modplsql DAD definition. In most cases this results in users not having to login when accessing your application. This is the quickest way to create a "public" application.

   • Database Account - Requires users logging into your application to enter a database schema name (or user name) and a password in order to authenticate. This account information is managed entirely within the Oracle database.

9. Next, select the following globalization preferences:

   1. Language - Select the primary language for this application.

      This attribute identifies the language in which an application is developed. This language is the base language from which all translations are made.

   2. User Language Preference Derived From - Specifies how the engine determines the application language. The application primary language can be static (that is, derived from the Web browser language) or determined from a user preference or item. The database language setting determines date display and sorting characteristics.

      You can alter the Language and User Language Preference Derived From attributes later on the Edit Globalization attributes page. See "Configuring Globalization Attributes".

   3. Date Format - Specifies the date format to be used in the application.

      This date format is used to alter the NLS_DATE_FORMAT database session setting before showing or submitting any page within the application. This value can be a literal string containing a valid Oracle date format mask or an item reference via substitution syntax. If no value is specified, the default date format is derived from the database session at runtime. If supplied, this is also used as the date format for any items resulting from columns of type DATE.

   4. Click Next.

10. For User Interface, select a theme and click Next.

    Themes are collections of templates that can be used to define the layout and style of an entire application. See "Managing Themes".

11. Confirm your selections and click Create.

About Application Models and User Interface Defaults

The Create Application Wizard is designed with the assumption that the developer may run it multiple times. To facilitate this iterative approach to application development, every time you run the wizard it saves the page definitions to an application model.

Consider the following example. You create an application by running the Create Application Wizard. After viewing the application, you realize it is not quite what you wanted. Instead of altering it, you can run the wizard again and select an application model. By selecting an existing application model when you rerun the wizard, you can quickly improve your application with minimal time and effort.

Another way to increase your productivity when creating an application is to specify user interface defaults. User interface defaults are metadata that enable you to assign default user interface properties to a table, column, or view within a specified schema.

Leveraging Application Models and User Interface Defaults

You can increase your productivity when creating applications by leveraging application models and user interface defaults. Consider the following scenario:

1. Create an application based on tables or views by running the Create Application Wizard.

2. Run the generated application. Note any functional deficiencies.

3. Evaluate whether to create or edit user interface defaults.

   For example, you can use user interface defaults to control how form field or report labels display. You can also utilize user interface defaults to display specific columns or have columns display in an alternate order.

4. Navigate to the Application home page and create an application by clicking Create.

5. Select Create Application.

6. When prompted to enter application details, specify the following:

   1. Name - Enter a name to identify the application.

   2. Application - Enter a unique integer value to identify the application, or accept the default.

   3. Create Application - Select Based on existing application design model.

7. Select an application model.

   Note the pages you previously created already appear.

8. Add pages, edit pages, or remove pages.

9. Complete the wizard.

10. Repeat steps 2 through 9 until the application meets your functional requirements.

Accessing Demonstration Applications

To access demonstration applications:

1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

2. Click the Create button.

3. Select Demonstration Application.

   The Demonstration Applications page appears, displaying links to the following applications:

   • Sample Application offers a working demonstration that highlights basic design concepts

   • Collection Showcase demonstrates shopping cart concepts

4. To install a demonstration application, locate the application you want to install and click Install.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

   The Application home page appears.

6. To run an installed demonstration application, click the Run link.

7. Enter the appropriate login credentials and click Login.

   • For Sample Application:

     • For User Name, enter either demo or admin

     • For Password, enter current workspace name in lowercase letters

   • For other demonstration applications, enter your workspace user name and password.

Deleting an Application from Application Builder

To delete an application from Application Builder:

1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

2. Select an application.

3. When Application Builder appears, verify the application ID and name at the top of the page.

4. On the Tasks list, click Delete this Application.

5. When prompted, click Permanently Delete Now.

Deleting an Application from the Edit Definition Page

To delete an application from the Edit Definition page:

1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

2. Select an application.

3. Click Shared Components.

   The Shared Components page appears.

4. Under Application, click Definition.

   The Edit Definition page appears.

5. Verify the application ID and name.

6. Click Delete at the top of the page.

7. When prompted, click Permanently Delete Now.