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Contents

Title and Copyright Information

Preface

• Topic Overview
• Audience
• Documentation Accessibility
• Related Documents
• Conventions

What's New in Oracle Application Express

• Oracle Application Express Release 3.2 New Features
• Highlights of Oracle Application Express Release 3.1

1 Quick Start

• What is Oracle Application Express?
• About Oracle Application Express Architecture
• Understanding Application Express User Roles
• Logging In to Oracle Application Express
  • About Browser Requirements
  • Configuring Your Oracle Application Express Environment
  • Logging In to Oracle Application Express as a Developer
• About the Workspace Home Page
• Navigation Alternatives
• Using Online Help

2 Running a Demonstration Application

• Installing a Demonstration Application
• Running an Installed Demonstration Application
  • Running an Application from Demonstration Applications
  • Running an Application from the Application Home Page
• Understanding Sample Application
  • About the Home Page
  • About the Customers Page
  • About the Products Page
  • About the Orders Page
  • About the Charts Page
  • About the Admin Page
  • Viewing Pages in Printer Friendly Mode
• Modifying a Demonstration Application
  • About the Developer Toolbar
  • Editing a Demonstration Application
• Viewing Underlying Database Objects
  • Viewing the Database Object Dependencies Report
  • Viewing Database Objects in Object Browser

3 Application Builder Concepts

• What Is a Page?
• Understanding Page Processing and Page Rendering
  • How the Application Express Engine Renders and Processes Pages
  • Understanding Conditional Rendering and Processing
  • Verifying User Identity
  • Controlling Access to Controls and Components
• Understanding Session State Management
  • What Is a Session?
  • Understanding Session IDs
  • Viewing Session State
• Understanding URL Syntax
  • Understanding the URL that Displays for a Page
  • Using f?p Syntax to Link Pages
  • Calling a Page Using an Application and Page Alias
  • Calling a Page from a Button URL
  • Facilitating Bookmarks by Using Zero as the Session ID
• Managing Session State Values
  • Referencing Session State
  • Setting Session State
  • Clearing Session State
  • About Bind Variable Syntax
• Understanding Substitution Strings
  • Using Substitution Strings
  • About Built-in Substitution Strings

4 Using Application Builder

• Accessing Application Builder
• About the Application Builder Home Page
  • Configuring Developer Preferences
• About the Application Home Page
  • About the Action Bar
• About Application Attributes
  • Configuring the Application Definition
  • Configuring Security Attributes
  • Configuring Globalization Attributes

5 Working with Application Pages

• About the Page Definition
  • Accessing a Page Definition
  • Understanding the Page Definition
• Using the View List on the Page Definition
  • Accessing the View List on the Page Definition
  • About Page Events
  • About Database Object Dependencies
  • About History
  • About Export
  • About Groups
  • About Referenced
• Editing a Page Definition
  • About the Edit All Icon
  • About the Copy or Create Icons
  • Reordering Page Components
  • About Page Rendering
  • About Page Processing
  • About Shared Components
  • Understanding Page Computations
  • Understanding Validations
  • Understanding Page Processes
  • Understanding Branches
• Editing Page Attributes
  • Accessing Page Attributes
  • About the Page Attributes Page
• About the Developer Toolbar
• Working with Shared Components
  • Accessing the Shared Components Page
  • About the Shared Components Page
  • About Exporting Shared Components
  • Accessing Reports on Shared Components
• Understanding Application Processes
  • About On Demand Application Processes
  • Application Process Example
  • Creating an Application Process
  • Accessing Application Processes Reports
• Understanding Application Computations
  • About Application Computations
  • Creating an Application Computation
  • Accessing the Application Computation History Report

6 Building an Application

• Creating an Application
  • About Creating an Application Using a Wizard
  • About the Create Application Wizard
  • About the Create Application from Spreadsheet Wizard
  • About Demonstration Applications
  • Copying an Application
  • Deleting an Application
• Managing Pages in an Application
  • About Creating Pages
  • Creating a Page from the Application Home Page
  • Creating a Page from the Page Definition
  • Creating a Page from the Developer Toolbar
  • Copying a Page
  • Running a Page or Application
  • Grouping Pages
  • Locking and Unlocking a Page
  • Deleting a Page
• Adding Application Comments
  • Creating an Application Comment
  • Viewing the Application Comments Report
• Adding Developer Comments
  • Adding Developer Comments to an Application or Page
  • Viewing and Editing Developer Comments
  • Deleting Developer Comments
  • About the Developer Comments Report
• Creating Applications Groups
  • Viewing Application Groups
  • Creating an Application Group
  • Assigning an Application to an Application Group
  • Removing an Application from an Application Group
  • Deleting an Application Group
• Viewing Application Reports
  • Accessing Application Reports
  • Shared Components Reports
  • Page Components Reports
  • Activity Reports
  • Cross Application Reports
• Understanding Page-Level Items
  • Differences Between Page Items and Application Items
  • About the Items Section of the Page Definition
  • Creating Page-Level Items
  • Editing Page-Level Items
  • Using the Drag and Drop Layout Page
  • Referencing Item Values
  • Displaying Conditional or Read-Only Page Items
  • Working with a Multiple Select List Item
• Understanding Application-Level Items
  • Creating an Application-level Item
  • Accessing Application Item History
  • Editing Application-level Item Attributes

7 Adding Application Components

• Creating Reports
  • Creating a Report Using a Wizard
  • Using Interactive Reports
  • Editing Interactive Reports
  • Editing SQL and Wizard Reports
  • Printing Report Regions
• Creating Forms
  • Creating a Form Using a Wizard
  • Creating a Tabular Form
  • Creating a Master Detail Form
  • Creating a Form Manually
  • Validating User Input in Forms
• Creating Calendars
  • About Creating Calendars
  • Creating a New Calendar
  • Editing a Calendar Title
  • Editing Calendar Attributes
  • Upgrading a Calendar Created in a Previous Releases
  • Converting an Easy Calendar to a SQL Calendar
• Creating Charts
  • About Supported Chart Types
  • About Creating SQL Queries for Charts
  • Creating an HTML Chart
  • Creating a SVG Chart
  • Creating a Flash Chart
  • Editing Chart Attributes
  • Using Custom XML with Flash Charts
  • Enabling Asynchronous Updates
  • Displaying SVG Charts in Other Languages
• Creating Buttons
  • About the Buttons Section of the Page Definition
  • Creating a Button Using a Wizard
  • Creating Multiple Buttons
  • Editing Buttons
  • Understanding the Relationship Between Button Names and REQUEST
  • About Branching with Buttons
  • Displaying Buttons Conditionally
• Creating Lists of Values
  • Creating a Named LOV at the Application Level
  • About Static LOVs
  • Editing an Existing LOV
  • Referencing Session State Within an LOV
  • Referencing a Null Value in an Item Based on an LOV
  • Accessing LOV Reports
• Creating Dependent Select Lists
• Using Shortcuts
  • About Shortcut Types
  • Defining Shortcuts
  • Editing Existing Shortcuts
  • Accessing Shortcut Reports
• Using the Find Icon
  • About the Find Icon
  • About the Item Finder
  • Using the Page Finder
  • Using the Query Finder
  • Using the Table Finder
  • Using the PL/SQL Finder
  • Using the Images Finder
  • Using the CSS Finder
• Controlling Access to Applications, Pages, and Page Components
  • How the Access Control List Works
  • Creating an Access Control List
  • Selecting an Application Mode and Adding Users
  • Controlling Access for Pages and Page Components
• Incorporating JavaScript into an Application
  • Referencing Items Using JavaScript
  • Incorporating JavaScript Functions
  • Calling JavaScript from a Button
• Optimizing a Page for Printing
  • Selecting a Printer Friendly Template for an Application
  • Using f?p Syntax to Toggle to Printer Friendly Mode
• Creating a Help Page
  • Creating a Help Page and Region
  • Defining Help Text
  • Creating a Help Navigation Bar Entry

8 Adding Navigation

• Creating Tabs
  • About Template Support
  • About the Tabs Section of the Page Definition
  • Using the Reorder Tabs Icon
  • About the Tabs Page
  • How to Create a Tab
  • Editing Tabs
  • Accessing Tab Reports
• Creating Lists
  • How To Create a List
  • Adding a List to a Page
  • Editing a List
  • Editing Multiple List Entries Simultaneously
  • Accessing List Reports
• Creating Breadcrumbs
  • About Breadcrumbs
  • How to Create Breadcrumbs
  • Editing Breadcrumbs
  • Reparenting Breadcrumb Entries
  • Accessing Breadcrumb Reports
• Creating Trees
  • How To Create a Tree
  • Editing a Tree
  • Accessing Tree Reports
• Creating a Navigation Bar Entry
  • About Navigation Bars
  • How to Create a Navigation Bar Entry
  • Editing a Navigation Bar Entry
  • Editing Multiple Navigation Bar Entries Simultaneously
  • Using the Reorder Navigation Bar Entries Icon
  • Accessing Navigation Bar Entry Reports
• Controlling Navigation Using Branches

9 Controlling Page Layout

• Understanding Page Layout in Oracle Application Express
• Displaying Components on Every Page of an Application
• Understanding Regions
  • About the Regions Section of the Page Definition
  • Using the Reorder Regions Icon
  • Editing Region Attributes
  • Creating a Region
  • About Region Types
  • Copying a Region
• Creating a Multiple Column Layout
  • Creating Regions in Multiple Columns
  • Creating a Multiple Column Page Template
• How Item Attributes Affect Page Layout
• Incorporating Content from Other Web Sites
• Managing Images
  • Uploading Images
  • Referencing Images
  • Editing Image Attributes
  • Deleting an Image
• Managing Static Files
  • Uploading Static Files
  • Editing an Uploaded File
  • Downloading an Uploaded File
  • Deleting an Uploaded File
• Rendering HTML Using Custom PL/SQL

10 Managing Themes and Templates

• Managing Themes
  • Accessing the Themes Page
  • Changing the Default Templates in a Theme
  • Creating a Theme
  • Editing a Theme
  • Switching the Active Theme
  • Copying a Theme
  • Deleting a Theme
  • Managing Workspace Themes
  • About Exporting and Importing Themes
  • Changing a Theme Identification Number
  • Viewing Theme Reports
• Customizing Templates
  • About Cascading Style Sheets
  • Selecting a Default Page Template
  • Creating a New Template
  • Viewing Template Reports
  • Managing Templates
  • Breadcrumb Templates
  • Button Templates
  • Calendar Templates
  • Label Templates
  • List Templates
  • Page Templates
  • Popup LOV Templates
  • Region Templates
  • Report Templates
• Using Custom Cascading Style Sheets
  • Uploading Cascading Style Sheets
  • Referencing an Uploaded Cascading Style Sheet in the Page Template

11 Managing User Interface Defaults

• Viewing Tables or Views Utilizing User Interface Defaults
  • Creating to User Interface Defaults
  • Viewing the UI Defaults Report in Object Browser
• Editing Column Attributes
  • About the Column Definition
  • About List of Values
  • About the Database Column Definition Report
• Comparing User Interface Defaults Across Applications
• About Exporting and Importing User Interface Defaults

12 Debugging an Application

• About Tuning Performance
• Reviewing Session State
• Accessing Debug Mode
• Enabling SQL Tracing and Using TKPROF
• Monitoring Application and Page Resource Use
• Viewing Reports
• Debugging Problematic SQL Queries
• Removing Controls and Components to Isolate a Problem

13 Managing Application Security

• Understanding Administrator Security Best Practices
  • Security Considerations When Using the Embedded PL/SQL Gateway
  • About Configuring Oracle HTTP Server with mod_plsql for Oracle Application Express
  • Utilizing Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
  • Integrating with Oracle BI Publisher
  • About Setting Password Complexity Rules
  • Advantages of the Oracle Application Express Runtime Environment
  • Understanding Session Timeout
  • Enabling Network Services in Oracle Database 11g
  • Enabling Indexing of Online Help in Oracle Database 11g Release 2 and Higher
• Understanding Developer Security Best Practices
  • Understanding Items of Type Password
  • Identifying At Risk Password Items
  • About Using Zero as a Session ID
  • Understanding Cross-Site Scripting Protection
  • About Session State and Security
  • Understanding Session State Protection
• Securing File Uploads
• Establishing User Identity Through Authentication
  • Understanding How Authentication Works
  • Determining Whether to Include Authentication
  • Creating an Authentication Scheme
  • Using Preconfigured Authentication Schemes
  • About Creating an Authentication Scheme from Scratch
  • Managing Existing Authentication Schemes
  • Viewing the Authentication Scheme Associated with an Application
  • Changing the Authentication Scheme Associated with an Application
  • Viewing Authentication Scheme Utilization Report
• Providing Security Through Authorization
  • How Authorization Schemes Work
  • Creating an Authorization Scheme
  • Attaching an Authorization Scheme to an Application, Page, or Components
  • Viewing Authorization Reports

14 Deploying an Application

• About the Oracle Application Express Application Development Life Cycle
  • System Development Life Cycle Methodologies to Consider
• Understanding the Packaging Process
  • Deployment Options to Consider
  • Deciding Whether to Copy a Workspace
  • Deciding Whether to Copy a Database
  • About the Application ID
  • Deciding to Install a New HTTP Server
• How to Move an Application to Another Development Instance
  • About Managing Database Objects
• How to Create a Packaged Application
  • How a Packaged Application Simplifies Deployment
  • Creating a Packaged Application
  • Adding Installation Scripts for an Image, Cascading Style Sheet, or Static File
  • Adding an Access Control List to a Packaged Application
  • Installing Supporting Objects
  • Deleting Supporting Objects Scripts, Messages, and Installation Options
  • Upgrading a Packaged Application
  • Deinstalling Supporting Objects
  • Viewing an Install Summary
• Exporting an Application and Related Files
  • Exporting an Application
  • Exporting Workspace Users
  • Exporting Application Components
  • Exporting a Page in an Application
  • Exporting Cascading Style Sheets
  • Exporting Images
  • Exporting Static Files
  • Exporting Script Files
  • Exporting Themes
  • Exporting User Interface Defaults
  • Where Images, CSS, and Script Files Are Stored
• Importing Export Files
  • Importing an Application or Page
  • Importing Cascading Style Sheets
  • Importing Static Files
  • Importing Images
  • Importing Themes
  • Importing User Interface Defaults
• Installing Export Files
  • Accessing the Export Repository
  • Installing an Application Export from the Export Repository
  • Installing Other Files from the Export Repository
  • Deleting Files from the Export Repository
  • Installing Export Files from SQL*Plus
• About Publishing the Application URL
• Using Build Options to Control Configuration
  • Creating Build Options
  • Managing Build Options
  • Exporting Build Options or Build Option Status
  • Viewing the Build Option Utilization Report

15 Advanced Programming Techniques

• About DML Locking
• Accessing Data with Database Links
• Sending Email from an Application
  • About Configuring Oracle Application Express to Send Email
  • Sending Email from an Application
• Using Collections
  • About the APEX_COLLECTION API
  • Creating a Collection
  • Truncating a Collection
  • Accessing a Collection
  • Deleting a Collection
  • Adding Members to a Collection
  • Updating Collection Members
  • Deleting Collection Members
  • Determining Collection Status
  • Merging Collections
  • Managing Collections
  • Clearing Collection Session State
• Creating Custom Activity Reports Using APEX_ACTIVITY_LOG
• Running Background PL/SQL
  • Understanding the APEX_PLSQL_JOB Package
  • About System Status Updates
  • Using a Process to Implement Background PL/SQL
• Implementing Web Services
  • Understanding Web Service References
  • Working with SSL Enabled Web Services
  • Creating a Web Service Reference Based on a WSDL
  • Using the Web Service Reference Repository
  • Testing a Web Service Reference Created from a WSDL
  • Testing a Web Service Reference Created Manually
  • Creating an Input Form and Report on a Web Service
  • Creating a Form on a Web Service
  • Invoking a Web Service as a Process
  • Editing a Web Service Process
  • Viewing a Web Service Reference History
• About BLOB Support in Forms and Reports
  • About BLOB in Forms
  • About BLOB Support in Reports
  • Working With BLOBs Procedurally

16 Managing Application Globalization

• About Translating an Application and Globalization Support
  • About Language Identification
  • Rules for Translating Applications Built in Application Builder
  • How Translated Applications Are Rendered
  • About Translatable Components
• Specifying the Primary Language for an Application
  • Using Format Masks for Items
  • Translating Applications for Multibyte Languages
• Understanding the Translation Process
  • Step 1: Map the Target Language
  • Step 2: Seed and Export Text to a Translation File
  • Step 3: Translate the XLIFF File
  • Step 4: Upload and Apply a Translated XLIFF Document and Publish the Application
  • Manually Editing a Translation
• Translating Messages
  • Translating Messages Used in PL/SQL Procedures
  • Translating Messages Used Internally by Oracle Application Express
• Translating Data That Supports List of Values
  • Defining a Dynamic Translation
  • APEX_LANG.LANG API
• About Supported Globalization Codes

A Available Conditions

• Conditions in Application Builder

B Privileges Granted to PUBLIC

• Packages
• Procedures
• Functions
• Tables
• Views

Index