2 Oracle Application Express Installation Requirements

This chapter describes the requirements for installing Oracle Application Express.

This chapter contains these topics:

2.1 Oracle Database Requirement

Oracle Application Express version 3.2 requires an Oracle database that is release 9.2.0.3 or later.

Note:

You can upgrade the version of Oracle Application Express in Oracle Database Express Edition 10g Release 2 (10.2), by installing Oracle Application Express version 3.2. For more information, see the Oracle Application Express page on Oracle Technology Network (OTN).

2.1.1 Oracle JVM Requirement

If you plan to run Oracle Application Express with an Oracle database earlier than Oracle Database 10g release 1 (10.1), you must install Oracle Java Virtual Machine (JVM). To learn more, see the Oracle Database Installation Guide for your operating environment.

2.1.2 Checking the shared_pool_size of the Target Database

Note:

Ignore this requirement if your configuration uses non-null values for the database initialization parameters SGA_TARGET (in Oracle Database 10g and 11g) or MEMORY_TARGET (in Oracle Database 11g).

Oracle Application Express requires the shared_pool_size of the target database to be at least 100 MB.

To check the shared_pool_size of the target database:

  1. Start the database:

    SQL> STARTUP

  2. If necessary, enter the following command to determine whether the system uses an initialization parameter file (initsid.ora) or a server parameter file (spfiledbname.ora):

    SQL> SHOW PARAMETER PFILE;

    This command displays the name and location of the server parameter file or the initialization parameter file.

  3. Determine the current values of the shared_pool_size parameter:

    SQL> SHOW PARAMETER SHARED_POOL_SIZE

  4. If the system is using a server parameter file, set the value of the SHARED_POOL_SIZE initialization parameter to at least 100 MB:

    SQL> ALTER SYSTEM SET SHARED_POOL_SIZE='100M' SCOPE=spfile;

  5. If the system uses an initialization parameter file, change the values of the SHARED_POOL_SIZE parameter to at least 100 MB in the initialization parameter file (initsid.ora).

  6. Shut down the database:

    SQL> SHUTDOWN

  7. Restart the database:

    SQL> STARTUP

2.2 Browser Requirement

To view or develop Oracle Application Express applications, Web browsers must support Java Script and the HTML 4.0 and CSS 1.0 standards. The following browsers meet these requirements:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later version

  • Firefox 1.0 or later

2.3 HTTP Server Requirements

In order to run, Oracle Application Express must have access to one of the following:

  • Embedded PL/SQL gateway

  • Oracle HTTP Server and mod_plsql

Oracle XML DB HTTP Server with the embedded PL/SQL gateway installs with Oracle Database 11g. It provides the database with a Web server and the necessary infrastructure to create dynamic applications.

Oracle HTTP Server uses the mod_plsql plug-in to communicate with the Oracle Application Express engine within the Oracle database. The following products include appropriate versions of HTTP Server and mod_plsql:

  • Oracle9i release 2 (9.2) or later

  • Oracle9i Application Server release 1 (1.0.2.2) or later

  • Oracle Database 10g Companion CD release 1 or 2

  • Oracle Database 11g release 1

See Also:

"About Choosing an HTTP Server"

2.4 Disk Space Requirement

Oracle Application Express disk space requirements are as follows:

  • Free space for Oracle Application Express software files on the file system: 450 MB

  • Free space in Oracle Application Express tablespace: 125 MB

  • Free space in SYSTEM tablespace: 85 MB

  • Free space in Oracle Application Express tablespace for each additional language (other than English) installed: 34 MB

2.5 Oracle XML DB Requirement

Oracle XML DB must be installed in the Oracle database that you want to use. If you are using a preconfigured database created either during an installation or by Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA), Oracle XML DB is already installed and configured.

See Also:

Oracle XML DB Developer's Guide for more information about manually adding Oracle XML DB to an existing database

Tip:

The installer does a prerequisite check for Oracle XML DB and will exit if it is not installed.

2.6 Oracle Text Requirement

Oracle Text must be installed in order to use the searchable online Help in Oracle Application Express. By default, Oracle Text is installed as part of Oracle Database.

In addition, ensure that the default language preferences for Oracle Text have been installed. To install the Oracle Text default language, log in to the Oracle database where you plan to install Oracle Application Express and run the appropriate drdeflang.sql script, which by default is located in ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\ctx\admin\defaults. For example, to run the language preferences script for US English, drdefus.sql:

jstraub: c:\> sqlplus /nolog
SQL> connect ctxsys
Enter password: password
SQL> @c:\oracle\product\10.2.0\db_1\ctx\admin\defaults\drdefus.sql

See Also:

Oracle Text Application Developer's Guide for more information on Oracle Text and "Enabling Network Services in Oracle Database 11g" for your configuration scenario.

Tip:

The installer does a prerequisite check for Oracle Text and will exit if it is not installed.

2.7 PL/SQL Web Toolkit

Oracle Application Express requires the PL/SQL Web Toolkit version 10.1.2.0.6 or later. For instructions on determining the current version of the PL/SQL Web Toolkit, and for instructions on installing version 10.1.2.0.6, please review the README.txt file contained in the directory apex/owa.