1. Chapter 8: Creating An Integrated Database Application
Guide to Oracle 10g

2. Lesson A Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
Understand the steps for developing a database application
Design a database application interface
Use timers in a Forms Builder application to create a splash screen
Create form templates to ensure consistency across application modules
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3. Lesson A Objectives (continued)
Learn how to reference application components in an integrated database application
Understand how to open and close form modules in a multiple form application
Learn how to display a report in a database application
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4. Developing an Integrated Database Application
Phases:
Design
Module development
Module integration
Testing
Deployment
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5. The Northwoods University Integrated Database Application
Main processes:
Student and faculty services
Data block forms for managing data in individual database tables
Reports to help managers direct operations.
Good practice to create separate form modules
Enables team members to work independently
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6. The Northwoods University Integrated Database Application (continued)
Project folder
All application files
Any graphic image files that applications display
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7. Integrating the Database Application
Single entry point
Users access all of component forms and reports
Main form
Integrate individual Oracle form and report modules into single application
Can have splash screen
Switchboard
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8. Integrating the Database Application (continued)
Pull-down menus
Provide access to features used less frequently than ones on switchboard
Multiple levels of choices
Stubs
Programs or messages that handle undeveloped system features
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9. Creating a Splash Screen
First image that appears when application run
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10. Creating the Splash Screen Window, Canvas, and Data Block
Create and configure
Splash screen window
Adjust X and Y Position property values so that window appears centered on screen
Canvas
Block
Canvas items
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11. Creating the Splash Screen Canvas Image
Canvas usually displays boilerplate objects
Text
Shapes and lines
Graphic images
Approaches to display graphic image on form:
Boilerplate image
Cannot be displayed without block items
Dynamic image item
Use Image Item tool
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12. Loading the Splash Image
READ_IMAGE_FILE built-in procedure syntax:
READ_IMAGE_FILE('filename', 'file_type', 'item_name');
PRE-FORM trigger
Use READ_IMAGE_FILE to load image
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13. Displaying the Splash Window
Modify order of data blocks
SPLASH_BLOCK first
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14. Hiding the Splash Window
Form timer
Form object
Create using program commands
Control how long splash image appears
Signal when to hide splash window
Specify time interval that elapses before timer expires
WHEN-TIMER-EXPIRED trigger
All timers fire same trigger
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15. Hiding the Splash Window (continued)
Creating a Timer:
DECLARE
timer_id TIMER;
timer_id := CREATE_TIMER('timer_name', milliseconds, iteration_specification);
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16. Hiding the Splash Window (continued)
Hiding/showing a window:
SHOW_WINDOW('window_name');
HIDE_WINDOW('window_name');
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17. Commands to Create and Set the Splash Screen Timer
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18. Ensuring a Consistent Appearance Across Form Modules
Important that all of forms have consistent look and feel
Polished and integrated application
Reduce user training time and frustration.
Standardize appearance of multiple forms in application using:
Template forms
Visual attribute groups
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19. Template Forms Generic form
Includes standard form objects that appear on every form in application
Store in location accessible to all developers
Base new forms on template form
Speeds up form development process
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20. Template Forms (continued)
Create new form based on template form
Click File on menu bar
Point to New
Click Form Using Template
Forms Builder prompts to save new form using different filename
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21. Visual Attribute Groups
Ensure standard appearance for block items
Form object defines object properties, such as:
Text item colors
Font sizes
Font styles
Assign visual attribute group to Visual Attribute Group property of form windows, canvases, and items
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22. Visual Attribute Groups (continued)
To create:
Create new visual attribute group object in Object Navigator
Specify properties
Group’s Property Palette
Type property defines type of object attributes to which attribute properties apply
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23. Creating a Form Based on a Template Form
Use Data Block and Layout Wizards to create new data block and layout
Apply visual attribute group to form text items
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24. Referencing Application Components
Main form application uses program commands to:
Open other form modules
Run report modules
References files that provide graphic image data for images
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25. Using the Path Specification Approach
Reference application components by specifying complete path to application file
Include:
Drive letter
Folder path
Works well for development team with standardized procedures
Save all project files to specific location on file server
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26. Using the Path Specification Approach (continued)
Makes it difficult to move application to different storage location
Global path variable
Variable that references a text string
Specifies complete path to drive and folder where application files stored
Needs to be visible to multiple forms
Must be global variable
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27. Using the Path Specification Approach (continued)
Syntax
:GLOBAL.variable_name := variable_value;
Reference global path variable
:GLOBAL.project_path || 'NWsplash.tif'
Add command to PRE-FORM trigger to create global path variable
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28. Referencing Forms and Reports Using Module Names
Assign module name to form or report in Object Navigator
Main application form can reference any form or report using module name when
Developer stores form or report file in default form or report folder
Or form or report available on Oracle Application Server (OAS)
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29. Referencing Forms and Reports Using Module Names (continued)
Default form folder
Folder on client workstation in which Developer10g always looks for form files
Default report folder
Folder on client workstation in which Developer10g always looks for report files
Specified in system registry
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30. Opening and Closing Forms in an Integrated Database Application
Main form serves as entry and exit point for all other application forms and reports
Write commands for switchboard buttons and menu selections
Call specific forms and reports
Create form command buttons to allow users to close forms explicitly
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31. Opening Forms in an Integrated Database Application
Built-in procedures to open one form from another
Reference forms using:
Path specifications
Form module names
For forms in default form folder
CALL_FORM syntax:
CALL_FORM('form_specification', display, switch_menu, query_mode, parameter_list_id);
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32. Built-in Procedures to Open a Child Form From a Parent Form
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33. Opening Forms in an Integrated Database Application (continued)
OPEN_FORM syntax:
OPEN_FORM('form_specification', activate_mode, session_mode,parameter_list_id);
NEW_FORM syntax:
NEW_FORM('form_specification', rollback_mode, query_mode, parameter_list_id);
Guide to Oracle 10g

34. Closing Forms in an Integrated Database Application
Built-in procedures
Create form command button that allows user to close form in application
CLOSE_FORM procedure
Closes specific form
Syntax:
CLOSE_FORM('form_identifier');
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35. Closing Forms in an Integrated Database Application (continued)
EXIT_FORM procedure
Closes the current form
Syntax:
EXIT_FORM(commit_mode, rollback_mode);
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36. Creating Triggers to Open Forms
Create and test triggers for buttons on application switchboard
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37. Displaying a Report in an Integrated Database Application
Reports can run as stand-alone applications
Or can appear within integrated database applications
Install and start local report server
Configure main application form so it generates report as HTML file
Display report in browser window
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38. Installing and Starting the Local Report Server
Server process that runs on client workstation
To install:
-install server_name tcpip
Start utility
rwserver -install server_name tcpip
Or create a shortcut
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39. Installing and Starting the Local Report Server (continued)
Windows service
Process that runs in main memory of workstation
Accessible to all users who log onto workstation
Open Services control panel on workstation
Start service
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40. Creating a Report Object
Top-level Forms Builder object in Object Navigator window
Represents Reports Builder report file
Select Reports node in Object Navigator tree
Click Create button
Setting properties:
SET_REPORT_OBJECT_PROPERTY('object_name', property_name, value);
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41. Report Object Properties
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42. Report Object Properties (continued)
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43. Displaying the Report Object
Create form trigger for button that user clicks to display report
Contains commands to configure report filename and output filename dynamically
Contains command to run report and generate an HTML output file
Along with commands to display HTML file in browser window
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44. Displaying the Report Object (continued)
Create trigger to specify report filename and destination filename dynamically
Generate report:
report_var := RUN_REPORT_OBJECT('report_object_name');
Display report:
WEB.SHOW_DOCUMENT ('URL', 'target');
Guide to Oracle 10g

45. Lesson A Summary
Integrate individual forms and reports into single application
Place all module files in central project folder
Template form
Contains standard form objects that appear on every form in application
Visual attribute group
Form object that defines object properties
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46. Lesson A Summary (continued)
Open one form from another
Exit form programmatically
View reports
With local report server
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47. Lesson B Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
Create custom pull-down menus
Display custom pull-down menus in form modules
Write program commands to control menu items
Create context-sensitive pop-up menus
Guide to Oracle 10g

48. Creating Custom Pull-down Menus
Menu module
Module independent of any specific form
Saved in workstation’s file system as
Design file with .mmb extension
Executable file with .mmx extension
Contains one or more menu items
Attach executable to form module in form module Property Palette
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49. Creating Custom Pull-Down Menus (continued)
Menu item
Set of menu selections that appear horizontally on menu bar
Menu module can have multiple menu items
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50. Creating a Menu Module and Menu Item
Create menu module
Select Menus node in Forms Builder
Click Create button
Create new menu item within menu module
Select Menus node within menu module
Click +
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51. Creating Menu Selections Within a Menu Item
Specify pull-down menu selections that appear on menu item
Main menu
Menu item in Object Navigator
Defines parent menu items
Menu selections that appear horizontally on menu bar
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52. Creating Menu Selections Within a Menu Item (continued)
Child menu items
Choices that appear when user clicks parent menu item
Can have associated child submenu
Menu handle
Detach menu and move to different location in Menu Editor
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53. Creating Menu Selections Within a Menu Item (continued)
Menu code trigger
PL/SQL program associated with child menu item
Contains commands to perform actions such as:
Calling another form
Calling report
Clearing form
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54. Creating Menu Selections Within a Menu Item (continued)
Menu Editor
Visually define menu bar structure
Create underlying triggers
Default parent menu item appears in top-left corner
Create new parent menu items from left to right
Create new child menu item
Select associated parent menu item
Click Create Down button
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55. Menu Item Properties Property Palette Item type values:
Specify properties
Customize item appearance and functionality
Item type values:
Plain
Check
Radio
Separator
Magic
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56. Functional Property Node Menu Item Properties
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57. Closing and Reopening Menu Module Files and Individual Menu Items
Open menu module
Retrieve from file system independently of form
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58. Creating Access Keys
Pull-down menu selections have underlined letter in selection label
Allows user to open or select menu item using keyboard
Press Alt key plus access key to open parent menu items
Select child menu item by pressing child item’s access key
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59. Creating Access Keys (continued)
Default access key
First letter of each menu item label
Two menu selections have same first letter
Access key opens first selection
Override default access key choice
Type ampersand (&) before desired access key letter in menu label
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60. Creating Menu Code Triggers
Menu code triggers can contain:
PL/SQL commands that call built-in procedures or functions
Module navigation commands
Reference global variable values
Cannot contain commands that directly reference specific form items
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61. Creating Menu Code Triggers (continued)
Create menu code trigger
Select menu item in Menu Editor
Right-click menu item
Click PL/SQL Editor
Specify trigger code
Every lowest-level child menu item must have menu code trigger
Can create stubs for child menu selections that do not yet have menu code
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62. Displaying a Menu Module in a Form
First compile menu module
Attach compiled menu module file to form by:
Opening form module Property Palette
Referencing compiled menu module file in form module’s Menu Module property value
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63. Compiling a Menu Module
.mmx file extension
Open menu module in Menu Editor
Click Compile Module button
Every time menu module modified recompile .mmb file into new .mmx file
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64. Attaching the Menu Module to the Form
Attach custom pull-down menu module to form
Open form module Property Palette
Reference compiled menu module file in form module’s Menu Module property value
DEFAULT&SMARTBAR
Default value for form Menu Module property
Smartbar
Forms Services toolbar used for working with data block forms
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65. Attaching the Menu Module to the Form (continued)
Approaches for referencing a menu module in form:
Save compiled menu module in project folder
Change Menu Module property to complete path to compiled menu module .mmx file
Copy compiled menu module file to default form folder
Change Menu Module property value to menu module filename
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66. Specifying Alternate Pull-down Menus in Called Forms
Enable child form to display own menu module
Rather than parent’s menu module
Modify CALL_FORM command that calls child form
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67. Using Program Commands to Control Menu Items
Built-in procedures to access and modify menu properties
Reference menu items using system-assigned names
View menu structure in Object Navigator
SET_MENU_ITEM_PROPERTY built-in syntax:
SET_MENU_ITEM_PROPERTY('menu_name', property, value);
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68. Forms Builder Menu Built-In Programs
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69. Pop-Up Menus Context-sensitive menus Top-level form objects
Appear when user right-clicks specific item displayed on screen
Top-level form objects
Associated with specific form
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70. Creating a Pop-up Menu Select Popup Menus node in Object Navigator
Click Create button
Open object in Menu Editor
Define menu items
Change menu item labels
Create menu code triggers
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71. Attaching a Pop-up Menu to a Form Object
Open Property Palette of object
Change Popup Menu property value to name of associated pop-up menu object
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72. Lesson B Summary Define custom pull-down menus in form
Create menu module
Specify full path to menu module’s compiled .mmx file
Built-in procedures allow you to modify menu properties while form running
Create context-sensitive pop-up menus
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73. Summary Assemble forms and reports into application Menu types
Switchboard window launches forms and reports
Use templates and visual attribute groups to control appearance
Use local report server to display reports
Menu types
Pull-down
Pop-up
Guide to Oracle 10g