Creating a Master-Detail Form

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 1/92

CreatingaMasterDetailForm

Purpose

InthislessonyoulearnhowtocreateabasicmasterdetailFormwithOracleFormsBuilder10g.

Topics

Thislessondiscussesthefollowing:

OverviewPrerequisitesStep1SettingUptheDevelopmentEnvironmentStep2BuildingaDataBlockStep3AddingNonBaseTableItemstoaDataBlockStep4BuildingaDetailBlockStep5CreatingaNewCanvasStep6CreatingaNewWindowStep7BuildingaControlBlockStep8ControllingNavigationStep9ModifyingtheLayoutStep10AddingFunctionalitywithCodeSummary

Timetocomplete

Thislessontakesapproximately75minutestocomplete.

ViewingScreenshots

Moveyourmouseoverthisicontoshowallscreenshots.Youcanalsomoveyourmouseovereachindividualicontoseeonlythescreenshotassociatedwithit.

Overview

ThelessonguidesyouthroughmanyofthetasksthatyoumustperformwhenusingOracleFormsBuildertocreateamasterdetailform.YouusetheDataBlockWizardtoquicklygeneratethemasteranddetailblocks,thenyouaddacontrolblock(onewithnobasetableitems)totheform.Youaddsomenonbasetableitemstothedatablocks,andusePL/SQLtriggerstoaddfunctionalitytotheform.

BacktoTopicList

Scenario

Youaredesigningahumanresourceapplication.OneofthemainformsinthisapplicationisintendedtoenableHRclerkstomaintaindepartmentandemployeeinformation.Youhavedecidedtoimplementthisasamasterdetailformthatdisplaysonedepartmentwithallemployeesinthedepartment.

Prerequisites

BacktoTopicList

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 2/92

Inorderforthislessontoworksuccessfully,youneedtohaveperformedthefollowing:

1. InstallOracleDeveloperSuite10g.

2. Installthesampleschemastouseinthislesson.SeeInstallingtheSampleSchemasandEstablishinga

DatabaseConnection.

YoudonotneedtocreateadatabaseconnectioninJDeveloperjusthavetheHRschemaavailablesothatyoucanconnecttoitinForms.Ensurethatthetnsnames.orafileintheNetwork\AdmindirectoryoftheDeveloperSuiteinstallationcontainsanentrytoconnecttothedatabasewheretheHRschemaisavailable.

Step1SettingUptheDevelopmentEnvironment

BacktoTopicList

OracleDeveloperSuite10gincludesastandaloneversionofOracle10gContainersforJ2EE(OC4J),whichyoucanuseasaWeblistenerandaservletcontainertotestFormsapplications.Togetreadytobuildandtestaform,performthefollowingsteps:

1. FromtheWindowsStartmenu,selectPrograms|OracleDeveloperSuiteiDS10g|FormsDeveloper|StartOC4JInstance.

2. Youcanminimizethecommandpromptwindowwhenthewindowdisplaysthemessage"OracleApplication

ServerContainersforJ2EE10g(9.0.4.0.0)initialized".

Moveyourmouseoverthisicontoseetheimage

Note:DonotclosetheOC4JInstancewindow.WhenyouwanttostopOC4J,choosePrograms|OracleDeveloperSuiteiDS10g|FormsDeveloper|StopOC4JInstancefromtheWindowsStartmenu.

3. FromtheWindowsStartmenu,selectPrograms|OracleDeveloperSuiteiDS10g|FormsDeveloper|Forms

Builder.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 3/92

4. WhenFormsBuilderstarts,anemptyformisautomaticallycreatednamedModule1.SelecttheModule1name,

thenclickitagaintochangethenameoftheform.TypeinthenameHRandpressEnter.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 4/92

5. ClickSave .Bydefault,Formssavesfilesinthe\bindirectoryofyourDeveloperSuiteinstallation.You

maywanttosaveitinadifferentdirectoryifdesired,youcancreateanewdirectorycalledMyFormsinwhichtosavetheapplication.

6. ConnecttothedatabaseastheHRuserbyclickingConnect andthenenteringtheuserid,password,andconnectstringforthedatabasethatcontainstheHRorHR8schema(seePrerequisites).

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 5/92

Step2BuildingaDataBlock

BacktoTopicList

Transactionalapplicationsneedtobeabletoinsert,update,anddeleterecordsfromthedatabase.ThedatablockisthemechanismthatmakesthispossibleinaFormsapplication.Adatablockisalogicalgroupingofitemsthatusuallyareassociatedwithasingledatabasetable,view,orsetofstoredprocedures,althoughthedatablockmaycontainnonbasetableitemsalso.

FormsBuilderincludesaDataBlockWizardtomakeitpossibletoeasilycreateadatablockandaLayoutWizardtolayouttheitemsontheform'scanvas.TousetheDataBlockWizardandtheLayoutWizardtocreateadatablockanddefineitslayout,performthefollowingsteps:

1. SelecttheDataBlocksnodeintheObjectNavigator,thenclickCreate .

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 6/92

2. IntheNewDataBlockdialog,ensurethatUsetheDataBlockWizardisselected,thenclickOK.

3. IftheWelcometotheDataBlockWizardpagedisplays,clickNext>.

Youcanbaseadatablockonadatabasetableorview,oronasetofstoredproceduresinwhichyoucandefinecomplicatedquery,insert,update,anddeletelogic.Forthisapplicationyoubasetheblockonatable,soensurethatTableorViewisselected,thenclickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 7/92

4. IntheTableorviewfield,typedepartmentsforthetablename,thenclickRefresh.Clicktherightdoublearrowbutton tomoveallavailablecolumnstotheDatabaseItemstobeincludedintheblock,thenclickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 8/92

5. Acceptthedefaultnamefortheblock,whichisthesameasthetablename,andclickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 9/92

6. OnthefinalpageoftheDataBlockWizard,clickFinishtocreatethedatablockandinvoketheLayoutWizard.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 10/92

7. IftheWelcometotheLayoutWizardpagedisplays,clickNext>.

AcceptthedefaultsandclickNext>tolayouttheitemsonanewcontentcanvas.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 11/92

Note:Acontentcanvasisonethatfillstheentirewindow.Youcandisplayonlyonecontentcanvasatatimewithinawindow.Othercanvastypesaretoolbar,stacked,andtabcanvases,whichtypicallyresideinaportionofawindowwhilethecontentcanvasremainsatleastpartiallyvisible.

8. Youdecidetodisplayonlythedepartmentidanddepartmentname,becausethelocationidandmanagerid

arejustnumbersthatarenotmeaningfultotheuser.

ControlclickDEPARTMENT_IDandDEPARTMENT_NAMEintheAvailableItemslist,thenclicktherightsinglearrowbutton tomovethemtotheDisplayedItemslist.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 12/92

ClickNext>.

9. ClickNext>toacceptthedefaultitemprompt,width,andheightforbothitems.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 13/92

10. ClickNext>toaccepttheFormlayout.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 14/92

11. FortheFrameTitleenterDepartment,thenclickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 15/92

12. OnthefinalpageoftheLayoutWizard,clickFinishtocreatethecanvasandopenitintheLayoutEditor.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 16/92

13. IntheLayoutEditor,youcanperformanycosmeticchangesthatyouwanttothelayout.

First,toensurethatchangestothelayoutframearepreserved,doubleclicktheframe(thelinethatsurroundstheitems)toinvokeitsPropertyPalette.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 17/92

Note:YoucanleavethePropertyPaletteopenitdisplaysthepropertiesforwhateverobjectiscurrentlyselected.IfyoushouldclosethePropertyPalette,youcanreopenitbyselectingTools|PropertyPalettefromtheFormsBuildermenu.Alternatively,doubleclickingmostFormsobjectsopensthePropertyPaletteforthatobject.

14. InthePropertyPalettefortheFrame,changethepropertyUpdateLayoutfromAutomaticallytoManually.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 18/92

15. Enlargetheframebyclickingthehandleinitslowerrightcorneranddraggingitdownwardandtotheright.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 19/92

16. ClicktheRoundedRectangletool onthetoolbarattheleftoftheLayoutEditor.Withthemouse,clickanddragarectanglearoundthedepartmentidandthedepartmentname.

17. WiththerectangleselectedintheLayoutEditor,clickFillColor ontheLayoutEditortoolbarandpicka

colorfortherectangle.(Youmayneedtoclickthearrow atthebottomofthetoolbartoscrolldowntotheFillColorbuttoniftheLayoutEditorwindowistoosmalltodisplayallthetools.)

18. ClickSave tosaveyourform.

Step3AddingNonBaseTableItemstoaDataBlock

BacktoTopicList

TheDepartmentsblockisbasedontheDepartmentsdatabasetable,andsofaralltheitemsintheblockrepresentcolumnsinthattable.However,thereisoftenaneedtoincludeitemsintheblockthatarenotinthebasetablefortheblock.Onecommonuseofnonbasetableitemsistodisplayinformationfromrelatedtables.

TheDepartmentsblockcontainstwoitemsthatdonotappearonthecanvas:Manager_IdandLocation_Id.YoucanseetheseitemsintheObjectNavigator.Insteadofdisplayingthesenumberswhicharenotmeaningfultotheuser,youwanttodisplaythemanager'snameandthelocationcity,state/province,andcountry.

Toaddnonbasetableitemstodisplayrelatedinformation,performthefollowingsteps:

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 20/92

1. IntheLayoutEditor,clicktheDisplayItemtool .ClickapointonthecanvasjustbelowthedepartmentnametocreateaDisplayItem.ThenclicktheDisplayItemtoolagain,andclickapointonthecanvasjustbelowthedisplayitemthatyoujustcreated.

Note:ADisplayItemissimilartoaTextItem(usedforDepartment_IdandDepartment_Name),exceptthatitdoesnotacceptuserinput.Ifyouwantuserstobeabletochangethesevalues,youshoulduseaTextItem.

2. ControlclickeachoftheDisplayItemstoselectthemboth.Alternatively,youcandragthemousearoundboth

itemstoselectthem,beingcarefultoincludeonlythosetwoitems.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 21/92

3. ThePropertyPaletteshouldnowdisplaythepropertiesforbothdisplayitems.Ifbothdisplayitemshavethesamevalueforaproperty,thevalueisdisplayed.Ifthetwodisplayitemshavedifferentvaluesforaproperty,asterisksaredisplayedforthatproperty.

Selectingbothdisplayitemsenablesyoutochangepropertiestoidenticalvaluesforbothitems.

ChangethefollowingpropertiesinthePropertyPaletteforbothdisplayitems:

Property ValueMaximumLength 65DatabaseItem NoHeight 14PromptAttachmentOffset 5

Hint:Ifyouhavetroublelocatingaparticularproperty,typeitsnameintheFindboxatthetoprightofthePropertyPalette.Assoonasyouhavetypedenoughletterstouniquelyidentifytheproperty,FormsBuilderhighlightsthatpropertyinthePropertyPalette.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 22/92

4. Changethefollowingpropertiesforonlythefirstdisplayitembyselectingitsingly(clickanareaoutsidethetwo

displayitemstodeselectthem,thenclickthefirstdisplayitem):

Property ValueName LOCATIONPrompt Location

Changethefollowingpropertiesfortheseconddisplayitemonly:

Property ValueName MANAGERPrompt Manager

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 23/92

5. MovethesecondDisplayItemupslightlysoitisjustunderthefirst.Aneasywaytomoveanitemashort

distanceistoselectitandthenusethearrowkeystonudgetheitemtoitsdesiredposition.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 24/92

6. Toensurethatallitemsareproperlyaligned,selectallitems(donotincludethepromptsinthisselection)andclickAlignLeft ontheLayoutEditortoolbar.

7. IntheLayoutEditor,clickintotheitempromptsDepartmentNameandDepartmentId.Deletetheword

"Department"frombothprompts.Alternatively,youcanchangetheitempromptsinthePropertyPaletteforeachitem.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 25/92

8. ClickSave tosavetheform,thenclickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4JseeStep1).

Whentheformstartsrunning,clickExecuteQuery todisplaydataintheform.ClickNextRecord and

PreviousRecord tonavigatebetweenrecords.

Note:AtthispointtheLocationandManageritemsarenotpopulatedyouwritecodetopopulatetheseitemsinalaterstep.

9. ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

CAUTION:AlwaysexittheapplicationbyclickingtheExitFormbuttonpriortoclosingthebrowser.FailuretodothismaycausetheRunformprocesstohangifthishappens,youneedtoopenTaskManagerandendtheifweb90.exeprocess.

Step4BuildingaDetailBlock

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 26/92

BacktoTopicList

FormsDevelopergivesyoutheabilitytoquicklydefineadditionaldatablocks.TheDataBlockWizardoffersyoutheoptionofdefiningrelationsbetweenthenewblocksandanyexistingblocksintheform.

NowthatyouhaveaDepartmentsblock,youwouldliketobeabletoadditionallydisplayalltheemployeesineachdepartment.TocreateadetailblockbasedontheEmployeestable,performthefollowingsteps:

1. SelectDepartmentsintheObjectNavigator,thenclickCreate .ThisensuresthatthenewblockimmediatelyfollowsDepartmentsintheObjectNavigatortree.Thesequenceoftheblocksdeterminesdefaultnavigationandalsothesequenceofcommitprocessing.

Note:Ifyouhappentocreateanobjectinthewrongorder,youcandragitsicontothedesiredpositionintheObjectNavigator.Forexample,ifthesequenceoftheblocksisEmployees,thenDepartments,youcandragtheEmployeesblockicontoapositionafterDepartmentsundertheDataBlocksnode.

2. IntheNewDataBlockdialog,ensurethatUsetheDataBlockWizardisselected,thenclickOK.

3. IftheWelcometotheDataBlockWizardpagedisplays,clickNext>.

Youarebasingtheblockonatable,soensurethatTableorViewisselected,thenclickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 27/92

4. IntheTableorviewfield,typeemployeesforthetablename,thenclickRefresh.Clicktherightdoublearrow

button tomoveallavailablecolumnstotheDatabaseItemstobeincludedintheblock,thenclickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 28/92

5. Becausethereisalreadyablockintheform,youareofferedtheoptiontorelatethisnewblocktoit.ClickCreateRelationship....Adialogdisplaysanyforeignkeysdefinedinthedatabasebetweenthesetwotables.ClickOKtobasetherelationshipbetweentheblocksontheEMP_DEPT_FKforeignkey.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 29/92

6. ClickNext>toacceptthejoinconditioncreatedautomaticallybyFormsBuilderbasedontheforeignkey,then

onthenextscreenclickNext>,andthenFinish.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 30/92

7. IftheWelcometotheLayoutWizardpagedisplays,clickNext>.

ClickNext>toacceptthedefaultoflayingouttheitemsontheexistingcanvas.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 31/92

8. IntheAvailableItemscolumn,selectfordisplayallitemsexceptManager_IdandDepartment_Id,andthenclick

thesinglerightarrowbutton tomovethemtotheDisplayedItemscolumn.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 32/92

9. Changethefollowingitemprompts:

Name PromptEMPLOYEE_ID IDPHONE_NUMBER PhoneCOMMISSION_PCT Commission%

ClickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 33/92

10. Youwanttodisplayseveralemployeesatatimeinatabularformat,soselecttheTabularoptionandclickNext>.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 34/92

11. FortheFrameTitle,typeEmployees.ChangeRecordsDisplayedto5.CheckDisplayScrollbar,thenclick

Next>,andonthefinalscreen,clickFinish.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 35/92

12. TheLayoutEditoropensshowinghowfiveemployeerecordsaredisplayed.IfyoumaximizetheLayoutEditor

window,youcanseethatthecanvashasbeenenlargedtoaccommodatealltheitems,buttheviewport,whichistheareathatshowsdataintherunningform,doesnotshowtheentirerecord.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 36/92

Note:Althoughinthiscaseyoucouldenlargetheviewportsothattheentirerecordisvisible,forthisexerciseyouuseadifferenttechniquethatshowsyouonewaytomakeitpossibleforuserstoviewmoredatathancandisplayinasinglewindow.

13. RestoretheLayoutEditorwindowtoitsoriginalsize.ObservethattheObjectNavigatorshowsthatarelation,

sometriggers,andsomeprogramunitshavebeenautomaticallycreated.Theseareformasterdetailcoordination.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 37/92

14. ClickSave tosavetheform,thenclickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4Jsee

Step1).

Whentheformstartsrunning,clickExecuteQuery todisplaydataintheform.ClickNextRecord .Noticethattheformautomaticallydisplaysemployeesassociatedwiththenextdepartmentrecord.ClickNextBlock tonavigatetotheEmployeesblock.Youmusttabthroughtheitemstobeabletoseethemall.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 38/92

Inthenextstep,youseeonetechniquetobetterdisplaydatathatdoesnotfitinasinglewindow.

15. ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

Step5CreatingaNewCanvas

BacktoTopicList

Byrunningthemasterdetailform,youcanseethatFormshasalreadydonethejobofbuildingandcoordinatingthemasterdetailblocksforyou.Theformisusefulasitis,withonlythedefaultfunctionalitythatFormshasbuiltforyou.Intheremainingsteps,youmakeadjustmentstoenhancetheusabilityoftheform.Thefirstthingyoudoiscreateanewcanvastodisplaymostofthedetailsaboutanemployee.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 39/92

Inadditiontothecontentcanvas,whichtakesupallthespaceinthewindow,youcancreatethreeothertypesofcanvases:

Stackedcanvas CandisplayinfrontofacontentcanvasandisusuallysmallerthanthecontentcanvasTabcanvas SpecializedtypeofstackedcanvascontainingmultipletabpagesToolbarcanvas Canvasthatdisplaysaboveortotheleftofthecontentcanvas,typicallyusedforbuttons

YoudecidetocreateasecondcontentcanvasandmovesomeoftheitemsfromtheEmployeesblocktothatcanvas.Inaddition,youdefineonthatsecondcanvassomeitemsthataresynchronizedwiththeitemsthatappearonthemaincanvas.

Tocreatethesecondcontentcanvas,movesomeoftheEmployeesblockitemstoit,andcreatesomesynchronizeditems,performthefollowingsteps:

1. SelectthecanvasintheObjectNavigatorandclickCreate .

2. ChangethenamesofbothcanvasesbyclickingthenameintheObjectNavigator,thenclickingagainand

overtypingtheexistingname.CalltheoriginalcanvasMAIN_CVandthenewcanvasEMP_DETAILS_CV.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 40/92

Note:AlternativelyyoucouldchangethenameinthePropertyPalette.

3. OpentheMAIN_CVcanvasintheLayoutEditor.IntheEmployeesblock,controlclick(ordragthemouse)to

selecttheEmail,Phone_Number,Hire_Date,Salary,andCommission_Pctitems.ChooseEdit|Cutfromthemenu.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 41/92

4. SelecttheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvasfromtheCanvaspopuplistatthetopleftoftheLayoutEditorandselectEMPLOYEESfromtheBlockpopuplist.ChooseEdit|Pastefromthemenu.Dragtheitemstoalocationneartheupperleftcornerofthecanvas.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 42/92

5. Withallitemsstillselected,openthePropertyPaletteandchangethefollowingproperties:

Property ValueNumberofItemsDisplayed 1PromptAttachmentEdge StartPromptAttachmentOffset 5

Thendragtheitemstoarrangethemonthecanvas,leavingsomeroomatthetopforthesynchronizeditemsthatyoucreatenext.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 43/92

6. Changethebackgroundcolorofthecanvas.ClickablankspotonthecanvassothatthePropertyPalette

displaysthecanvasproperties.ChangetheBackgroundColorpropertytoacolorofyourchoosing.

7. SelectMAIN_CVfromtheCanvaspopuplistoftheLayoutEditor.SelecttogethertheEmployee_Id,

First_Name,andLast_Nameitems.Fromthemenu,chooseEdit|Copy.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 44/92

8. SelectEMP_DETAILS_CVfromtheCanvaspopuplistoftheLayoutEditor.Fromthemenu,chooseEdit|Paste.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 45/92

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 46/92

9. Changethepropertyvaluesasyoudidinstep55above,thenchangethenamesofeachoftheitemstoM_EMPLOYEE_ID,M_FIRST_NAME,andM_LAST_NAME(theMisjustanindicationthattheseitemsmirror,oraresynchronizedwith,otheritems).

IntheSynchronizewithItempropertyforeachitem,selectfromthepoplisttheitemwithwhichthisitemshouldbesynchronized.Forexample,M_Employee_IdshouldbesynchronizedwithEmployee_Id.

Changeotherindividualpropertiesasshown:

Item Property Value Note:Ifyoufailtosettheseproperties,theformstillfunctions,butyoureceiveannoyingmessageswhenyouruntheformfromFormsBuilder.Ifyouwouldprefernottosettheseproperties,youcanignorethemessages.

M_EMPLOYEE_IDandM_LAST_NAME

Required No

M_FIRST_NAMEandM_LAST_NAME

DataLengthSemanticsMaximumLength

Null0

Dragtheitemstothetopofthecanvasandarrangethemnearthetop.

10. OpentheMAIN_CVcanvasagain.ToensurethatchangestothelayoutoftheEmployeesblockarepreserved,

clickitsFrame(thelinethatsurroundstheitemsintheEmployeesblock).InthePropertyPalettefortheFrame,changethepropertyUpdateLayoutfromAutomaticallytoManually.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 47/92

11. MovethescrollbarfromthefarrightoftheMAIN_CVcanvastoapositionjusttotherightoftheremainingitems,

thenresizetheframewidthappropriately.

12. ClickSave tosavetheform,thenclickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4Jsee

Step1).

Whentheformstartsrunning,clickExecuteQuery todisplaydataintheform.ClickNextBlock tonavigatetotheEmployeesblock.Youstillmusttabthroughtheitemstobeabletoseethemall,butatleastnow

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 48/92

theemployeedetaildisplaysallinonewindow.Youmaynoticethatnavigationthroughtheitemsonthedetailpageisnotwhatyoumightexpectyouchangethenavigationinalaterstep.

Note:Youcoulduseastackedcanvas,ratherthanacontentcanvas,todisplaytheemployeedetails.Ifyouhadalargernumberofitems,youcoulduseatabcanvastodisplaythem,arrangingtheitemsondifferenttabpages.

13. ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

Step6CreatingaNewWindow

BacktoTopicList

Becauseyouhavetwocontentcanvasesandonewindow,youcandisplayonlyonecontentcanvasatatime.BothcanvasesdisplayinWindow1thatFormsBuildercreatedbydefault.

Ifyouwouldliketoenableuserstoviewbothcanvasesatonce,youcancreateanotherwindow.TocreateanewwindowanddisplaytheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvasinit,performthefollowingsteps:

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 49/92

1. SelectthewindowintheObjectNavigatorandclickCreate .

2. ChangethenamesofbothwindowsbyclickingthenameintheObjectNavigator,thenclickingagainandovertypingtheexistingname.CalltheoriginalwindowMAIN_WINandthenewwindowEMP_DETAILS_WIN.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 50/92

Note:AlternativelyyoucouldchangethenameinthePropertyPalette.

3. InthePropertyPaletteforeachwindow,changeitsTitleproperty.Thischangesthetitlethatdisplaysineachwindowoftherunningform.

ChangethetitleforMAIN_WINtoDepartmentsandEmployees.ChangethetitleforEMP_DETAILS_WINtoEmployeeDetails.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 51/92

4. SelecttheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvasintheObjectNavigator.InthePropertyPalette,changeitsWindow

propertybyselectingEMP_DETAILS_WINfromthepopuplist.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 52/92

5. IntheLayoutEditorfortheMAIN_CVcanvas,placeyourcursoratthepointwhereyouwantthenewwindowto

bedisplayed,andmakenoteoftheXandYcoordinatesshownatthebottomoftheLayoutEditorwindow.Inthiscase,theXandYcoordinatesare210and120.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 53/92

6. InthePropertyPalettefortheEMP_DETAILS_WINwindow,settheXPositionandYPositionpropertiestothe

valuesoftheXandYcoordinatesinthepreviousstep.TheexampleshowssettingXPositionto210andYPositionto120.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 54/92

7. OpentheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvasintheLayoutEditorandresizetheViewport(blackrectangle)sothatitis

justlargeenoughtodisplayalltheitems.YoumayneedtomaximizetheLayoutEditorwindowtobeabletoseetheoriginallowerrightpointoftheviewport.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 55/92

Note:Resizingtheviewportactuallyresizesthewindowinwhichthecanvasisdisplayed.ItisavisualwaytochangetheheightandwidthpropertiesofthewindowwithouttheneedtochangethemdirectlyinthePropertyPalette.

8. ClickSave tosavetheform,thenclickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4JseeStep1).

Whentheformstartsrunning,clickExecuteQuery todisplaydataintheform.ClickNextBlock tonavigatetotheEmployeesblock.Tabthroughtheitemssothattheseparatewindowisinvoked.

Designsuggestion:Becauseyoucannowseethedetailsalongwiththemaincanvas,youmaydecidetoeliminatethesynchronizeditemsfromthedetailcanvas.

Itmayalsobehelpfultodifferentiatethecurrentrowonthemaincanvasvisually,suchasbyspecifyingadifferentbackgroundcolorforthecurrentitem.Youcandothisby:

Definingavisualattribute(seetheonlinehelptopicCreatingaNamedVisualAttribute)SettingapropertyoftheEmployeesblockcalledCurrentRecordVisualAttributegrouptothenameofthevisualattributethatyoudefined

9. ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

Step7BuildingaControlBlock

BacktoTopicList

Althoughmostdatablocksarebasedontables,views,orstoredprocedures,youcancreateblocksthatarenotrelatedtothedatabase.SuchblocksarereferredtoasControlBlocks.ControlBlockstypicallycontainbuttons,calculateditems,orother

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 56/92

objectsthatpertaintotheformasawhole,ratherthanjustasingleblock.

Tocreateacontrolblocktodisplaythesumofdepartmentsalaries,performthefollowingsteps:

1. SelecttheEmployeesblockintheObjectNavigatorandclickCreate .

2. SelecttheoptiontoBuildanewdatablockmanually,thenclickOK.

3. InthePropertyPaletteforthenewblock,setNametoCONTROLandsetSingleRecordtoYes.TheSingle

RecordpropertyisappropriateforaControlBlockbecauseitdoesnotcontainmultiplerecords.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 57/92

Note:SingleRecordmustbesettoYesforaControlBlockthatcontainsasummarycalculateditem.

4. IntheLayoutEditor,opentheMAIN_CVcanvas.SelectCONTROLfromtheBlockpopuplist.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 58/92

5. ClicktheDisplayItemtool ,thenclickinthecanvastotherightoftheManageritem.

6. UsingthePropertyPalette,setthefollowingpropertiesonthenewitem:

Property ValueName SAL_SUMDataType NumberMaximumLength 14FormatMask $9,999,999.00CalculationMode SummarySummaryFunction SumSummarizedBlock EMPLOYEESSummarizedItem SalaryHeight 14Prompt TotalSalariesPromptAttachmentEdge Top

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 59/92

7. AsummarizedblockmusthaveitsQueryAllRecordsorPrecomputeSummariespropertysettoYessothatthesumincludesallrecords,notonlythosealreadyretrievedintotheblock.InthePropertyPalettefortheEmployeesblock,setoneofthesepropertiestoYes.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 60/92

8. ClickSave tosavetheform,thenclickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4Jsee

Step1).

Whentheformstartsrunning,clickExecuteQuery todisplaydataintheform.ClickNextRecord tonavigatetoadepartmentwithmorethanoneemployee.

ClickNextBlock tonavigatetotheEmployeesblock.Tabthroughtheitemssothattheseparatewindowisinvoked.

Whilethecursorisintheseparatewindow,clickNextRecord throughallexistingemployeerecordsandverifythatthetotaldepartmentsalariesfigureiscorrect.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 61/92

9. ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

Step8ControllingNavigation

BacktoTopicList

Asyouweretestingtheform,dependingonhowyouarrangedtheitemsyoumayhavenoticedthatthecursordidnotmoveinthedesiredsequencewhenyoutabbedthroughtheitems.Inaddition,youmaypreferthatwhenyoutaboutofthelastiteminanEmployeesrecord,thatthecursorshouldmovetothenextrecord,andthatwhenyoutaboutofthelastiteminaDepartmentsrecord,thatthecursorshouldmovetotheEmployeesblock.Inthisstep,youchangethenavigationordersothatthesethingsareaccomplished.

Tochangenavigationorder,performthefollowingsteps:

1. Bydefault,navigationorderisdeterminedbythesequenceinwhichobjectsappearintheObjectNavigator.

OpentheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvasintheLayoutEditor.IntheObjectNavigator,dragtheitemsintheEmployeesblocktotheorderinwhichyouwantthenavigationtooccur.

Forexample,whenitemsarearrangedonthecanvasasshownbelow,youwantthecursortomovetoHIRE_DATEwhenyoutaboutofPHONE_NUMBER.Tochangethesequence,youdragHIRE_DATEintheObjectNavigatortothepositionjustafterPHONE_NUMBER.

IgnoretheitemsJOB_ID,MANAGER_ID,andDEPARTMENT_ID,becausethoseitemsarenotdisplayedonanycanvas,sonavigationtothoseitemsdoesnotoccur.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 62/92

2. Youcanalsouseblockpropertiestoaffectnavigationorder.

InthePropertyPalettefortheDepartmentsblock,changetheNavigationStylepropertytoChangeDataBlock.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 63/92

3. InthePropertyPalettefortheEmployeesblock,changetheNavigationStylepropertytoChangeRecord.

4. ClickSave tosavetheform,thenclickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4Jsee

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 64/92

Step1).TestthatthenavigationorderisthesameaswhatyoudeterminedbymovingtheitemsintheObjectNavigator,thatthecursormovesintotheEmployeesblockwhenyoutaboutoftheDepartment_Nameitem,andthatthecursormovestothenextEmployeesrecordwhenyoutaboutofthelastitemintheEmployeesblock.

ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

5. Youcanalsoaffectnavigationwithitemproperties.

Inpreparationforsomenewfunctionalitythatyouimplementwithcodeinalaterstep,changethefollowingitempropertiesintheEmployeesblock:

Item Property Value

EMPLOYEE_ID PreviousNavigationItem LAST_NAME

LAST_NAME NextNavigationItem EMPLOYEE_ID

Note:Whenviewingaqueriedrecord,thismakesitimpossibletonavigatetotheemployeedetailsshownontheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvas.Youaddtheabilitytonavigatetotheseitemsinalaterstep.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 65/92

6. ClickSave tosavetheform.

Step9ModifyingtheLayout

BacktoTopicList

Whenyouattempttoinsertanewemployeerecord,youdiscoverthatyouhaveomittedarequireddatabasecolumn,JOB_ID,fromthelayout.YoudidincludeJOB_IDinthedatablockitselfifyouhadnot,youcouldusetheDataBlockWizardinreentrantmodetoaddtheJOB_IDtothedatablock.ToinvoketheDataBlockWizardinreentrantmode,youjustrightclicktheblockintheObjectNavigatorandchooseDataBlockWizardfromthecontextmenu.

Sothatitisbepossibletousetheformtoinsertemployeerecords,youcouldusetheLayoutWizardinreentrantmodetoaddtheitemtothelayoutforthatrequireddatabasecolumn.However,usingtheLayoutWizardarrangestheitemsintheiroriginaltabularlayoutwithintheframeontheMAIN_CVcanvas,andthisisnotdesirableforthisapplication.Ifyouwanttotrythistoseetheeffect,savetheformfirstsothatyoucanreverttothesavedcopy,thenrightclicktheEmployeesframeontheMAIN_CVcanvasandselectLayoutWizardfromthecontextmenutoopentheLayoutWizardinreentrantmode.YoucantellthatyouareinreentrantmodebecausetherearetabsalongthetopoftheWizardandthereisanApplybuttonthatdoesnotexistunlesstheWizardisinreentrantmode.ThenontheDataBlocktab,moveJOB_IDtoDisplayedItemsandclickFinish.Afteryouexperimentwiththis,closetheformwithoutsavingit(selecttheHRformintheObjectNavigatorandclickDelete),thenreopenthesavedformtocontinue.

InsteadofusingtheLayoutWizardinreentrantmodetomodifythelayout,inthisstepyousimplychangethepropertiesoftheJOB_IDitem.ToaddJOB_IDtotheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvas,performthefollowingsteps:

1. SelecttheJOB_IDitemintheObjectNavigatoranddisplayitsPropertyPalette.ChangeitsCanvasPropertytoEMP_DETAILS_CV,changeNumberofItemsDisplayedto1,andchangePromptAttachmentOffsetto5.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 66/92

2. OpentheLayoutEditorfortheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvas.TheJOB_IDitemisdisplayedintheupperleft

corner.Dragittothedesiredpositiononthecanvas.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 67/92

3. IntheObjectNavigator,dragtheJOB_IDitemtotheproperpositionforthedesirednavigationorder.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 68/92

4. ClickSave tosavetheform,thenclickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4Jsee

Step1).

Beforequeryinganydata,attempttoinsertanewDepartmentsrecord.Enter99fortheDepartment_IdandTestfortheDepartment_Name.ClickSave .Therecordshouldbeinsertedwithouterror.

5. ClickRemoveRecord todeletetherecordthatyoujustinserted,thenclickSave .Therecordshould

bedeletedwithouterror.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 69/92

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 70/92

6. ClickExecuteQuery .NavigatetotheEmployeesblockandclickInsertRecord .

Enter999fortheEmployee_ID,andenteryourownfirstandlastname.ClickSave .

Becausetherearesomerequireditemsthathavenovalues,youreceiveanerrorandFormsautomaticallynavigatestothefirstnullrequireditem.EnterIT_PROGfortheJob_Id,thenfillinanyvaluesyoudesirefortheotheritems.ThenclickSave .TherecordshouldbesavedsuccessfullynoticethattheTotalSalariesamountisrecalculatedautomatically.Youmaydeletethenewrecordifdesired.

ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

Step10AddingFunctionalitywithCode

BacktoTopicList

Nowyouhaveafullyfunctionalmasterdetailformthatenablesyoutoquery,insert,update,anddeleterecords.Theform

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 71/92

evenperformscalculationsautomatically,andyouhavenotwrittenasinglelineofcodetoachievethisfunctionality.FormsBuildermakesiteasytodeclarativelydevelopacompleteapplication.

However,youmaydesiretoaddfunctionalitybycodingPL/SQLprogramunitsandtriggersinyourform.Atriggerisablockofcodethatexecutesinresponsetoacertainaction,suchaswhentheuserclicksabutton.

Inthisstep,youwritecodetoperformthefollowing:

ExecuteaqueryautomaticallyPopulatenonbasetableitemswhenqueryingUselistsofvaluesforuserinputCreateabuttontodisplaydetailsAdjustnavigationprogrammaticallyCloseawindowprogrammatically

ExecuteaQueryAutomatically

BacktoList

Itiscommonfortheusertowantdatatobedisplayedintheformwhenitfirstopens.Toexecuteaqueryautomaticallywhentheformstarts,performthefollowingsteps:

1. IntheObjectNavigator,rightclicktheformlevelTriggersnode,thenselectSmartTriggers|WHENNEWFORMINSTANCEfromthecontextmenu.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 72/92

2. ThePL/SQLEditoropensupfortheformlevelWhenNewFormInstancetrigger.Enterthefollowingcode:

DO_KEY('EXECUTE_QUERY')

ThenclickCompile inthePL/SQLEditor.Amessageshowingthatthetriggeriscompileddisplaysinthelowerrightcorneroftheeditor.

ClickSave .

PopulateNonBaseTableItemsWhenQuerying

BacktoList

Onewaytolookuprelateddataanddisplayitautomaticallyinnonbasetableitemsistouseapostquerytrigger.Thistechniquerequiresaroundtriptothedatabaseforeachrowthatisretrievedbythequery,soitcanresultinslowerperformance.Foralargenumberofrecords,youmaywanttoconsiderbasingthetableonavieworonasetofstoredprocedures,whichmayprovidebetterperformance.

Toautomaticallypopulatethenonbasetableitemswhenquerying,performthefollowingsteps:

1. UndertheDepartmentsblockintheObjectNavigator,selecttheTriggersnode,thenclickCreate .

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 73/92

2. TypepintheFindbox,thenselectPOSTQUERYfromthelist.ClickOK.

3. ThePL/SQLEditoropensupfortheblocklevelPostQuerytriggerfortheDepartmentsblock.ThePostQuery

triggerfiresforeveryrowthatisretrievedbyaqueryoftheDepartmentsblock.Enterthefollowingcode:

SELECTCITY||','||STATE_PROVINCE||','

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 74/92

||COUNTRY_IDINTO:departments.locationFROMlocationsWHERE:departments.location_id=location_id

SELECTFIRST_NAME||''||LAST_NAMEINTO:departments.managerFROMemployeesWHERE:departments.manager_id=employee_id

ThenclickCompile inthePL/SQLEditor.Amessageshowingthatthetriggeriscompileddisplaysinthelowerrightcorneroftheeditor.

ClickSave .

UseListsofValuesforUserInput

BacktoList

AListofValues(LOV)canbeattachedtoanyinputitemtohelpuserstoenteraccuratedata.ThereislittlecodinginvolvedindefininganLOVotherthantypingintheSELECTstatementtouse.

YoucoulduseLOVsforLocationandManager,thenpopulatethosenonbasetableitemsalongwiththeirassociatedbasetableitems,Location_IdandManager_Id.However,inthisexample,youuseanLOVtoenabletheusertoselectavalidJob_Idforanemployee.

TodefineanLOVfortheJob_Iditem,performthefollowingsteps:

1. ClicktheLOVsnodeintheObjectNavigator,thenclickCreate .

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 75/92

2. LeavetheUsetheLOVWizardoptionselectedandclickOK.

3. OnthefirstpageoftheLOVWizard,clickNexttobasetheLOVonanewrecordgroupbasedonaquery.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 76/92

4. FortheSQLQueryStatement,enterthefollowing:

SELECTjob_titleTITLE,job_idIDFROMjobsORDERBYjob_title

Donotendthestatementwithasemicolon.

Ifyouwanttoensurethatthestatementissyntacticallycorrect,clickCheckSyntax.YoushouldreceiveamessageaffirmingthecorrectnessofthestatementclickOKtodismissthismessage,thenintheLOVWizard,clickNext.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 77/92

5. IntheLOVyouwanttodisplaytheJob_Titletotheuser,becausethiscontainsinformationthatismeaningfulto

theuser.YoudecidetoalsodisplaytheJob_Id.Clickthedoublerightarrowbutton tomovebothrecordgroupcolumnstotheLOV,thenclickNext.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 78/92

6. WhatyouaretryingtoaccomplishistopopulatetheJob_IditemintheEmployeesblockwiththeIDselected

fromthequery.

ClicktheReturnvaluecolumnfortheIDcolumn,thenclickLookupreturnitem....IntheItemsandParameterslist,select:EMPLOYEES.JOB_ID,thenclickOK.

CheckAutomaticallysizecolumns,thenclickNext.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 79/92

7. EnterJobsfortheLOVTitle,250fortheWidth,and300fortheHeight.ClickNext.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 80/92

8. ClickNexttoacceptthedefaultsofretrieving20rowsatatimeandrefreshingtherecordgroupbefore

displayingtheLOV.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 81/92

9. YouwanttheLOVtobeavailablefromtheJob_IDitemintheEmployeesblock.Clicktherightarrowbutton

tomoveEMPLOYEES.JOB_IDfromReturnItemstoAssignedItems,thenclickNext,andonthefinalscreen,clickFinish.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 82/92

ClickSave .

CreateaButtontoDisplayDetails

BacktoList

BecausethereisnownoeasywaytonavigatetoitemsontheEMP_DETAILS_CVcanvas,youcreateabuttonenablinguserstodoso.

Inmostcases,youwouldcreatebuttonsintheControlblock.However,thebuttonneedstoknowwhichrecordintheEmployeesblocktodisplaydetailsfor,andtheeasiestwaytodothis(thereareotherways)istoplacethebuttonintheEmployeesblock.

Formostbuttons,yousettheMouseNavigatepropertytoNo.Inthiscase,however,youwanttoselectanemployeerecordanddisplayitsdetailswithoneclick,soyouleaveMouseNavigatesettoitsdefaultvalue,whichisYes.

Tocreateabuttontodisplayemployeedetails,performthefollowingsteps:

1. OpentheLayoutEditorfortheMAIN_CVcanvas.EnlargetheEmployeesframetotherightbyselectingitanddraggingitsresizehandle.Movethescrollbartotherightsideoftheframe.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 83/92

2. SelectEMPLOYEESfromtheblocklistintheLayoutEditor.ClicktheButtontoolintheLayoutEditor,thenclick

intheareabetweenLast_Nameandthescrollbar.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 84/92

3. OpenthePropertyPaletteforthebuttonandsetthefollowingproperties:

Property ValueName DETAILS_BTNLabel DetailsWidth 50Height 14

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 85/92

4. IntheObjectNavigator,dragthebuttontoapositionjustafterLast_Name.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 86/92

5. RightclicktheDETAILS_BTNbutton,andfromthecontextmenuchooseSmartTriggers|WHENBUTTON

PRESSED.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 87/92

6. InthePL/SQLEditor,enterthefollowingcode:

GO_ITEM('job_id')

ClickCompile .

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 88/92

ClickSave .

AdjustNavigationProgrammatically

BacktoList

YoupreviouslysettheNavigationStylepropertyoftheEmployeesblocktoChangeRecord,whichmeansthatwhentheusertabsoutofthelastitemintheblock,thecursorgoestothefirstiteminthenextrecord.However,becauseLast_Nameisnotthelastitemintheblock,tabbingoutofitsimplynavigatestotheEmployee_Idofthesamerecord.

Toadjustnavigationsothattabbingfromtheemployee'slastnamenavigatestothenextrecord,performthefollowingsteps:

1. IntheObjectNavigator,expandtheLast_NamenodeundertheEmployeesblock,andselecttheTriggersnode.ClickCreate .

2. IntheTriggerswindow,scrolldownandselectKEYNEXTITEM,thenclickOK.

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 89/92

3. InthePL/SQLEditor,enterthefollowingcode,thenclickCompile :

do_key('next_record')

ClickSave .

CloseaWindowProgrammatically

BacktoList

WhentheuserclickstheXonaFormswindowtocloseit,bydefaultnothinghappens.Ifyouwanttheusertobeabletoclosethewindow,youmustcodetheactiontotake.

ToclosetheEMP_DETAILS_WINwindowwhentheuserclickstheX,performthefollowingsteps:

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 90/92

1. SelecttheTriggersnodeundertheHRform,clickCreate ,andchooseWHENWINDOWCLOSEDfromthetriggerlist,thenclickOK.

2. InthePL/SQLEditor,enterthefollowingcode,thenclickCompile:

IF:SYSTEM.CURSOR_ITEMIN('EMPLOYEES.M_EMPLOYEE_ID','EMPLOYEES.M_FIRST_NAME','EMPLOYEES.M_LAST_NAME','EMPLOYEES.JOB_ID','EMPLOYEES.EMAIL','EMPLOYEES.PHONE_NUMBER','EMPLOYEES.HIRE_DATE','EMPLOYEES.SALARY','EMPLOYEES.COMMISSION_PCT')THENGO_ITEM('employee_id')HIDE_WINDOW('emp_details_win')ENDIF

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 91/92

ClickSave .

3. ClickRunForm totestit(besurethatyouhavestartedOC4JseeStep1).

Demonstratethat:

Theformdisplaysthedata(executesthequery)automatically.TheLocationandManageritemsarepopulatedautomatically.WhennavigatingintheEmployeesblockontheMaincanvas,tabbingoutofLast_Namenavigatestothenextemployeerecord.EmployeedetailsdisplaywhenyouclickDetailsintheEmployeesblock.IntheJob_IditemyoucandisplayandselectfromanLOVwhenyoupressCtrl+L,andtheJob_Iditemispopulatedwiththejobthatyouselect.Youcanclosethedetailwindow.

ClickExitForm toexittheapplication,thenclosethebrowserwindow.

Summary

BacktoTopicList

ThisexerciseshowedyouhoweasyitistocreateamasterdetailformusingtheDataBlockandLayoutWizardsinFormsBuilder.Youalsomanuallycreatedacontrolblockonwhichyouplacedanitemtoautomaticallycalculatethesumofsalariesforadepartment.

Youenhancedadatablockwithnonbasetableitemstodisplaydatafromrelatedtables,andyoumovedsomeitemstoanewcanvastodisplayinaseparatewindow.Youadjustednavigationandaddedanotherbasetableitemtothelayout.ThisfullyfunctionalmasterdetailformwasachievedusingonlythevisualanddeclarativeIDEofFormsBuilder.

Youthenaddedcodetoexecuteaqueryautomatically,populatethenonbasetableitems,definealistofvaluestoaiduserinput,createabuttontodisplayemployeedetails,furtherrefinenavigationprogrammatically,andprogrammaticallyclosethe

6/8/2015 CreatingaMasterDetailForm

http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/tutorials/obe/forms/FormsMasterDetail/FormsMasterDetailOBE.htm 92/92

separatewindow.

ThisbriefoverviewonlyscratchesthesurfaceofwhatyoucanaccomplishwithFormsBuilder.Formoreinformation,seeRelatedTopicsbelow.

Relatedtopics

OracleEducationcourses:OracleFormsDeveloper10g:MovetotheWeb

OracleEducationcourses:OracleFormsDeveloper10g:BuildInternetApplications

OTN:FormsProductspage

Moveyourmouseoverthisicontohideallscreenshots