Hidden Gems of APEX

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Hidden Gems of APEXDavid GaleSoftware EngineerOracle Application ExpressNovember, 2014


“I didn’t know APEX could do that”Oracle Application Express


David Gale has been working with Oracle Application Express since 2009 (v. 4.0).

He has been part of the APEX development team since joining Oracle in 2011.

DAVID GALESoftware EngineerOracle Application ExpressDatabase Tools | Server Technologies

1900 Oracle WayRestonVirginia 20190

phone +1-703-364-2613mobile [email protected] @david_s_gale

mailto:[email protected]


Safe Harbor StatementThe following is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for Oracle’s products remains at the sole discretion of Oracle.


IntroductionOracle Application Express


Oracle Application Express

• Database-centric development tool for Oracle Database application development• Targeted at Web-based developers who know SQL and PL/SQL• Develop Desktop and Mobile applications• 100% Browser-based Development and Runtime• Declarative framework for rapid application definition, and full application life cycle. • On premise, on laptop, on cloud, on RAC, any platform Oracle DB is available


HTML DB 1.5 First ReleaseHTML DB 1.6UI Themes

2004 2007 2012

APEX 2.1 Oracle XE

APEX 2.2 Supporting DB Objects

for full app installation and upgrade

APEX 3.1 Interactive

Reports

HTML DB 2.0

SQL Workshop

APEX 3.0 Flash Charts PDF Printing Access Migration

APEX 3.2 Oracle Forms to

APEX Conversion

APEX 4.1 Data Upload Error Handling ROWID

2006 2009 201120082005

APEX 4.2 Mobile HTML5 Packaged Apps

APEX 4.0 Websheets Dynamic Actions Plug-Ins Team Development

2010 2013 2014 / 5

Application Express 5.0* Universal Theme Page Designer UI Modernization HTML5 Plugins

4.2.54.2.1 4.2.2, 3, 4

APEX 4.2 Dot Releases Improved

Packaged Apps

Development initiated August 1999*Available in Early Adopter Only (apexea.oracle.com)

Also known as Oracle APEX (a'peks)History


Fully supported no-cost feature of the Oracle Database• Supported as a no-cost feature of the Oracle Database

• No cost feature of database 10gR2 (10.2.0.4 +), 11gR1, 11gR2, 12c• Any number of developers, applications, any number of end-users• Specialized Oracle Support Team – Included with Database Maintenance Agreement• All database editions: EE, SE, SE1, XE• Exadata, ODA, RAC, Partitioning, Compression, InMemory, Multitenant…

• Distribution• Distributed with all editions of Oracle database 11g and 12c

• Available as a download from OTN

• Oracle Cloud Services• “Oracle Database Cloud Service” aka schema since October 2012.

Sold as a fully managed service with 1GB free trial, and 5, 20, 50 GB paid services.• Available as “development only” customer evaluation service on

http://apex.oracle.com

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/apex/overview/index.html

http://apex.oracle.com/


Hidden Gem: APEX Data DictionaryOracle Application Express


APEX Data Dictionary• Set of views of (most) metadata for Workspaces, Applications, etc.• Accessible through SQL• Application → Utilities → Application Express Views


APEX Data Dictionary


APEX Data Dictionary (Tree View)


Hidden Gem: APEX AdvisorOracle Application Express


APEX Advisor• Automated test suite for common APEX errors and security vulnerabilities• Application → Utilities → Advisor


APEX Advisor


Hidden Gem: Application SearchOracle Application Express


Application Search• Several shortcuts

– <page> - Open page in editor (current application)– <application>:<page> - Open page in editor– <application>:s – Application Shared Components (new in 5.0)

• Search prior to opening an application: full workspace search


Hidden Gem: SQL Workshop UtilitiesOracle Application Express


SQL Workshop Utilities• Suite of tools for working with database objects

– Data loading– DDL generation– API package creation– Schema comparison– …and more…

• SQL Workshop → Utilities


SQL Workshop Utilities


Hidden Gem: Query on Selected TableOracle Application Express


Query on Selected Table• Part of the Find (not search) functionality• Automatically generates select statement with all column names• Better than “select *” for usability and maintenance• Find → Tables


Query on Selected Table


Hidden Gem: PL/SQL Column HeadingsOracle Application Express


PL/SQL Column Headings• Classic Reports only• Combine with “SQL Query (PL/SQL function body returning SQL query)”

report type for dynamic reports• Function returning colon-separated list of column headings• Can use apex_util.set_report_column_format(…) to specify format masks at

the same time


PL/SQL Column Headings


Hidden Gem: Page Items to SubmitOracle Application Express


Page Items to Submit• Automatically copy page item values from DOM to session state• Attribute of reports and PL/SQL dynamic action steps• Enables partial page refresh for reports, complex dynamic actions


Page Items to Submit


Page Items to Submit


Hidden Gem: Packaged ApplicationsOracle Application Express


Packaged Applications• Suite of pre-built applications available for immediate deployment and use• Two types

– Sample Applications – demonstrate specific functionality• Can be installed and inspected immediately

– Productivity Applications – designed to meet actual business needs• Locked upon initial installation• Fully supported by Oracle*

• Active development


Packaged Applications



Hidden Gems of APEX

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