10g forms

Oracle 10g Forms

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Confidential © SQL Star International Ltd. 1

Copyright © 2008
Second Edition

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Confidential © SQL Star International Ltd. ii

Table of contents

10g FORMS
CHAPTER CHAPTER TITLE PAGE
No. NO
1. Introduction to Oracle Forms Developer Suit 1 – 12

2. Running a Forms Developer Application 13 – 25

3. Forms Developer Interface 26 – 39

4. Basic Form Module Creation 40 – 65

5. Discuss Data Block Properties 66 – 77

6. Creating Text items, LOVs and Editors 78 –100

7. Creating Input and Non-Input Items 101-126

8. Windows & Canvases 127-142

9. Triggers 143-167

10. Item InteractionTriggers and Alerts 168-193

11. Item Validation and QueryTrigger 194-213

12. Navigation 214-228

13. Key & Mouse Event Triggers 229-249

14. Transaction Triggers 250-263

15. Flexible Code 264-275

16. Sharing Objects and Code 276-292

17. WebUtil for Client Interaction 293-308

18. Working with Multiple Form Applications 309-340

19. Managing Menus 341-372

Confidential © SQL Star International Ltd. iii

Chapter 1

Introduction to
Oracle Forms Developer Suite

Introduction to Internet Computing Products
Grid computing
Oracle10g Tools for Forms development
Oracle10g AS Architecture
Oracle10g Provides
Oracle Forms Services
Benefits of Oracle10g Developer Suite
What Is Oracle Forms Developer

© SQL Star International Ltd 1

Objective

At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Get a brief idea about Internet Computing Products

• Understand Grid Computing

• Learn the components of the Oracle10g Application server

• Know what Oracle10g Provides

• Describe the features and benefits of Oracle Forms services
and
Oracle Forms developer

• Gather information about the benefits of Oracle10g Developer
Suite

• Know all the features of Oracle Forms Developer


Introduction to Internet Computing Products
Internet is the most preferred media to publish information for the masses.
Oracle Corporation has come up with a wide range of different tools, which is
targeted at different audience for the development work.
Based on the nature of work requirement, you can choose from the pool of Oracle
products. Different products have been developed for different kind of audiences.
Some of the categories of audiences who can use them are:

Enterprise application developers:
The apt Oracle product for audience belonging to this category would be Oracle
Designer and Oracle Forms Developer.

• Oracle Designer: This Oracle modelling tool helps to collect the business
requirement by giving support to SDLC process.

• Oracle Forms Developer: It is a wizard based Rapid application
development tool through which Internet based powerful applications can
be developed within a short span of time. Deployment of the application is
made easier with Form Services, which is an Oracle Application server
component.

Java Component Developers:
If you were a Java developer, then the suitable product of Oracle would be
Jdeveloper.

• Jdeveloper: It is a single Oracle’s java development environment,
providing necessary tools for developers working in Java and Web services
projects. It covers the full development lifecycle from design through
coding, debugging and tuning till deploying the application.

Website developers:
These developers are mainly those, who see Internet as the only media to work
with, in order to publish their information. Oracle has come up with Oracle portal
keeping these developers in mind.

• Oracle Portal: It is a complete integrated framework used for developing
and deploying application of enterprise portal. It tightly resides inside
Oracle10g database.

MIS Developers:
Oracle business intelligent toolset has helped MIS developers to create reports
which help the management to make mission critical decisions. This toolset
also contains a product, which can be used by the end user to generate day-
to-day reports.
Oracle business intelligent toolset comprises the following products, which
provides a whole range for reporting, analysis, and trending facilities:

• Oracle Reports Developer

• Oracle Report services

• Oracle Discoverer

• Oracle Express


Grid Computing
The database systems such as Relational, Hierarchical and Network have been
successful in developing the database for traditional business applications such as
Banking and Railway reservations. But, when it comes to more complex business
applications such as databases for scientific work, engineering designs,
telecommunications, geographic information system and multimedia, the
traditional database systems cannot handle them because the requirements and
characteristics of these applications are different from the traditional business
applications. These applications require more complex structures for:
• Storing data related to real world objects such as engineering
diagrams, molecular structures, or financial instruments.
• Transactions, which would be for longer durations.
• New datatypes required for storing complex multimedia data such
as audio and video clips, images and maps.
Oracle10g Database meets the above needs as it tightly incorporates ORDBMS
concepts.
Object Relational Database Management System (ORDBMS) is a database
management system that has evolved from the relational model and includes
both the relational and object oriented technology. Oracle8.0 was the first version
of the Oracle database to incorporate object-oriented technology.
In Oracle10g, ‘g’ stands for GRID. This release is focused on efficient
management of infrastructure based on its grid computing mechanism.
Now, the question arises what is Grid Computing?
Grid computing provides clustering of remotely distributed computing.
The idea behind grid computing is to utilize the resources available to the
maximum extent, by dynamically pooling it based on the requirement of the end
user during the peak hours. In this case, the end user need not know the
whereabouts of the resource.

Oracle grid infrastructure products:
• Oracle Database 10g
• Oracle Application Server 10g
• Oracle Enterprise Manager 10g Grid Control
Oracle Database 10g
Oracle10g database supports Grid Computing architecture. Here, multiple
database servers are pooled together to form a cluster. It enhances utilization of
resources. It efficiently stores and manages the structured and unstructured data
such as:
• Spreadsheets

• Word documents

• PowerPoint presentations

• XML


• Multimedia data types like MP3, graphics, video and more.
Oracle 10g facilitates two-tiered or multi-layered distributed database
environments like client/server and Web-based applications. Large objects need
be stored inside and outside the database. Oracle Database 10g have services
which help to manage and retrieve data, located outside the database.

• Oracle Application Server 10g
A complete infrastructure platform is provided for developing and deploying
enterprise applications, integrating many functions including a J2EE and Web
services run-time environment, an enterprise portal, an enterprise integration
broker, business intelligence, Web caching, and identity management services.
The existing 10g AS gets further enhanced with the introduction of new grid
computing features. It further integrates users, applications and data across your
organization.
• Oracle Enterprise Manager 10g Grid Control
It is the consolidated, core management console that forms the basic framework
to automatically initiate administrative tasks across the networked environment.
With Oracle Grid Control, multiple hardware nodes, databases, application servers
and other targets can be brought together into single logical entities.

Oracle10g Tools for Forms development
Oracle10g release can be broadly divided into 3 categories.
Oracle Database: It supports ORDBMS, managing unstructured and structured
information efficiently. It follows the concept of re-usability there by promoting
automation techniques.
Oracle10g Application Server (Oracle10g AS): It forms the middle tier which
holds a range of Business Logic Application, developed in different platforms such
as JAVA, PORTAL, FORMS, WAP and business intelligence. Forms Services, the
main component of Oracle10g AS play an important role in deploying the forms
application on to the Web-based environment.
Oracle10g Developer Suite (Oracle10g DS): It comprises Oracle application
development tools and Oracle Business Intelligence tools. This product forms a
complete package for developing scalable, re-usable and reliable application to be
shared across the web environment.

Looking into the functional structure, this architecture can be divided into:
• Communication Services: Manage the request/response of/for a client, by
means of suitable protocols.
• Application Runtime Services: It contains J2EE Container that forms a
common runtime environment for Applications developed as JSPs,
Servlets, EJBs and Web Services.
• System Services: It provides a similar group of runtime services required
by the web based application for managing their essential processes such
as request dispatch and scheduling, resource pooling, clustering, fault
monitoring, transaction management and messaging.


• Management Services: These services record the status, monitor the
performance and handle the failure of the system. It helps to keep track of
the resource consumption, manage multiple instances and support single
sign-on feature.
• Connectivity Services: Enables connectivity between systems of different
platforms.
• Solutions: A comprehensive set of solutions all built on the infrastructure
described above, including Enterprise Portals, Enterprise Integration,
Business Intelligence, Wireless and ISV Solutions.


List of Oracle10g Application Server Components and their functionality:
• Extract and analyze business intelligence: Clickstream, Personalization,
Reports Services, Discoverer.
• Integrate your business: Interconnect, Workflow, Unified Messaging,
Internet File System.
• Create personalized portals: Oracle10g AS Portal.
• Deploy dynamic Web applications: XDK, Web Services, Forms Services,
OC4J, HTTP Server.
• Manage and secure your Web infrastructure: Enterprise Manager, Security,
and Internet Directory.

Oracle10g AS provides:
• A Comprehensive and a fully integrated platform for deploying web
applications.
• Facilities to redefine the business process and publish them into the
enterprise portal, which can be accessed from the internet or wireless
services.
• Forms Services, a component in it that deploys the application on to the
web.


• Provides web cache which enhances the performance and throughput of
the website by caching mechanisms.
• Manage and secure your Web infrastructure by Single Sign On (SSO)
method.

Oracle Forms Services
Oracle Form Services is a component of the middle tier, Oracle10g AS. It is
responsible for deploying Oracle Forms Developer applications in a multi-layered
environment without compromising the functionality and the intricacies of the
interface. It provides the required infrastructure through its in-built services.
Oracle Forms Services uses a three-layered architecture to deploy applications
over the web. These include:
• A Java enabled thin client tier, where the application’s output is presented
by the interface to the user.
• The middle tier is the application server or servers, where the application
logic and server software reside.
• The database tier is the database server or servers, where enterprise data
is stored.

Oracle10g Forms Services

Forms Services Architecture

Forms Services consists of four major components: the Java client (Forms Client),
Oracle Jinitiator, the Forms Listener Servlet, and the Forms Runtime Engine. You
will learn about these components in chapter 2 - Running a Forms Developer
Application.
Process at the client end:
1) Oracle Jinitiator is downloaded on the very first request of the client. This
forms the surface for running the applications.
2) An applet is dynamically loaded into the client machine and cached.


The Forms Listener Servlet and Forms Runtime Engine process on the middle tier
of Oracle10g As.

Benefits of Oracle10g Developer Suite
The Oracle10g Developer Suite:
• Provides a complete integrated set of tools for developing web-based
applications.
• Helps to develop Internet compatible Web services applications using Java
and XML.
• Produces performance based tuned application, by utilizing the resources
of both Oracle Database and Oracle application server to its maximum.


• Further, enhances the richness of the application by incorporating
capabilities for Microscopic analysis of data and distributing the same,
across the web.
Based on the toolset availability, Oracle10g developer suite can be divided into:

1. Application Development tools
Oracle Designer: Used for reverse engineering and code generation.
Forms Developer and Jdeveloper: Used for Rapid Application
development (RAD) of enterprise application and business components for
Java respectively.
J2EE and Web Services: Extends support for latest J2EE 1.2 API’s,
including Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), Java Server Pages (JSP) and
Servlets 2.3. Integrated web services support for SOAP (simple object
access protocol) and WSDL (web services definition language)
Software Configuration Manager (SCM): Used to keep a record of
version changes, impact of renewed configuration, parallel development
and analyzing dependencies among objects.

2. Business Intelligence Reporting Tools
Oracle10g Warehouse Builder: Follows a fixed process of extracting,
transforming and loading data. It reduces the complexity of designing and
managing the warehouse and data mart, web based business intelligence
application by providing easy GUI driven data mapping, pre-defined
transformation tools and creating dimensional data by drag-drop features.
Oracle10g Discoverer Administrator: Provides a collection of data of
business importance, neatly managed by the system manager of the BI
tools. It allows ad-doc query and analysis on these related data performed
on the Discoverer clients, which are Oracle10g AS Discoverer Plus,
Oracle10g DS Discoverer Desktop, and Oracle10g AS Discoverer Viewer.
Oracle10g Reports Developer: Reports can be created with easy wizard
driven GUI tool. It allows the developer to create reports by taking
maximum control over the various data sources available and utilizes a
wider media to publish the same.

What is Oracle Forms Developer?
It is a front-end tool used to develop enterprise-driven applications with its GUI
capabilities. Powerful web based interface applications can be rapidly developed
due its re-entrant wizard features. It tightly integrates with the Oracle10g
Database for building up its application. It can also embed java components,
increasing its developmental capabilities further.
Applications can be developed on the basis of code generation and reverse
engineer modeling features of Oracle Designer. Hence it works hand in hand with
Oracle Designer.

Oracle10g Forms Developer: Key Features
Tools for Rapid Application Development:


Database forms and business logic can be created with minimum effort. Wizard
and
Built-in subprograms are responsible for quick development of application.
Application Partitioning:
PL/SQL program units can be created both in the back-end i.e. database server as
well as in the front on i.e. Oracle Forms. It is because of the separate PL/SQL
engine present in both the environments. When needed, this business logic can
be moved between the modules and Oracle10g database.
Flexible Source Control:
Oracle10g Software Configuration Manager (SCM) is integrated directly in Forms
Developer, used to keep a record of version changes, impact of renewed
configuration, parallel development and analyzing dependencies among objects.
Extended Scalability:
The multi-layered environment allows the product to be distributed among a wide
range of users with no further manipulation in the application.
Object Reuse:
It enables centralization of code and pooling of reusable objects by creating
PL/SQL libraries and object libraries, linking the object behavior of different
modules by inheritance and subclassing mechanism.


Summary
In this chapter, you have learnt that:

• Various Oracle products have been developed for accommodating the
needs of different kinds of developers. For example, a suitable product of
Oracle for a Java developer would be Jdeveloper.

• Grid computing provides clustering of remotely distributed computing.

• Oracle Database supports OORDBMS, managing unstructured and
structured information efficiently.

• Oracle10gAS architecture can be divided into: Communication Services,
Application Runtime Services, System Services, Management Services,
Connectivity Services and Solutions.

• Oracle Form Services is a component of the middle tier, Oracle10g AS that
is responsible for deploying Oracle Forms Developer applications in a
multi-layered environment.

• The Oracle10g Developer Suite benefits you by providing a complete
integrated set of tools for developing web-based applications and many
more.

• Oracle10g developer suite can be divided into Application Development
tools and Business Intelligence Reporting tools.

• Oracle Forms Developer is a front-end tool used to develop enterprise-
driven applications with its GUI capabilities.

• Key Features of Oracle10g Forms Developer are tools for Rapid Application
Development, Application Partitioning, Flexible Source Control, Extended
Scalability and Object Reuse.


Exercise

1. What do you understand by Grid Computing?

2. What are the different Oracle 10g tools for Forms Development?

3. Explain briefly about Oracle Forms Services.

4. What are the different Reporting Tools?

5. List out the key features of Oracle10g Forms Developer.


Chapter 2

Running a Forms Developer Application
Introduction to Three-tier Architecture
Testing a Form
Java Runtime Environment
Starting a Run-time Session
Form Application in a Web Browser
Oracle Environment variables


Objective


• Define the three-tier architecture

• Get the solution of how to test a Form

• Learn the concept inside Java Runtime Environment

• Describe Starting a Run-time session

• Understand about various Form application in a web browser

• Know about some Oracle environment variables


Introduction to Three-tier Architecture
We are now aware that Form Services, a component of Oracle10g AS helps to
deploy applications in a multi-layered environment. But how does this component
actually work?
This chapter helps us to explore its functionality in detail.
A three-tier Architecture would look something like this:

Application
Server Database

Three-tier Environment

Let us now discuss the different entities of the architecture individually in detail:

Forms Client:
It includes a thin Java applet embedding all types of Oracle forms application,
which runs within the boundaries of client’s Java enabled web browser. This is
also known as thin client as no application logic or enterprise data is stored by it.
It is responsible for:
• Displaying user-interaction screen encoded in the application.
• Acting as a single point user-interface to accept the requests.
• Behaving like an acceptor to receive the responses given by the form
services.

Application Server:
It is the middle tier where the application logic and the main component for
deployment, the Form Services reside. All processing related to application is
done here.


Application Server

The main components that reside inside the form services of the Application
Server are:
Forms Listener Servlet: It is a complete Java Servlet that runs in the middle
tier, which works in close proximity with Oracle HTTP Server or OC4J (Oracle
Application Server Container for J2EE).
Responsibilities include:
• Accept request given by the client for initiating connectivity.
• It either invokes a new runtime engine or is allocated a previously running
runtime engine from the runtime engine pool.
• Acts as a communicating agent between the client and the runtime engine.
Forms Servlet: It generates an HTML page to be downloaded on to the client,
based on the web configuration file (formsweb.cfg), base HTML file (basejini.htm
or base.htm or baseie.htm) or application’s URL parameters.
Runtime Engine: It is an ifweb90 processor initialized by forms listener servlet
in the middle tier.
Responsibilities include:
• Managing the processing of application logic.
• Maintaining an uninterrupted connection to the database on behalf of the
client.
Oracle10g Database: It is the third tier where enterprise data is stored.


Testing a Form: Starting Oracle Application Server
Containers for J2EE (OC4J)

Oracle Application Server containers for J2EE (OC4J) is preferred to run Forms
applications.
• Included in Oracle10g DS to enable testing.
• On NT, run batch file to start OC4J.

Starting OC4J
Oracle10g AS Containers for J2EE (OC4J) is Oracle’s Java 2 Enterprise Edition
(J2EE) container that executes on any Java Virtual Machine (JVM), the Java
interpreter that is provided on each operating system and hardware platform. It
is implemented completely in Java, making it lightweight and easy to install. At
the same time, it provides complete support for J2EE applications, including
Servlets, Enterprise JavaBeans, Java Server Pages, and so on.
OC4J is ideally suited to run Forms applications. It is included in Oracle10g
Developer Suite to enable you to test your applications, if desired, on the same
machine where you are running Forms Builder. In other words, you do not need
to install Oracle10g AS to test your applications.
To use OC4J on Windows NT, you start it by executing the provided batch file,
called startinst.bat. This file is located in the j2eeOracle10gDS subdirectory of
ORACLE_HOME. If you will be testing your applications on your client machine,
then it is a good idea to set up a shortcut to startinst.bat batch file and also
stopinst.bat batch file to start and stop the OC4J instance respectively.

The batch file executes in a separate window. (You can minimize this window if
desired). Do not close this window, or you will abort the OC4J instance.
When you no longer need to run OC4J, you can execute the batch file to stop the
OC4J instance, called stopinst.bat.


Testing a Form: The Run Form Button
With the Run Form Menu command or Button , you can :
- Run a form from Forms Builder
- Test the form in a three-tier environment
The Run Form command takes its settings from Preferences ;
- Edit -> Preferences
- Runtime tab
- Set Application Server URL to point to Forms Servlet
- Set Web Browser location if desired

– http://127.0.0.1:8889/forms/frmservlet

Running of a Form
In order to run the application in a web browser, the user’s request should be in
the form of a URL. This URL is written in the address bar of the web browser. The
syntax of the URL would be similar to the following format:
http://domain[:port]/forms servlet or html file [parameter]
Where,
http: Protocol
Domain: Server name where the application resides.
Port: Default for HTTP server
8889 default for OC4J
FormsServlet: /forms/frmservlet
Parameter: indicates form, userid=username/password@database

Java Runtime Environment
In order to deploy the forms application on to web browser, it is necessary to
have a Java runtime environment. On windows platform, Java Runtime
Environment (JRE) can be created by Oracle Jinitiator, a plug-in supplied by
Oracle, which enables the end user to run Oracle forms developer directly on the
browser that does not provide a JRE environment. It is automatically downloaded
to a client machine from the application server.
Benefits:
• It caches the Java archive files on the client thereby helping reduce the
application startup time.
• It provides applet instance caching. This is a method of storing the
running form application during navigation event. When the user


returns to the same page, the cached page is restored. This improves
the application performance.

Starting a Run-time Session
Given below, is a list of processes that occurs:
• A request is sent from the client to the application server in the form of
URL.
• The request is taken up by the Oracle HTTP server or OC4J and passed
further to Forms Servlet.
In response to it, Forms Servlet creates a HTML page containing all the
relevant information for the generation of a forms applet, which is
given to the HTTP server. You can see this in the following diagram:

Now, HTTP server responds by downloading a generic applet, which is cached
locally on the client.
Forms applet sends a request to the Forms listener to invoke the forms runtime
engine.


• Forms Client cannot interact with the database directly. So here,
runtime engine works on behalf of the client. Oracle Forms runtime
engine executes the application specified in the URL and then passes
the result to the Forms applet via Forms listener.
• Forms applet running within the client browser, displays the application
as per the application logic.
• Once the initial request to the application is completed, the Forms
listener Servlet along with HTTP server handles the communication
between the forms applet and the runtime engine.

Forms application in a Web browser

Client-Server Deployment at Runtime
Forms runtime session is started when you run a form module. The components
of the runtime session are:


• MDI Parent Window: Multiple Document Interface (MDI) parent window is
the default window provided to display form modules. MDI window can
display multiple form modules.

• SDI Window: Form Builder also provides support for a Single Document
Interface (SDI) Window even though the default window is the MDI
Window.

• Default Menu: Oracle Forms Developer provides all applications with a
default menu. This menu can be customized to enhance the functionality
of your applications.

• Menu Toolbar: Menu Toolbar contains icons that correspond to the menu
items. It is provided to add functionality and is a short cut to the menu
items.

• Console: The Console is displayed during runtime at the bottom of your
window, which displays information. It also consists of:
o Message Line: It displays Form Builder and application specific
messages. Database error messages are displayed in the message
line.
o Status Line: Displays the state of the form module. It will tell you if
there is a list of values associated with the item and if the block is

in the enter query mode or not.
o Data Elements: Irrespective of the deployment the data elements
in a Form Builder are same in the Web or in a Client-server
environment. The data elements that you see at runtime are:

• Boilerplate text
• Boilerplate graphics
• Prompts


• Text items
• List items
• Push buttons
• Display items
• Radio buttons
• Check boxes
• Image items
• Hierarchical tree items
• Chart items
• Custom items

Oracle Developer Environment Variables
In order to customize the application, following environment variables can be
modified.

Forms environment variables for design time

UI_ICON_EXTENSION

FORMS_BUILDER_CLASSPATH FORMS_HIDE_OBR_PARAMS

Set to FALSE to be able to
Set so that forms builder see the hidden parameters
can find java class files passed in the URL
during development and
testing process

UI_ICON Type of the iconic image,
i.e., gif, jpeg of .ico must
To create iconic images in be specified here
forms builder, path of the
icon is set here


Forms environment variables for runtime

FORMS_RESTRICT_ENTER
_QUERY
FORMS_PATH
CLASSPATH

Set this parameter
Gives path of the Form ORACLE_PATH Specifies path of to True to invoke
being searched by Java Class file the Query/Where
Forms builder to run it required for Forms dialog box. By
default it is set to
Specifies the search path False.
for files referenced by
Reports Runtime

Alternatively, you can control the environment variable setting in file known as
formsserverdefault.env


Summary


• How Form Services, a component of Oracle10g AS actually works.

• Forms Client includes a thin Java applet embedding all types of Oracle
forms application, which runs within the boundaries of client’s Java
enabled web browser.

• Oracle10g AS Containers for J2EE (OC4J) is Oracle’s Java 2 Enterprise
Edition (J2EE) container that executes on any Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

• OC4J is ideally suited to run Forms applications.

• In order to run the application in a web browser, the user’s request should
be in the form of a URL.

• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) can be created by Oracle Jinitiator, which
enables the end user to run Oracle forms developer directly on the
browser that does not provide a JRE environment.

• One of the benefits of JRE is that it caches the Java archive files on the
client.

• Forms Client cannot interact with the database directly. So here, runtime
engine works on behalf of the client.

• Forms runtime session components are MDI Parent Window, SDI Window,
Default Menu, Menu Toolbar and Console.


Exercise

1. What are the main components of Forms Services?

2. What are the different modes of operations?

3. ________ is the default window provided by forms builder.

4. ________ is the default canvas provided by Forms Builder.

5. What are the components of run-time session?

6. What is the default port number in Oracle 10g?

7. Which file is required to start and stop OC4J server?

8. List the forms environment variables available at design time and runtime?

9. _______ gives the path of the Form being searched by forms builder to
run it.

10. _______ specifies the path of java class file required for forms debugger.

11. _______ is set so that forms builder can find java class files during
development and testing process.

12. _______ path of an icon is set here which is used to create iconic images
in the forms builder.

13. Type of the iconic image i.e., gif, jpeg or ico must be specified in _______.

14. In formsweb.cfg change the applet parameter width to 900 and height to
600.


Chapter 3

Forms Developer Interface
The Form Builder Environment
The Form Builder Components
The Form Builder Module Types
Oracle Form Builder Interface Components
Form Module Objects
Navigation in a Form Module
Master versus Detail Blocks
Multi-Block and Multi-Form Applications
Library Management Module


Objective

• Identify and describe forms builder environment

• Understand the main components of form builder

• Get a brief idea about forms builder interface components

• Learn form module objects

• Know how navigation takes place in a form module

• Find the difference in Master and Detail Blocks

• Find the difference in multi-block and multi-form applications

• Describe library management module


The Form Builder Environment
The Form Builder environment allows you to design your form modules and
manipulate data in a number of ways.
Form Builder enables users to:
• Insert, update, delete and query data
• Present data using text and images
• Present data using JavaBeans and ActiveX custom controls
• Manage Forms across multiple windows
• Access Oracle Graphics Builder and OLE2 applications
• Send data to Oracle Reports Builder

The Form Builder Components
The Form Builder has three executables that help to create, compile and
run a form module:
Form Builder: It is used to design and build applications and store the
definition. It can be invoked using FRMBLD.EXE
Form Compiler: It is used to read the definition of the form module and
convert them into an executable run file. It can be invoked using
FRMCMP.EXE
Form Runtime: It is used to execute a form module. Before you want to
run a Form, ensure that the form module is compiled.

The Form Builder Module Types
Form Builder allows you to create four types of modules, which are stored as
files. A module owns all the objects that are created within it and is the basis
of storage and ownership. The different types of modules in Form Builder are:
• Form Modules: These make up the major chunk of your application. In a
form module you retrieve and manipulate data that is arranged in the form
of records.

• Menu Modules: Form Builder enables users to create their own menus. The
menu of an application is created and stored in a menu module. Users can
customize or replace the default menu provided by Oracle Forms
Developer.

• PL/SQL Library Modules: This is a collection of all the PL/SQL program
units that can be used by other modules in your application.
• Object Library Modules: An object library allows you to store objects that
you can reference and use in other modules. This feature enables you to
create objects and distribute them throughout the organization.


Oracle Form Builder Interface Components
The following tools are provided in the Form Builder:
• Object Navigator: This is a hierarchical tree structure of the objects used
in the application. It is used to locate and manipulate the objects.

• Property Palette: All objects in an application including the module have
their own set of properties. These properties can be viewed and modified
in the Property Palette.


.

• Layout Editor: Provides an interface to create and arrange the items and
graphical objects in your application.


• PL/SQL Editor: Allows you to develop subprograms in the Oracle Forms
Developer and in the database.


Form Module Objects
Form modules make up a major portion of your application. They are made
up of a large number of objects. A form module comprises the following:
• Window: This is the largest object in a form module. Broadly speaking
window is nothing but an empty picture frame. All the visual objects are
contained within this frame. There are two types of windows:
o Document or modeless window
o Dialog or modal window
• Canvas: A canvas is the interface where items are placed. A window can
contain more than one canvas. There are four types of canvases:
o Content Canvas
o Stacked Canvas
o Tab Canvas
o Toolbar Canvas
• Block: A block is the owner of items in a form; there can be more than
one block in a form. All the items in a block are logically related. There are
two types of blocks:
o Data Blocks: These blocks contain items that are based on the
database tables, views, stored procedures, a FROM clause query, or a
transactional trigger.
o Control Blocks: These blocks are not based on any database tables,
but they are created to enhance the functionality of the application.

Navigation in a Form Module
When you run a form, you principally navigate by the way of items and blocks
and not by canvases. Each item has a sequenced position within its block, and
each block has a sequenced position in the form.
When a user requests to move to the next item in a block, focus will be set on the
next item in sequence, no matter wherever that may be. If the next item is on a
different canvas, Oracle Forms Developer displays that canvas automatically.
Similarly, users can request to move to the next block (or previous block). If the
first item in this block resides on another canvas, then that canvas is displayed
automatically.
Of course, if you can already see the item that you want to move to, then you
may click on it directly with the mouse. You can also program mechanisms into
the application to enable navigation in other ways.


Master Versus Detail Blocks
To support the relationship between data blocks and their underlying base tables,
you can define one data block as the detail (child) and other as a master (parent)
data block. This links primary key and foreign key values across data blocks, and
thereby synchronizes the data that these data blocks display.
Forms Builder automatically generates the related objects and codes needed to
support master-detail relationships. As the designer, if you need only then
request it.

NOTE If your application requires it, you can also create independent
data blocks in which there is no relationship between the two data
blocks.

Single-Record Versus Multi-Record Blocks
You can design a data block to show one record at a time (single-record block) or
several records at once (multi-Record block). Usually, you create a single-
record data block to show master data block and a multi-record data block to


show detail data block. In either case, records in a data block that are currently
not visible on the screen are stored in a block buffer.

Multi-Block and Multi-Form Applications
Typically, a Forms Builder application consists of more than one data block. With
more than one data block, you can do the following:

• Separate the navigation cycle of one group of items from another.

• Map each data block to a different database table (You can have one base
table per data block.)

• Produce a master-detail form, with a master data block and the
corresponding detail data blocks that are related to the master.

• You can create a large form module with many data blocks. Alternatively,
you can create several smaller form modules with fewer data blocks in
each.

• Generally, a modular application with several smaller form modules has
the following characteristics:
Modules are loaded only when their components are required, thus
conserving memory.
Maintenance can occur on one module without regenerating or loading
the others.
Forms can call upon one another, as required.


Block 1 Block 1
Block 1

Form C

Block 2
Open Form

Block 3 Block 2
Block 1

Form A Open Form Form B
Block 4

Single Form Module Multiple Form Modules

Forms and Data Blocks

Many Blocks or Many Forms?
• Parallel development can be carried out by different team members on
different components.
Here are some points to consider while grouping data blocks in the application:

Data Blocks in the Same Form Data Blocks in Different Form
Module Modules
The data blocks can be directly linked The data blocks cannot be linked by the
in master-detail relationships. standard interblock relations.

Navigation between data blocks is Navigation between data blocks of
handled by default functionality. different forms is programmed by the
designer (although mouse navigation to
visible items can be automatic).


Library Management Module

A Brief Explanation
Branch table stores the Unique ID number and location of different branches of
the library.
Member stores the details of the members with their details and to which branch
they belong.
Member fee stores the details of the range of age, their fee and the grade.
The Book table stores the details for the books present in each branch with
number of copies.
Transaction table stores the daily transaction of issuing to and receiving the
books back from the members. Only those books are to be issued which are
present in the BOOK table.


Category stores the details of the category id and the type of books.
Publisherdetails stores the details of the publisher.
Libstaff stores the details of the librarian staff.


Summary


• With Forms Builder, an Oracle Forms Developer component, you can
develop form-based applications for presenting and manipulating data in a
variety of ways. Forms Builder enables screen-based queries, inserts,
updates, and deletes of data.
• The Form Builder has three executables: Form Builder, Form Compiler,
Form Runtime

• Forms Builder provides powerful GUI and integration features.

• Applications consist of form modules, menu modules, PL/SQL Library
Modules and Object Library Modules.

• Oracle Form Builder Interface has Object Navigator, Property Palette:,
Layout Editor and PL/SQL Editor Components.

• Object Navigator is a hierarchical tree structure of the objects used in the
application used to locate and manipulate the objects.

• When you run a form, you principally navigate by the way of items and
blocks and not by canvases.

• Form modules consist of logical data blocks. A data block is the logical
owner of items. Items in one data block do not need to be physically
grouped. Items in one data block can span several canvases.

• Usually, you create a single-record data block to show master data block.

• With more than one data block in a Form Builder application you can
separate the navigation cycle of one group of items from another.

• The data blocks can be directly linked in master-detail relationships and
not in standard interblock relations.

• Branch table stores the Unique ID number and location of different
branches of the library.


Exercise
1. What are the different Forms builder components?

2. Name the form builder interface components?

3. Explain the different kinds of Modules available along with their
functionality.

4. In which situations, Single Record block and Multi-records block has to be
created. Specify a scenario where creating Single record block and Multi-
records block is apt.

5. List the available canvas in the Form builder?


Chapter –4

Basic Form Module Creation
Introduction
Creating a Data Block
Invoking a Layout Wizard
Re-entrant Mode
Save, Compile and Run a Form Module
Creating a Template Form
Text Files and Documentation
File Extensions of Modules
Runtime Modes
Manipulate Data using DML Commands
Creating a Control Block
Deleting a Control Block
Master-detail Form Module


Objective


• Create a Data block

• Know how to invoke a Layout Wizard

• Describe the Re-entrant mode

• Save, Compile and Run a form module

• Create a template form

• Understand Text Files and Documentation

• Learn about File extensions of modules

• Get an idea about Runtime modes

• Manipulate data using DML Commands

• Plan the way you want to create a Control block

• Plan the way you want to delete a Control block

• Create Master-detail relationships in form module


Introduction
In the process of creating a Form Module many form builder components are
used. To start with the Object navigator, it is used to create an Empty Module. It
is only at this stage, you will find a window created by default. Data block, which
holds the actual data, has to be created through wizard or manually. Once this is
done, align the object or layout editor for further fine-tuning. Functionality to the
items is coded using the PL/SQL. Finally, to test the application, the form builder
is executed using the run button on the standard tool bar.
You will look at each of these phases in subsequent pages.

Creating a Data Block
You can create a Data Block manually or by using the Data Block Wizard. The
later enforces integrity constraints by generating code automatically. After
creating the data block, use the Layout Wizard to create a good visual
presentation for the application.

Starting the Data Block Wizard

You can start the wizard in the following ways:
Invoke Form Builder and choose the ‘Use the Data Block Wizard’ option in the
Form Builder welcome screen
If you are already in the Form Builder then you can do one of the following:

• Tools menu -> Data Block Wizard option

• Click the right mouse button and select the Data Block Wizard option

• In the Object Navigator, choose the Data Block node, and click the Create
icon in the toolbar. The New Data Block dialog box appears as shown
below.

Choose the ‘Use the Data Block Wizard’ option.

• In the Layout Editor, click the ‘Data Block Wizard’ icon from the toolbar.

Creating a Data Block Using the Data Block Wizard

In order to create the block you need to choose appropriate options on the
three wizard screens:
• Type screen: To select the object that the data block is based on.


• Table screen: To select the database table on which the data block
should be based

• Finish screen: To create the data block and invoke the Layout Wizard
To create a data block based on the Member table, the steps
are:
1. In the Type screen, select the Table or View option to create the data
block based on a database table as shown below.

2. Click Next to view the Table screen
3. Select the database table on which you want to create your data block.
4. If you are connected to the database, you can browse and select a table
name or enter a table name. Enter the table name as Member.
or
If you are not connected to the database the Connect dialog box is
displayed. Enter the username, password and the connect string.
5. Click the Refresh button to display a list of columns from the table you
selected as shown below.


6. Select the column or columns you want to include in the data block. To
select multiple columns press [Ctrl] and select all the columns and then
release the [Ctrl] key or Click >> or << to include or exclude all the
columns. Including a column will enable the user to see that column in the
data block. If you exclude the column it will not appear in the data block.
Click > or < to include or exclude a single column.
7. Check Enforce data integrity checkbox to enforce data integrity on the
client side. The Form Builder does this by writing triggers. These triggers
are dealt in a later session.
8. In the finish screen, select Create the Data block, then call the Layout
Wizard option and click Finish as shown below.


Invoking a Layout Wizard
The Layout Wizard is the easiest way to design a new data block. The
Layout Wizard has seven screens and you have to navigate and enter the
required information in all the screens in order to design the Layout. The
seven screens are:
1. Welcome screen: This screen is shown when you select the Layout Wizard
option in the Data Block Wizard finish screen. You can also invoke the
Layout Wizard manually in the Object Navigator by selecting Tools
Layout Wizard.
2. Canvas screen
3. Data block screen
4. Item Prompt screen
5. Layout Style screen
6. Frames and Rows screen
7. Finish screen
The steps to create the layout for the data block are:
• On entering the Layout wizard Click Next to proceed further.

• Select New Canvas from the list in the canvas screen as shown below
to display the data block items.


• Select Content as the canvas type in the Type list and click Next.

• In the data block screen, choose the items from the Available Items
option. Use the [Ctrl] key to select more than one item or click > or <
to include or exclude selected items. Click >> or << to include or
exclude all items. You can also drag and drop items to display in a
certain sequence. Select all the items.

• Select the item type from the Item Type list for each item. Form
Builder provides the default type as Item. Click Next to display the
Item screen.

• In the Item screen, set the prompt values for every item, set the
name, text display width and height as shown below:


• Click Next to display the Layout Style screen.

• Select the Form or the Tabular option as shown below and click Next to
view the Frame and rows screen.


• Enter the Frame title as Member Details

• In the Number of Records Displayed field, enter a value.

• Leave the Distance Between Records field as it is.

• Select the Display scrollbar check box if you want a scroll bar for your
data block (if the data block style selected is ‘Tabular’) and now click
Next to view the last screen.

• In the finish screen, click Finish to create a frame and layout the items
for the data block.

• The form is displayed in the layout in the Layout Editor.

• After you have finished creating the form module and designing its
layout, go to the Object Navigator and:

• Change the default name of the frame to fr_Member.

• Change the default name of the canvas to cnv_Lib.

• Change the default name of the window to win_Lib.


NOTE

Changing the name of any form
module object is the same as that
described for changing the name of the
Form.

Re-entrant Mode
When you create a form module, the Form Builder provides the form module with
a default name MODULEXX. This name is displayed in the Object Navigator and in
the Property Palette.
Create a form module and change its default name to frmLib.
To change the name of the form module in the:
Object Navigator:
1. Double-click the form module name
2. Type frmLib and press [Enter]
Property Palette:
1. Double-click the Forms node in the Object Navigator or select the object
and select the Property option from the Tools menu
2. Change the name of the form module by typing frmLib in the Name
property as shown below:


•

Modifying the Appearance of the Data Block

To modify the layout of an existing data block, you have to re-enter the
Layout Wizard. You can re-enter the Layout Wizard by any of the following
two methods:
• In the Object Navigator:
• Select the form module that you want to customize and click:
Tools menu->Layout Wizard option
• You can also invoke the wizard by clicking the right mouse button and
selecting the Layout Wizard.
• In the Layout Editor:
• Select the frame of the data block and invoke the Layout Wizard either from
the Tools menu or by right-clicking the mouse.
• On invoking the Layout Wizard you can change the name of the data block by:
Double-clicking the required data block and changing the name in the
Object Navigator.
Invoking the Property Palette by double clicking the node next o the
data block you want to modify.


Save, Compile and Run a Form Module
Once the process of creating a form module is complete, you should compile and
save it. Execution process follows immediately and then executes it.

Saving a Form Module
• Saving a form module can be done in two ways:
• In the Object Navigator, select the File menu and click on the Save option.
• Click on the Save icon in the toolbar of the Object Navigator.
Both the above methods display the File dialog box:
Enter the file name
Click OK.
Compiling a Form Module
An executable file must be created to run the form module. To do this you need
to compile the form module either,
Implicitly:

• Select the Edit menu and select the Preferences menu option.

• Check the Build before Running check box.
Explicitly:

• Select the File menu. Select Program Compile Module option. Ensure
that the file is open.

• Launch the Form Compiler component

• Initiate the compiling process from the command line. (FRMCMP.exe)

Running a Form Module
You can run a form module from:

• A Web browser

• The Form Runtime Component

• The Command line

• The Form Builder Component
You can run the form module from the Form Builder by clicking one of the four
run methods, or
In the Object Navigator: Choose the Program menu and select the Run Form
option.
Select one of the two run form options:

• Web: This option is used to run a form module from a Web previewer.

• Debug: This option is used to invoke the debug mode for the current
runtime session.


Creating a Template Form
Another method of creating a form is by using a template. This method provides
a default starting point to users. You can create standard window layouts,
toolbars, graphics and program units in a template form. Steps to create a
template form are:
Invoke the Form Builder
In the Welcome screen choose the Build a form, based on a template option.
Click OK.

Text Files and Documentation
All the files that are created by saving a form module are in binary format. You
can convert these binary files into text files. The steps to convert a binary file
are:
In the Object Navigator, choose File Convert
Select the type of module you want to convert and the type you want to
convert it to (Binary-to-Text).
Choose Convert.
To add functionality to your application you can produce documentation
for your form module by:
Selecting the form module that is to be documented in the Object
Navigator.
Choosing File Administration Object List Report from the menu.
An ASCII file is created with .txt extension. The file has the same name
as the module.

File Extensions of Modules
As you already know that Form Builder has four types of
modules Form, Menu, PL/SQL Library and Object Library.
Each of these is stored in a different format.
Form Modules
• .fmb: extension is used for the form design file, it represents form
module binary. This file is portable across platforms
• .fmx: form module executable or an fmx is the executable runfile. This
file is not portable
• .fmt: is a text export file and is portable. It represents a form module
text.
• Menu Modules
• .mmb: Represents a menu module binary file. It is the menu design file
and is portable.
• .mmx: Represents a menu module executable. It is the executable
runfile and is not portable.
• .mmt: Represents a menu module text. It is a text export file and is
portable.


• PL/SQL Library
• .pll: PL/SQL Library Document Binary. Files with this extension are
design files but can be executed as it contains both the source code and
executable code. This file is portable
• .plx: PL/SQL Library Document Executable, it is an executable file
that does not contain a source code. This file is not a portable file
• .pld: PL/SQL Library Document Text is a text export file and is
portable
• Object Library
• .olb: The object library module binary is a design file and is a portable
file
• .olt: The object library module text is a text export file and is portable
• Forms Runtime Environment
• The environment in which a form is executed is called the Forms Runtime
Environment.

Runtime Modes
When you run a form, it is always in one of the two modes:

• Enter Query mode

• Normal mode

Enter Query Mode
In the Enter Query mode, you can specify a search criterion to retrieve data from
the database. When you invoke the form in this mode, the form clears all its
contents and waits for the user to key in the criteria. The key strokes that the
user types are interpreted as search condition.
Forms in this mode allows to:

• Retrieve records

• Use queries to retrieve restricted records

• Use the WHERE clause to retrieve records
You can know the number of rows that match your condition before records are
retrieved by selecting Query Count Hits
Enter Query mode does not allow to:
Insert records
Update records
Delete records
Navigate out of the current data block
Exit the run time session


Normal Mode
Normal mode is used to perform DML operations on the database. In this
mode you cannot retrieve restricted set of records.

Normal mode allows to:
Insert records
Update records
Delete records
Commit
Rollback
Navigate outside the current block
Exit the current session

Retrieving Data
You can retrieve data from the database to make
modifications or to view data. You can retrieve data by
performing restricted query or an unrestricted query.

UnRestricted Query
You can retrieve all the records from the database by
performing an unrestricted query. You cannot query when
you have an unsaved insert, update or delete. Use one of
the following to query:
In the Forms Runtime, select the Execute option from the Query menu.
Click the Execute Query icon from the Forms Runtime toolbar.
Restricted Query
A Restricted query retrieves records that match your query
criteria. You can use the following wildcards in your search
condition:

Wildcard Character Uses
- Replace a single character
% Replace any number of
characters
> Find values greater than
< Find values less than
< Find values not equal to
>,
!
=
> Find values greater than or
= equal to
< Find values lesser than or
= equal to
# Use to make the SQL
operator work (#between


Wildcard Character Uses
’01-jan-1998’ and ‘10-jan-
2008’)

Use the form module frmLib that you just created, to
perform a restricted query:
• Run the frmLib form module.

• Select the Query menu, and click the Enter option or choose the Enter
Query icon at the runtime.

• Specify the search condition in the required Fields.

• For instance: you want to know the book details whose number of
copies is greater than 2.
Enter >2 in the nnoofcopies field.
Now, to Execute the query, select the Query menu and choose
the Execute option or click the Execute Query icon.
Using a Query/Where dialog box to query the frmLib form
module.
• In Oracle forms 10g, to invoke Query/Where dialog box,
FORMS_RESTRICT_ENTER_QUERY has to be set to FALSE. By default it
is set to TRUE. Set this parameter in Default.env file found in
devsuite_homeFormsserver.

• Run the frmLib form module.

• Select the Query menu, select Enter option or click the Enter Query
icon.

• Enter a colon (:) followed by unique character variable name in one or
more items field.

• Select the Query menu, select Execute option or click the Execute
Query icon.
Specify the search condition in the Query/Where dialog box. Use the
Query/Where dialog box to specify a complex search condition using SQL. Also,
use the dialog box to execute queries with OR or the ORDER BY clause.
Click OK.
For example: Enter the following in the Query/Where dialog box, to retrieve all
the member details of all the members whose age is between 18 and 56.
: a between 18 and 56

Manipulate Data using DML Commands
You can manipulate records in the Normal mode. In this mode, anything that the
user types is interpreted as an insert and anything that the user keys over an
existing record is interpreted as an update.
Steps to insert a record are:
1. Position the cursor on a blank record by:


Scrolling down to a blank record
Selecting Record Insert from the menu
Click the icon for inserting records from the toolbar
2. Enter data
3. Steps to update a record are:
Select the Query -> Enter option
Enter the search condition to retrieve the records
Select the Query -> Execute option to retrieve the records that
match your search condition
Select the record you want to update
4. Update the record
5. Steps to delete a record are:
Select the Enter option from the Query menu
Enter the search condition
Select the Execute option from the Query menu to retrieve
records
Select the record you want to delete and delete the record by doing
one of the following:
o Select the Remove option from the Record menu
o Click the Delete icon from the toolbar
Making Changes Permanent
To make inserts, deletes and updates permanent, do one of the following:

• Select the Save option from the Action menu

• Click the icon for saving in the toolbar
If you do not want to make inserts, updates and deletes option permanent, you
should clear the record. You can perform a rollback by choosing Action Clear All
from the menu.

Display Database Errors
An error is displayed on the message line in the console area of your Forms
Runtime window. This error message is not detailed. If you want any further
details about the message, select the Display option from the Help menu.
This opens a dialog box where the top half shows you the code; where there was
an error and the bottom half displays the Oracle Error message.

Creating a Control Block
A data block that is not associated with the database is known as a control block.
A control block does not interact with data but it exercises control over the
application. Control blocks are used to enhance the functionality of the
application. For example, you can create buttons to perform certain functions you
need for the application and place them in a control block.


Steps to create a control block Controlblk in the frmLib form module:

• In the Object Navigator, click on the Data Blocks node
• Click the Create icon or select the Create option from the Navigator menu
• The New Data Block dialog box is displayed, choose the “Build a new data
block manually” option.

• Open the Property Palette of the data block you just created and change its
default name to Controlblk.
A control block will not contain any items until you add them
manually.

Deleting a Block
• Deleting a data block deletes all the items that are owned by that
particular data block. However, the frame and its title are not deleted. To
delete the frame and its title you have to do it manually in the Layout
Editor. To delete a data block:

• In the Object Navigator, select the data block you want to delete

• Click the Delete icon in the toolbar or select the Delete option from the
Navigator menu

• Click Yes to delete the data block when an alert appears for confirmation

Master-detail Form Module
In Form Builder, every form module contains one or more
data blocks. These blocks can either be related with each
other or they can be independent. To create a relation
between blocks, you create a Master-detail form module.
Master-detail Relationship
A master-detail relation is also called as a parent-child
relation. In order to have such a relation it is essential that
the master or parent table contain the primary key, which is
referenced by the detail or child table. When you create a
master-detail block, triggers are created automatically by
the Forms Builder to enforce the integrity constraints
defined in the database.

NOTE

A master block can contain more than one detail block. A
detail block can be a master to another detail block. A
detail block can also have more than one master.


Create a Master-detail Form Module
A master-detail form module can be created explicitly or implicitly using the
Data Block Wizard. We will create a master-detail form module based on
the Branch and Book tables of the Library database. To create a master-
detail block:
1. Create a form module and name it as desired, say FrmLibTrans.
2. In the form created, create a master block based on the Branch table.
3. After creating the master block go to the Object Navigator and invoke the
Data Block Wizard to create a detail block based on the Book table.
4. Navigate and interact with all the pages in the Data Block Wizard till you
see the master-detail page.
5. Uncheck the Auto-join data blocks check box.
6. Click the Create Relationship option.
7. The Relation Type dialog box opens. Select -> Based on a join condition
option and click OK.
8. Choose Branch as the master block from the Data Block dialog box that is
displayed and click OK.
9. In the master-detail page choose the detail item as cBranchID from the
poplist and master item as cBranchID from the master item poplist. You
can now see the join condition.
10. Click Next and finish the Data Block Wizard steps. Invoke the Layout
Editor and finish creating and designing the data blocks.
11. In the Object Navigator, change the default window name and canvas
name to WinLibTrans and CanLibTrans respectively.
Ensure that the master block already exists in the form
module before you create a master-detail relation. After you
have completed creating a master-detail relationship:
Form Builder will implicitly create an object called Relation
under the master block in the Object Navigator.
This relation will automatically handle the relationship
between the blocks.
A default MASTERDATABLOCK_DETAILDATABLOCK name is
assigned to the relation; in this case it will be
BRANCH_BOOK.
Default triggers and program units are created to maintain
the coordination between the two blocks. The following
triggers are created automatically:

ON-CLEAR-DETAILS
ON-POPULATE-DETAILS
ON-CHECK-DELETE-MASTER
Run a Master-detail Form Module
Running a master-detail form module is similar to running a
basic form module. Click on the Run icon from the toolbar.
At the runtime you will see that:


When you query the master block, the corresponding detail
records are also retrieved.
Deletion of master records is not possible if corresponding
detail records exist.
Insertion of a detail record is implicitly associated with the
current master record.

Create a Relation Manually
A Relation is an object that Form Builder creates to maintain
the relationship and control the coordination between the
blocks. There are two ways of creating a relation:
Implicit: Implicit relation as you are already aware of is
created when you create a master-detail form module. The
relation is also given a default name of
MASTERDATABLOCK_DETAILDATABLOCK.
Explicit: Explicit relation can be created by setting the
properties in the New Relation dialog box. Explicit relation is
created between two data blocks whose relation is not yet
established. Once you create a relation manually, triggers
and PL/SQL program units that control the coordination
between the blocks are created implicitly.
Steps to Create a Relation Manually
To create a relation explicitly, say with PublisherDetails table as the
master and Book table as the detail you need to:
1. Create a data block based on the database table PublisherDetails in the
form module frmLibTrans
2. Select the Relation node under the master block PublisherDetails in the
Object Navigator.
3. Click the Create icon in the toolbar. A New Relation box is displayed.
4. Specify the name of the detail block as Book
5. Specify the Master-delete property
6. Specify the join condition as
7. PublisherDetails.cPublisherID = Book.cPublisherID
8. Click OK
Control a Relation
The functionality of the relation is enhanced by controlling the block
coordination and deletes. This is done by modifying the relation
properties.
By setting the Delete Record Behavior property you can control the
deletion of a record in the master block when the associated records
exist in the detail block.
The following properties control the master deletes.
Non-Isolated: By setting this property you can prevent the deletion of
master records when corresponding detail records exist. Default
property is set to ‘Yes’.
Cascading: By setting this property you can delete all the detail
records when a master record is deleted. But the commit message will
show only the number of master records that were deleted.
Isolated: By setting this property you can delete the master record
even if corresponding detail records exist.


NOTE

The default setting is Non-Isolated. When you change the
property from the default value to Cascading, Form Builder
replaces the ON-CHECK-DELETE-MASTER trigger .with a PRE-
DELETE trigger. Changing the property from Non-Isolated to
Isolated deletes the ON-CHECK-DELETE-MASTER trigger.

Coordination Property
Set the coordination property to control the display of the detail block records
whenever the master block is queried. The coordination property options are:

Default: When a user or trigger changes the master record,
this property enforces the coordination of the blocks.
Deferred with Auto Query: Processing of the detail query
is postponed until the cursor is in the detail block.
Deferred Without Auto Query: Additional query criteria
can be specified in the detail block before querying.

Prevent Masterless Operations: Querying or inserting into a
detail block is not allowed till the corresponding master record is displayed.


Summary


• Object navigator is used to create an Empty Module.

• You can create a Data Block manually or by using the Data Block Wizard.
After creating the data block, use the Layout Wizard to create a good
visual presentation for the application.

• To create the block you need to choose appropriate options on the three
wizard screens: Type screen, Table screen, Finish screen

• The Layout Wizard has seven screens to navigate and enter the required
information for designing the Layout.

• When you create a form module, the Form Builder provides the form
module with a default name MODULEXX.

• To modify the layout of an existing data block, you have to re-enter the
Layout Wizard. After invoking the Layout Wizard you can change the name
of the data block

• Once the process of creating a form module is complete, you should
compile and save it. You can run a form module from a Web browser,
Form runtime component, the Command line and the Form builder
component.

• You can also create a form by using a template.

• When you run a form, it is either in enter query mode or normal mode.

• In Normal mode anything that the user types is interpreted as an insert
and anything that the user keys over an existing record is interpreted as
an update.

• A data block that is not associated with the database is known as a control
block.

• You can create a Master-detail form module to create a relation between
blocks.

• The functionality of the relation is enhanced by controlling the block
coordination and deletes which is eventually done by modifying the
relation properties.


Lab Exercise

Module containing Single Block

1. Create a new form module. Create a new single block using data block
wizard. Base it on the BOOK table and include all columns.
2. Using the layout wizard, place BOOK block on the new canvas. As you pass
through the layout wizard change the prompt according to the following
specification.

Choose the Style as Form and show just one record at a time.
3. Rename the canvas name to CV_BOOKS
4. In the layout editor, reposition the items and edit the prompts.
o Now on the canvas select the frame and remove. Create a rectangle on
the canvas such that it fits the block items.
o Add a label as Book Details.
o Now change the canvas background color to gray4 and rectangle
background color to gray16.
5. Save the new module as BOOK_mac_no where mac_no is the machine
number on which you are working.
6. Run your form module and execute a query. Your book information should
resemble as follows:


• Query the books, which are present only in ‘01ADLNJ’ branch.

• Give the details of the books published in the year from 1996 to 1998 .

• Exit the run-time session and return to forms builder.

• Change the form module name in the object navigator to BOOKS.

• Save and compile the form module.

Module containing multiple blocks: Master-Details
Relationships
1. Create a new form module.
Next, Invoke the data block wizard to create a block. BRANCH based on
BRANCH table. Create a block BRANCH by using the data block wizard.
Base it on the BRANCH table and include all the columns except CPHONE and
DESTBL.
o Display the BRANCH block on a new content canvas called CV_BRANCH
and show just one record at a time.
o Use a form style layout.

2. Create a new block by using the data block wizard. Base it on the MEMBER
table and include all the columns.
3. Create a relationship between BRANCH and MEMBER where BRANCH will serve
as a master block and MEMBER will be the detail block.


When, continuing in the layout wizard make the following changes in MEMBER
block.
o Display all items except CBRANCHID on the CV_BRANCH canvas.
o Use a tabular style of layout.
o Display 5 records in this detail block on the same canvas as the master
block.
After you finish, your form would look as below:

Change the order of the blocks in the object navigator, moving the MEMBER block
after the BRANCH block.
Save the new module as BRANCHXX, where XX is the unique number. Now create
another new block with following specification.
Base it on the TRANSACTION table. Place the items of this block on a new content
canvas called CV_TRANSACTION.
o Use a tabular style layout and include a scroll bar.
o In the object navigator, move the TRANSACTION block after the
MEMBER block.
o Do not create any relationship between blocks at this stage.
The transaction details would be something like this:


4. Create a relation called MEMBER_TRANSACTION explicitly between the
MEMBER and TRANSACTION blocks.
Ensure that TRANSACTION details should not be executed independent of
MEMBER table. i.e. No query or insert operation is allowed unless parent is
displayed.
Save and Compile your form module. Click Run Form to run your form.
Execute all the block. Navigate through the blocks so that you see the
TRANSACTION block. Exit the run-time session, close the browser, and return
to Forms Builder.
Change the form module name in the Object Navigator to BRANCH and save
it.
5. Create a non-base block in the BRANCHXX form. Name this block as
CONTROL.
o Set the Database Data Block, Query Allowed, Insert Allowed,
Update Allowed, and Delete Allowed Database properties to NO.
o Set the Query Data Source Type property to None. Set the single
record property to yes.
o Leave other properties as default. Move the CONTROL block to end
of the all blocks.
Note: The Compilation errors window displays a warning that advises you that
the CONTROL block has no items. This is expected (until you add some items
to the CONTROL block in a later lesson).


Chapter 5

Discuss Data Block Properties
Data Block Properties
Manipulate the Frame Properties
Opening Multiple Property Palette
Multiple Object Properties


Objective


• Describe the Properties of a Data block

• Learn to manipulate the Frame properties

• Know how to open Multiple property palette

• Understand the concept while using Multiple object properties


Data Block Properties
Every object in the form builder has certain properties associated with it.
These properties have default values assigned to them. You can change
these default values by assigning new values in the Property Palette of
each and every object created.
A data block is the owner of the items created under it. All these items
have their individual properties. The data block itself also has some
properties. You can customize the appearance and behavior of the data
block and its items by setting their properties. To change the behavior of a
data block invoke the data block Property Palette and set the properties.
Property Palette
To invoke the Property Palette of an object, use one of the following
methods:
• In the Object Navigator:
1. Select the object
2. Select the Property Palette menu option from the Tools menu

• Double-click the object icon in the Object Navigator

• In the Layout Editor, double-click the object

• In the Object Navigator or the Layout Editor
1. Select the object
2. Click the right mouse button
3. Select the Property Palette option from the pop-up menu that is
displayed
You can also invoke property palette by selecting the object->F4

The tools provided by the Property Palette are:
• Property List: The property list is a list, which contains the property names
and their corresponding values. The properties are grouped under nodes.
You can expand or collapse a node by using the property palette icons.
You can navigate to each of the property name and set the required value.

• Find field: This field enables you to search for a property name quickly and
easily.

• Toolbar: It provides quick access to commands. For example cut and
paste.

Using the Property Palette
The Property Palette has the following property controls with which you can
manipulate properties:

• Text field: This field is displayed when the value of the property can be set
by entering the text. If the text that has to be entered is long then an icon
appears, by clicking the icon you can invoke an editor to enter the text.

• Poplist: This is displayed when there is a fixed set of values. Click on the
arrow to display the list and choose a value. You can also double-click on
the property name to view the values.


• LOV window: A list of values is displayed when there is a large list
available. Invoke the list of values by clicking the icon in the property
value column. Select the appropriate value by clicking it.

• More button: This is displayed when additional settings are needed. Click
the More button to open a dialog box.

Property Palette Icons
In the Property Palette every property has an icon on its left.
The following are the icons that you will encounter in a
Property Palette.
• Circle: Signifies the default value.

• Square: Signifies that the default value has been changed.

• Arrow: Signifies an inherited property value.

• Arrow with a cross: Signifies an inherited value that is overwritten.

Changed

Default

Overridden

Inherited

Visual Attributes
Font, color, and pattern properties set for form and menu objects are
Visual Attributes. Visual Attributes are created in the Object Navigator.
Once a visual attribute is created it can be used for different forms, menus
and items. Every interface object in a form module has a property named
Visual Attribute Group. By setting this property to ‘DEFAULT’ or user-
defined visual attribute, you can influence the appearance of that
particular item.
Steps to create a visual attribute say vattLib and attach it to the Member
data block in the frmLib form module:
9. Select the Visual Attribute node in the Object Navigator and click the
Create icon.
10. Invoke the Property Palette, change the default name to vattLib and set
the following properties:
Foreground Color: ‘Black’
Background Color: ‘Grey20’
Font Name: ‘Arial’
Font Size: ‘10’


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