15 Upgrading Client/Server Applications to the Web

This chapter describes guidelines for upgrading client/server applications to the Web.

This chapter contains:

In addition, refer to the white papers and other resources at http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/forms/.

15.1 Guidelines for Upgrade

When upgrading your applications from client/server deployment to the Web, note that a Web-based application:

  • Supports JPEG and GIF image types only, so convert existing images to these formats.

  • Supports the use of compressed JAR (Java Archive) files for file transfer. Ensure you JAR the PJCs or Java beans for file transfer. You do not need to JAR files if transferring files from the client to the Forms server as part of the application functionality.

  • Does not support ActiveX, OCX, OLE, or VBX controls in the user interface. Instead, use JavaBeans to duplicate functionality in the user interface. Any other Microsoft Windows user interface dependencies should also be replaced with JavaBeans. You can also use WebUtil to restore some of these functions.

  • Does not support MouseMove triggers, such as When-Mouse-Enter, When-Mouse-Leave, and When-Mouse-Move.

  • Does not natively support write access to the client hard drive. This can be accomplished by the use of Oracle Forms Webutil library.

  • Supports Java fonts only, so check applications for the types of fonts used. If necessary, switch to Java fonts. Java uses a font alias list, located in the Registry.dat file. The font aliases described in Table 15-1 are supported:

    Table 15-1 Font Support for Web-based Applications

    Java font Windows font XWindows font Macintosh font

    Courier

    Courier New

    adobe-courier

    Courier

    Dialog

    MS San Serif

    b&h-lucida

    Geneva

    DialogInput

    MS San Serif

    b&h-lucidatypewriter

    Geneva

    Helvetica

    Arial

    adobe-helvetica

    Helvetica

    Symbol

    Wingdings

    itc-zapfdingbats

    Symbol

    Times Roman

    Times New Roman

    adobe-times

    Times Roman

  • Has some Built-ins and packages that execute only in the application server, but not in the client browser:

    • TEXT_IO

    • HOST

    • ORA_FFI

    • GET_FILE_NAME

    • READ_IMAGE_FILE

    • WRITE_IMAGE_FILE

If the functionality of these Built-in and packages is required for the client, use WebUtil.

15.2 About Client/Server-Based Architecture

In the client/server-based implementation, shown in Figure 15-1, the Forms Server Runtime Engine and all application logic are installed on the user's desktop machine. All user interface and trigger processing occurs on the client, except for database-server-side triggers and logic that may be included in some applications.

Figure 15-1 Oracle Forms Client/Server Architecture

Legacy Forms Server client-server-based architecture

15.3 About Web-Based Architecture

In a Web-based implementation, shown in Figure 15-2, the Forms Services Runtime Engine and all application logic are installed on application servers, and not on client machines. All trigger processing occurs on the database and application servers, while user interface processing occurs on the Forms client, located on users' systems.

Figure 15-2 Oracle Forms Web Architecture

Web-based architecture overview