Contents

Title and Copyright Information

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Preface

Intended Audience

Structure

Related Documents

Part I Deploying Forms Applications to the Web

1 Introduction

1.1 The Internet Has Changed Everything

1.2 The Oracle Internet Platform

1.2.1 Simple

1.2.2 Complete

1.2.3 Integrated

1.3 Deploying Applications with the Oracle Internet Platform

1.4 iAS

1.4.1 Scalability

1.4.2 Availability

1.4.3 Load Balancing

1.4.4 Oracle iAS Services

1.4.4.1 Communication Services

1.4.4.2 Presentation Services

1.4.4.3 Data Management Services

1.4.4.4 System Services

1.4.4.5 Business Logic Services

1.5 Deploying Forms with Oracle iAS

1.6 How This Guide Can Help

2 Overview of Forms Server

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Forms Server Architecture

2.3 Forms Server Components

2.3.1 Forms Applet

2.3.2 Forms Listener

2.3.3 Forms Runtime Engine

2.4 Forms Server in Action

3 Preview of Configuration Choices

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Sockets, HTTP, or HTTPS

3.2.1 Sockets

3.2.2 HTTP

3.2.3 HTTPS

3.3 Client Browser using Native JVM, Oracle JInitiator, or AppletViewer

3.3.1 Native JVM Using Internet Explorer 5

3.3.2 Oracle JInitiator

3.3.3 AppletViewer

3.4 Load Balancing or standalone configuration

3.5 Forms Servlet or CGI implementation

3.6 What's Next

4 Installing Forms Server

4.1 Introduction

4.2 About the Oracle Universal Installer

4.3 Starting Forms Server

4.4 What's Next

5 Configuring the Forms Server

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Configuring Your Web Server

5.3 Customizing Environment Variables

5.4 Description of Forms Server Startup Parameters

5.4.1 Port Parameter

5.4.2 Mode Parameter

5.4.3 Pool Parameter

5.4.4 Log Parameter

5.5 Customizing Configuration Files

5.5.1 FormsServlet.initArgs

5.5.2 formsweb.cfg

5.5.2.1 Creating special configurations in formsweb.cfg

5.5.2.2 Parameters in the formsweb.cfg File

5.5.2.3 Default formsweb.cfg File

5.5.3 base.htm, basejini.htm, and baseie.htm

5.5.3.1 Parameters and variables in the base HTML file

5.5.3.2 Usage Notes

5.5.3.3 Default base.htm File

5.5.3.4 Default basejini.htm File

5.5.3.5 Default baseie.htm File

5.6 Reading the Servlet Error Log

5.7 Setting Up the HTTPS Connection Mode

5.7.1 Customize HTTPS Environment Variables

5.7.2 Create Wallets and Request Certificates

5.7.2.1 Create a Wallet

5.7.2.2 Create a Certificate Request

5.7.2.3 Send the Certificate Request

5.7.2.4 Import the Certificate

5.7.2.5 Set Auto Login to ON

5.7.3 Create Wallets and Request Certificates That Are Not Trusted by JInitiator by Default

5.7.3.1 Create a Wallet

5.7.3.2 Create a Certificate Request

5.7.3.3 Send the Certificate Request

5.7.3.4 Install the VeriSign Trial CA Root Certificate on Client Machines

5.7.3.5 Import the Certificate

5.7.3.6 Set Auto Login to ON

5.8 What's Next

6 Deploying Forms to the Web

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Deploying a Forms Application

6.2.1 Creating your Runtime Executable Files

6.2.2 Deploying the Executable Files on Your Server

6.2.3 Broadcasting the Application's URL

6.2.4 Servlet Error Log

6.3 What's Next

7 Application Design Considerations

7.1 Introduction

7.2 General Guidelines

7.3 Guidelines for Designing Forms Applications

7.3.1 Create Your Own Template HTML Files

7.3.2 Create an HTML Application Menu

7.3.3 Use Oracle Designer with the Forms Server

7.3.4 Reduce Network Traffic

7.3.5 Avoid Unnecessary Graphics and Images

7.3.6 Select Standard Fonts

7.4 Deploying Icons and Images Used by Forms Server

7.4.1 Icons

7.4.2 SplashScreen and Background Images

7.4.3 Using a Custom JAR File Containing Icons and Images

7.4.3.1 Creating a JAR File

7.4.3.2 Using Files Within the JAR File

7.4.4 Search Path for Icons and Images

7.4.4.1 DocumentBase

7.4.4.2 CodeBase

7.5 Integrating Reports

7.6 Feature Restrictions for Forms Applications on the Web

8 Migrating Legacy Applications to the Web

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1 Client/Server-Based Architecture

8.1.2 Web-Based Architecture

8.1.3 Who Should Read this Chapter?

8.2 Comparing Cartridge and servlet Implementations

8.3 Reconfiguration Strategies

8.3.1 Strategy for Users with Complex Base HTML Files

8.3.2 Strategy for Users with Simple Base HTML Files

8.4 Reconfiguring Forms Web Cartridge to Servlets

8.4.1 Stopping OAS Web Listener Instances

8.4.1.1 Stopping OAS Completely

8.4.1.2 Stopping Specific Instance of OAS

8.4.2 Configuring the formsweb.cfg File

8.4.2.1 System Parameters

8.4.2.2 User Parameters

8.4.2.3 Specific Configurations

8.4.3 Configuring the base.htm or basejini.htm File

8.4.4 Broadcasting the Applications's URL

8.5 Guidelines for Migration

9 Network Considerations

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Network Topologies

9.2.1 Internet

9.2.2 Intranet

9.2.3 Extranet

9.3 Deploying Forms Server in your Network Environment

9.3.1 Deploying Over the Internet

9.3.1.1 Risks

9.3.1.2 Other Internet Deployment Options

9.3.2 Deploying On a Local Area Network (LAN)

9.3.3 Deploying On a Network with Remote Dial-Up Access

9.3.4 Deploying On a Network via Telecom-Provided VPN Access over Public Lines

9.3.5 Deploying On a Network via VPN Access over the Internet

9.4 Guidelines for Maintaining Network Security

10 Security Considerations

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Common System Security Issues

10.2.1 User Authentication

10.2.2 Server Authentication

10.2.3 Authorization

10.2.4 Secure Transmission (Encryption)

10.2.5 Firewall

10.2.6 Virtual Private Network (VPN)

10.2.7 Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

10.3 Simple Steps to Improve Security

11 Performance Tuning Considerations

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Built-in Optimization Features of Forms Server

11.2.1 Minimizing Client Resource Requirements

11.2.2 Minimizing Forms Server Resource Requirements

11.2.3 Minimizing Network Usage

11.2.4 Maximizing the Efficiency of Packets Sent Over the Network

11.2.5 Rendering Application Displays Efficiently on the Client

11.3 Tuning Forms Server Applications

11.3.1 Location of the Form Server with Respect to the Data Server

11.3.2 Minimizing the Application Startup Time

11.3.2.1 Using JAR Files

11.3.2.2 Using Caching

11.3.2.3 Deferred Load on Demand

11.3.3 Reducing the Required Network Bandwidth

11.3.4 Other Techniques to Improve Performance

11.4 Performance Collection Services

11.4.1 How to Use Performance Collection Services

11.4.2 Events Collected by Performance Services

11.4.3 Analyzing the Performance Data

11.5 Trace Collection

11.5.1 Types of Forms Events Traced Using Oracle Trace

11.5.1.1 Forms Duration Events and Items

11.5.1.2 Forms Point Events and Items

11.5.2 Using Forms and Oracle Trace without the Diagnostics Pack

11.5.2.1 Starting the Collection

11.5.2.2 Formatting the Output

11.5.2.3 Using Optional Report Parameters

11.5.3 Using Forms and Oracle Trace with the Diagnostics Pack

11.5.3.1 Starting the Collection

11.5.3.2 Formatting the Output

11.5.3.3 Using the Trace Data Viewer

11.5.4 Setting Up the Load Balancer Server Trace Log

11.5.4.1 Trace level 1

11.5.4.2 Trace level 2

11.5.4.3 Sample Trace File

12 Load Balancing Considerations

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Load Balancing Terminology

12.3 Load Balancing in Action

12.4 Configuring for Forms Server Load Balancing

12.4.1 Forms Server Listener Parameters

12.4.2 Load Balancer Server Parameters

12.4.3 Load Balancer Client Parameters

13 Oracle Enterprise Manager Forms Support

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Why Should I Use OEM?

13.3 OEM Components

13.4 Installing and Configuring OEM Components for Use with Forms

13.4.1 Configuring Forms Support for OEM

13.4.2 Starting the OMS Service

13.5 Managing Forms Servers from the OEM Console

13.5.1 Locating Nodes

13.5.2 Entering the Administrative User's Credentials in the OEM Console

13.5.3 Viewing Forms Runtime Instances from the OEM Console

13.6 OEM Menu Options

13.6.1 Controlling Forms Listeners Group

13.6.2 Controlling Forms Listeners Instance

13.6.3 Runtime Processes List Window

13.6.4 Controlling Forms Runtime Processes

13.6.5 Controlling Load Balancer Server Group

13.6.6 Controlling Load Balancer Server Instance

13.6.7 Controlling Load Balancer Client Group

13.6.8 Controlling Load Balancer Client Instance

13.6.9 Monitoring Functions

14 Capacity Planning Considerations

14.1 Introduction

14.2 What Is Scalability?

14.3 Criteria for Evaluating System Capacity

14.3.1 Processor

14.3.2 Memory

14.3.3 Network

14.3.4 Shared Resources

14.3.5 User Load

14.3.6 Application Complexity

14.4 Determining Scalability Thresholds

14.5 Sample Benchmark Results

14.5.1 Medium-Complex Application on a Low-Cost Intel Pentium-Based System

14.5.2 Medium-Complex Application on an Intel Pentium II Xeon-Based System

14.5.3 Medium-Complex Application on an Entry-Level Sun UltraSparc Server

14.5.4 Simple Application on an Intel Pentium II Xeon-Based System

14.5.5 Simple Application on an Entry-Level Sun UltraSparc Server

15 Troubleshooting Solutions

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Checking the Status of the Forms Server

15.3 Starting the Forms Server

15.4 Stopping the Forms Server Process

15.5 Starting the Forms Server Log

15.6 Troubleshooting FAQ

Part II Appendices

A Forms Server Parameters

A.1 Introduction

A.2 Windows 95 and Windows NT Registry

A.2.1 Viewing and Modifying the Registry

A.3 Configuration Parameters

A.3.1 Required Parameters

A.3.2 Customizable Parameters

FORMS60_PATH

FORMS60_REPFORMAT

FORMS60_TIMEOUT

GRAPHICS60_PATH

NLS_LANG

ORACLE_HOME

B Client Browser Support

B.1 Introduction

B.2 How Configuration Parameters and Base HTML Files are Tied to Client Browsers

B.3 Internet Explorer 5 with Native JVM

B.3.1 Software Installation

B.3.2 Testing Microsoft Internet Explorer

B.3.2.1 Checking Microsoft JVM

B.3.2.2 Java 1.1 Applet Testing

B.3.3 Launching Oracle Forms Server Applications

B.3.4 Troubleshooting

B.3.5 Modification of the baseie.htm file

B.4 Oracle JInitiator

B.4.1 Why Use Oracle JInitiator?

B.4.2 Benefits of Oracle JInitiator

B.4.3 Using Oracle JInitiator

B.4.4 Supported Configurations

B.4.5 System Requirements

B.4.6 Using Oracle JInitiator with Netscape Navigator

B.4.7 Using Oracle JInitiator with Microsoft Internet Explorer

B.4.8 Setting up the Oracle JInitator Plug-in

B.4.8.1 Adding Oracle JInitiator Markup to Your Base HTML File

B.4.8.2 Customizing the Oracle JInitiator Download File

B.4.8.3 Making Oracle JInitiator available for download

B.4.9 Modifying the Oracle JInitiator plug-in

B.4.9.1 Modifying the cache size for Oracle JInitiator

B.4.9.2 Modifying the heap size for Oracle JInitiator

B.4.9.3 Check and modify the proxy server setting for Oracle JInitiator

B.4.9.4 Viewing Oracle JInitiator output

B.4.10 Oracle JInitiator tags for a base HTML file

B.4.11 Oracle JInitiator FAQ

B.4.11.1 Certification and Availability

B.4.11.2 Support

B.4.11.3 Installation

B.4.11.4 Operation of Oracle JInitiator

B.4.11.5 Caching

B.5 AppletViewer

B.5.1 Running Applications in the AppletViewer

B.5.1.1 Preparing to Run Your Application with the AppletViewer

B.5.1.2 Adding the clientBrowser Parameter to your Base HTML File

B.5.1.3 Setting the clientBrowser Parameter

B.5.2 Registering the Forms Applet Signature

B.5.2.1 Trusting the Forms Applet by Registering Its Signature

B.5.2.2 Trusting the Forms Applet by Installing the Forms Java Class Files Locally

B.5.3 Instructions for the User

B.5.3.1 Installing the AppletViewer

B.5.3.2 Running the AppletViewer

B.5.3.3 Invoking a Web Browser From Within the AppletViewer

C Java Importer

C.1 Overview

C.1.1 Importing Java and Building Applications

C.1.2 Running Applications with Imported Java

C.2 Components

C.3 Installation Requirements

C.3.1 Imported Java Requirements

C.4 Importing Java

C.4.1 Using the Java Importer Tool

C.4.2 Invoke the Import Java Classes dialog box

C.4.3 Specify options for importing

C.4.4 Import a Java class into PL/SQL

C.5 Building Applications with Imported Java

C.5.1 Description of the Generated PL/SQL

C.5.1.1 What Gets Generated?

C.5.1.2 How is the Java Mapped to PL/SQL?

C.5.1.3 What are the importer mapping options?

C.5.1.4 How does PL/SQL naming vary?

C.5.1.4.1 What is different between persistent and default naming?

C.5.1.5 What happens if I regenerate the PL/SQL?

C.5.2 Java Types

C.5.2.1 Java Type Information in the PL/SQL Package

C.5.2.2 Arrays

C.5.3 Persistence

C.5.3.1 Global References

C.5.4 Error Handling

C.5.4.1 Errors

C.5.4.2 Exceptions

C.6 Limitations

C.6.1 Java/PL/SQL Issues/Requirements

C.6.2 Java in the Forms Server

C.6.3 Builder CLASSPATH Updates

C.6.4 Builder Restrictions

C.7 ORA_JAVA Built-ins Reference

C.7.1 NEW_GLOBAL_REF built-in

C.7.2 DELETE_GLOBAL_REF built-in

C.7.3 LAST_EXCEPTION built-in

C.7.4 CLEAR_EXCEPTION built-in

C.7.5 LAST_ERROR built-in

C.7.6 CLEAR_ERROR built-in

C.7.7 NEW_<java_type>_ARRAY built-in

C.7.8 GET_<java_type>_ARRAY_ELEMENT built-in

C.7.9 SET_<java_type>_ARRAY_ELEMENT built-in

C.7.10 IS_NULL built-in

C.7.11 GET_ARRAY_LENGTH built-in

Part III Index

Index