This section describes new features of Oracle HTML DB release 2.0 and provides pointers to additional information.
In release 2.0, Oracle HTML DB includes a great number of new features and enhancements to Application Builder and SQL Workshop.
This section contains the following topics:
Application Builder includes a number of new features and some changes in navigation. The list of applications has been moved from the Oracle HTML DB home page to a subordinate page, the Applications page. Also, user interface defaults have moved from SQL Workshop to Application Builder.
Create Application Wizard. In release 2.0, the Create Application Wizard combines the functionality of two previous wizards, the Create Application from Scratch Wizard and the Create Application on a Table Wizard. In release 2.0, you can create query, update, and analysis pages on multiple tables, thus lifting the one table limit imposed in previous releases. The Create Application Wizard also features the following enhancements:
Page Organization. As you add pages, you can organize them sequentially and hierarchically.
Drill-down Reporting. As you add pages in the wizard, you can create links from one report to another, thus creating drill-down reporting.
Application Models. Use application models to re-create an application starting with a previous application definition. If you spend time defining your application in the Create Application Wizard, but you are not completely satisfied with the results, you can create another application starting with a previous application definition.
Context Sensitive Help. The help icon on each page now links to a context sensitive help topic. In previous releases, the help icon displayed the help table of contents.
Pull-down Menu Navigation. Large graphical icons in the Oracle HTML DB user interface now feature pull-down menus, making it even easier link to a specific task. Simply click the down arrow on the right side of the icon to view the pull-down menu. Pull-down menus reduce screen clutter, improve the speed of navigation by reducing page views, and provide greater context since you can learn about what a subsystem does by browsing the options in the pull-down menu.
Hierarchal Lists and Hierarchal List Templates. Release 2.0 includes support for hierarchal lists. You create list entries as in previous releases. Now each list entry has an extra parent attribute. You define hierarchal lists by specifying that one list entry be the parent of another list entry. Release 2.0 also includes new template attributes to enable templates to be level specific. Additionally, each supplied theme ships with three new list templates to support various types of hierarchal lists.
Session State Protection. Use new Session State Protection functionality to protect your application from URL tampering by hackers. URL tampering can adversely affect program logic, session state contents, and information privacy.
Improved Templates. Each supplied theme in release 2.0 features new and improved templates. Page footers now float to the bottom of the page and HTML has been improved. Each theme also includes a report template capable of rendering report regions using partial page refresh. With partial page refresh, paginating the report does not refresh any page attributes or other reports, just the report part of a single region.
Icon Views. You can view Oracle HTML DB applications, pages, and components in either an icon or list view. For example, the Application Builder home page displays applications as icons. You can change the default icon view by making a selection from the View list. Once you change the view mode, Oracle HTML DB remembers your selection for all subsequent views and sessions. The Icon view reduce screen clutter and provide a consistent visual clue as to your context within Application Builder.
Improved Reporting Using Partial Page Refresh. Reports in Application Builder now utilize a rendering technology called partial page refresh. Partial page refresh improves the performance of paginating and sorting reports since the entire page is not refreshed, only the report content.
New Date Picker Item Types. HTML DB 2.0 includes a complete set of declarative Date Picker item types, covering the majority of all commonly used date formats. Date Picker item types also fully conform to the localization attributes of the application language or user's language preference.
Automatic CSV Encoding. A new application attribute, Automatic CSV Encoding, has been added in Oracle HTML DB release 2.0. This attribute controls the character encoding of all report CSV download files. In previous versions of Oracle HTML DB, the character encoding of the CSV files was determined by the character set of the Database Access Descriptor. In release 2.0, you can use the Automatic CSV Encoding attribute to alter the character encoding of CSV download files to be compatible with the user's client character set, as determined by the application language preference.
SQL Workshop has been totally redesigned. Additionally, Data Workshop has also been combined with the SQL Workshop.
SQL, SQL Script, and PL/SQL Editor. A text editor has been added to the SQL Workshop to make it more efficient to write and edit SQL scripts and PL/SQL. You can use the editor when you edit a PL/SQL program unit, or when you create or edit a SQL script. The editor features line numbers, find, search and replace, and supports text larger then 32K.
Query Builder. Use Query Builder's graphical user interface to search and filter database objects, select objects and columns, create relationships between objects, view formatted query results, and save queries with little or no SQL knowledge.
Object Browser. Use Object Browser to browse, create, and edit objects in multiple schemas in a single database. Object Browser includes a new PL/SQL editor. You can use this editor to edit and compile packages, procedures, functions, and triggers while taking advantage of syntax highlighting and error reporting.
Database Link Tester. Object Browser includes a new and improved interface for creating database links. In the Object Details view, you can view information about a database link as well as test it.
SQL Command Processor. The SQL Command Processor now supports bind variables and a much more robust explain plan capability. The SQL Command Processor features a split screen for greater control of screen real estate. You can also run highlighted text by using the new Ctrl + Enter keyboard shortcut.
SQL Scripts. The SQL Command Processor now understands SQL*Plus scripts. Note that SQL*Plus commands, such as CONNECT, are not permitted. Commands not supported are flagged and reported. The SQL Command Processor more efficiently parses and executes SQL scripts. Plus, you can archive executed scripts and view them in a summary or detail mode. Additionally, you view and delete script results on the Manage Script Results page.
Database Monitor. A Database Session and Top SQL Monitor has been added. To use the monitor you need to supply additional credentials since it reports on the entire database. The monitor identifies what SQL is currently executing in your database as well as reporting on top SQL. Drill down to robust explain plans are also included.
SQL Injection Analysis Tool. Utilize new SQL Injection reports to evaluate your applications for potential security vulnerabilities.