What's New

This section describes new features and documentation updates available in Oracle Application Express Release 4.1 and points you to additional information.

Tip:

Oracle Application Express Release Notes contain important information not included in the Oracle Application Express documentation. Review this document to learn more about new features, changed behavior, and open bugs and issues.

Topics:

• Oracle Application Express Release 4.1 New Features

• What's New in this Document for Release 4.1

Oracle Application Express Release 4.1 New Features

New features in Oracle Application Express, release 4.1 include:

• Error Handling

  Release 4.1 includes improved error handling and user-defined exception processing. Developers can now easily capture error messages generated by the Oracle database and replace the message text with user friendly text. For example, instead of an error message such as ORA-00001 unique constraint (EMP_UK) violated, you can define a message such as Employee Name must be unique. To learn more, see the error handling discussions in "Editing the Application Definition", "Altering Page Attributes", "Creating Page Process Success and Error Messages", and "Creating Application Process Error Messages".

• Use of ROWID

  This release supports the use of ROWID for updates, inserts, and deletes in forms as an alternative to primary keys. Previously you could only specify two primary key columns. Therefore, if your table had more than two key columns then you could not use the default DML processes and had to manually write your own processes. Use of ROWID is now the default method for any new Automatic Row Processing (DML) processes generated. See "Creating a Tabular Form Using the Create Page Wizard" and "Create a Master Detail Form Using the Create Page Wizard".

• Data Upload

  Enable end users to upload data into an existing table (within an application). Developers can utilize a wizard to create a collection of pages that enable the end user to upload a file or cut and paste data into a table. Additionally, you can define lookup columns and data transformations. End users are then led through a runtime wizard which enables them to load the data, map the columns, see whether the data will be inserted or updated, and review the results. See "Creating Applications with Data Loading Capability".

• Calendar

  Calendars have been enhanced to include the ability to create an Edit page as part of creating the calendar. Furthermore, calendars can now include drag and drop functionality which enables the end user to change the date or time of a record by simply dragging it on the calendar itself. See "Creating Calendars".

• Websheets

  The look and feel of Websheets has been substantially improved and the controls redesigned to make it more intuitive for users. Websheets also include new page section types and enhanced data grid integration. See "About Websheet Applications".

• Tabular Forms

  Tabular Forms now support all validation types. Depending on the validation type, you can use bind variable syntax, substitution syntax, or just specify the tabular form column name. These enhancements enable developers to declaratively define complex validations instead of having to perform extensive manual PL/SQL coding. See "APEX$ROW_NUM", "APEX$ROW_SELECTOR", and "APEX$ROW_STATUS".

• Plug-ins

  Plug-ins enable developers to enhance the existing built-in functionality by writing PL/SQL components for various components. This release expands the plug-in functionality and introduces the ability to create plug-ins for authentication and authorization schemes. See "Implementing Plug-ins".

• Accessibility

  This release includes dramatic improvement in the HTML generated by the Application Express engine, together with accessibility improvements in existing themes and HTML templates. To learn more, see "Accessibility in Oracle Application Express", "Using Screen Reader Mode in Your Database Applications", and "Using Screen Reader Mode in Your Database Applications".

What's New in this Document for Release 4.1

This section summarizes documentation updates made to Oracle Application Express Application Builder User's Guide for release 4.1.

General Updates

All content has been updated to reflect new functionality. Screen captures and graphics have been updated to reflect release 4.1 user interface enhancements.

Revised Content

The following sections contain significant revisions:

• Application Builder Concepts

  • "About the Create Application Wizard"

  • "About Built-in Substitution Strings"

• "Reviewing Sample Applications"

• "Managing the Development Process"

• About Database Applications

  • "About Creating a Database Application"

  • "About Application Attributes"

    • "Error Handling"

• Working with Database Application Pages

  • "Altering Page Attributes"

    • "Error Handling"

  • "Understanding Validations"

  • "Understanding Page Processes"

  • "Understanding Application Processes"

• "Creating Reports"

• Adding Database Application Components and Controls

  • "Creating Forms"

    • "Creating a Tabular Form"

    • "Creating a Master Detail Form"

  • "Creating Calendars"

  • "Creating Maps"

  • "Creating Charts"

  • "Creating Buttons"

  • "Incorporating JavaScript into an Application"

• Adding Navigation

  • "Creating Lists"

• Managing Application Security

  • "Understanding Administrator Security Best Practices"

    • "Enabling Network Services in Oracle Database 11g"

  • "Establishing User Identity Through Authentication"

• Advanced Programming Techniques

  • "Implementing Web Services"

  • "Implementing Plug-ins"

  • "Implementing Dynamic Actions"

• "Managing Application Globalization"

• "About Item Types"

• "Accessibility in Oracle Application Express"

New Content

The following sections were added for this release:

• "About Websheet Applications"

• "Managing the Development Process"

  • "About Tree"

• "About Websheet Applications"

• About Database Applications

  • "Creating an Instant Database Application"

  • "Creating a Database Application from a Template"

• Adding Database Application Components and Controls

  • "Creating Maps"

• Advanced Programming Techniques

  • Using Screen Reader Mode in Your Database Applications

  • Using High Contrast Mode in Your Database Applications

  • Creating Applications with Data Loading Capability

• "Accessibility in Oracle Application Express"

  This appendix was moved from the Oracle Application Express Installation Guide to this book.