3 Getting Started with Oracle Application Express

This section introduces you to areas of the Oracle Application Express user interface. It also shows you how to install the sample objects to use with this guide.

Before you begin, log in to Oracle Application Express. For instructions, see "Accessing Your Development Environment".

Topics:

• About the Workspace Home Page

• What Is Application Builder?

• Installing the Sample Objects

About the Workspace Home Page

When you log in to Oracle Application Express, the Workspace home page appears.

Description of the illustration workspace4.gif

Take a few minutes to explore the product. The following large icons display in the center of the page:

• Application Builder. Use Application Builder to assemble an HTML interface (or application) on top of database objects such as tables and procedures.

• SQL Workshop. Use the SQL Workshop to access tools for viewing and managing database objects.

• Team Development. Use Team Development to track new features, non-feature to do tasks, bugs, and milestones. Users can also provide real-time feedback which then can be categorized into features, to do tasks, or bugs.

• Administration links to the Workspace Administration page.

About the Learn More Link

Click the Learn More link in the About box to view an informative introduction to Oracle Application Express. Topics covered include architecture, self service, security, Websheets, application development, SQL Workshop, Team Development, administration, and managing development.

What Is Application Builder?

You use the Application Builder component of Oracle Application Express to build your application. Through wizards or your direct input, you can assemble an HTML interface (or application) on top of database objects such as tables and procedures. Each application is a collection of linked pages using tabs, buttons, or hypertext links.

A page is the basic building block of an application. Pages also contain user interface elements such as tabs, lists, buttons, items, and regions. To see the definition of each page belonging to your application, you use the Page Definition page.

The Page Definition contains three main areas:

• Page Rendering lists user interface controls and logic that are executed when a page is rendered. Page rendering is the process of generating a page from the database.

• Page Processing lists logic controls (such as computations and processes) that are evaluated and executed when the page is processed.

• Shared Components lists components used by the current page that can also be referenced by other pages within your application.

Installing the Sample Objects

In Oracle Application Express, users log in to a workspace. You can think of each workspace as a shared work area that separates your objects, data, and applications into a virtual private database.

Before performing any tasks in this guide, you must create the appropriate sample objects within your workspace. These sample objects are copies of the objects that are typically installed in two schemas:

• Human Resources (HR)

  The HR schema contains information about the employees and the facilities where they work. Each employee has an identification number, email address, job identification code, salary, and manager. Employees are assigned to a department, and each department is associated with one location that has a full address, including the street name, postal code, city, state or province, and country code.

• Order Entry (OE)

  The OE schema tracks product inventories and sales of a company's products, including the product identification number, the product name, the associated associates product category, product descriptions, the weight group (for shipping purposes), the warranty periods, the suppliers, the availability status, and a minimum price.

To create the objects locally in your workspace, import the OEHR Sample Objects application.

Topics:

• Downloading OEHR Sample Objects

• Importing the OEHR Sample Objects

• Viewing Your Database Objects

Tip:

In order to successfully import the objects associated with the OEHR Sample Objects application, your Oracle database must include Oracle Spatial. If your database instance does not include Oracle Spatial, you can install it using Database Configuration Assistant. To learn more, see the Oracle Application Express Installation Guide for your operating environment.

Downloading OEHR Sample Objects

To import the OEHR Sample Objects application, you must download it from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN).

To download the OEHR Sample Objects application from OTN:

1. In your Web browser, go to:

   http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/testcontent/oehr-sample-objects-131098.zip
   

2. Under Sample Code, click OEHR Sample Objects.

3. Download and save the oehr_sample_objects.zip file to your computer.

4. Unzip and extract the oehr_sample_objects_installer.sql file:

   • Microsoft Windows - Double-click the oehr_sample_objects.zip file

   • UNIX or Linux - Enter the following command:

     $ unzip oehr_sample_objects.zip
     

Importing the OEHR Sample Objects

After you download and unzip the OEHR Sample Objects application, import it into Oracle Application Express. During the import process, specify installation of both the application and the supporting objects. Installing the application creates the objects and sample data needed to complete the exercises in this guide.

To import and install the OEHR Sample Objects application:

1. Log in to Oracle Application Express.

   For instructions, see "Logging In To the Hosted Demo Environment" or "Logging In To Your Local Instance".

2. On the Workspace home page, click Application Builder.

   The Application Builder home page appears.

3. Click the Import button.

4. For Specify File, specify the following:

   1. Import file - Click Browse and navigate to the oehr_sample_objects_installer.sql file.

   2. File Type - Select Database Application, Page, or Component Export.

   3. File Character Set - Select the correct character set.

   4. Click Next.

   Next, you install the imported file.

5. To install an imported file, click Next.

   The Install Database Application Wizard appears.

6. For Install Application, specify the following:

   1. Parsing Schema - Select the schema you created when you set up your development environment.

   2. Build Status - Select Run and Build Application.

   3. Install As Application - Select Auto Assign New Application ID.

   4. Click Install.

      Once you install the application, you must install the supporting objects.

7. For Install Supporting Objects, select Yes and click Next.

8. Confirm your selections by clicking Install.

9. After the installation is completed, click the Home breadcrumb link at the top of the page.

   The Application Builder home page appears.

Checking Your Workspace Storage Space

If you experience problems installing the OEHR Sample Objects application, verify the available space in your workspace. If you do not have enough space, request additional storage space.

If you are a workspace administrator, you can:

• Determine if you have enough storage space. See "About the Workspace Utilization Report" in Oracle Application Express Administration Guide.

• Request additional storage space. See "Requesting a New Schema, More Storage, or Terminating Service" in Oracle Application Express Administration Guide.

Deleting the OEHR Sample Objects Application

Deleting the OEHR Sample Objects application and deinstalling the supporting objects completely removes all associated objects and sample data.

To delete the OEHR Sample Objects application:

1. Log in to Oracle Application Express.

2. On the Workspace home page, click Application Builder.

   The Application Builder home page appears.

3. Click the OEHR Sample Objects icon.

4. On the Tasks list, click Delete this Application.

   The Deinstall page appears.

5. To remove all associated objects and sample data, select Remove Application Definition and Deinstall Supporting Objects.

6. Click Deinstall.

Viewing Your Database Objects

Review the objects you just created by going to Object Browser. Object Browser enables you to browse, create, and edit objects in your database.

To view the objects:

1. On the Workspace home page, click SQL Workshop.

2. Click Object Browser.

   Object Browser appears.

   
   Description of the illustration o_brws_oehr.gif
   
   

   Object Browser is divided into two sections:

   • Object Selection pane displays on the left side of the Object Browser page and lists database objects of a selected type within the current schema.

   • Detail pane displays to the right of the page and displays detailed information about a selected object.

3. From the list in the Object Selection pane on the left, select Tables.

   The Detail pane lists the tables in your current schema.

4. In the Object Selection pane, click OEHR_EMPLOYEES from the list.

   The Detail pane shows details about the table.

5. Click the Data tab at the top of the Details pane.

   The data in the OEHR_EMPLOYEES table appears. Note that other tabs show additional details about the object you select.

6. To search for an object name, enter a case-insensitive term in the Search field.

   
   Description of the illustration o_brws_srch_oehr.gif
   
   

7. To view all objects, leave the Search field blank.

See also:

"Managing Database Objects with Object Browser" in Oracle Application Express SQL Workshop Guide