12.2 Managing Themes and Subscriptions

Subscribing to a master theme enables the theme to be upgraded during future Oracle Application Express releases.

Developers subscribe to a theme when:

• Running the Create Application Wizard.

  When a developer runs the Create Application Wizard and selects a built-in theme, the theme is automatically subscribed to a master theme. As an alternative to using a built-in theme, the Create Application Wizard provides the option to copy a theme from an existing application. When copying a theme from an existing applications, developers can choose if they wish to have this theme be subscribed to. See "Understanding Page Types, Features, and Settings."

• Creating a new theme from the Theme repository.

  When you create a new theme the associated application automatically subscribes to it. See "Creating a Theme."

Once an application subscribes to a master theme only the default templates can be changed. All theme attributes, subscribed template options, and subscribed templates are set to read-only. In other words, only the default templates can be changed. The advantage of subscribing to a master theme is that the theme can be upgraded during future Oracle Application Express releases. When a theme is subscribed to, developers cannot modify the theme or template metadata when they access it from the theme or template edit pages.

To modify a template without breaking a subscription to the master theme, a developer can create a local copy of the template in their workspace. Local template copies are not subscribed to and are therefore editable. You can take the same approach with theme styles. You can create a local copy of a theme style and then add it to a subscribed theme. Theme styles created locally are editable but will be excluded from theme refreshes.

1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
2. Select an application.
3. Click Shared Components.
4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

5. On the Themes page, click the View Report icon.
   The Themes page appears as a report. A check mark in the Is Current column indicates which theme is selected.
6. Select the theme.

   The Create/Edit Theme page appears.

7. Locate Theme Subscription and click Verify.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions.

   To publish changes from the master theme to the subscribing theme, click Refresh at the end of the wizard.

1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
2. Select an application.
3. Click Shared Components.
4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

5. On the Themes page, click the View Report icon.
   The Themes page appears as a report. A check mark in the Is Current column indicates which theme is selected.
6. Select the theme.

   The Create/Edit Theme page appears.

7. Locate Theme Subscription and click Refresh Theme.

   Tip:

   If the theme is not subscribed, the Refresh Theme button does not appear. See "Re-subscribing to a Built-in Theme."

8. Click Apply Changes.

1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
2. Select an application.
3. Click Shared Components.
4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

5. On the Themes page, click the View Report icon.
   The Themes page appears as a report. A check mark in the Is Current column indicates which theme is selected.
6. Select the theme.

   The Create/Edit Theme page appears.

7. Locate Theme Subscription and click Unsubscribe.

   A warning dialog displays.

8. Click Unsubscribe Theme.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. From the Tasks list, select Change Identification Number and change the theme to a new identification number. See "Changing a Theme Identification Number."
3. Run the Create Theme Wizard and create the theme again. See "Creating a Theme."
4. Switch the current application to the use the new theme. See "Switching Themes."
5. Delete the original theme from which you created a new identification number. See "Deleting a Theme."

When you switch to a theme, all components with assigned templates are assigned to a corresponding template in the theme. App Builder accomplishes template mapping through the assignment of template class identifiers.

When switching an active theme, remember:

• You can only switch to a theme if the theme exists. For example, before you can switch to a theme available in the repository, you must first create it. See "Creating a Theme".

• If the wizard locates multiple matches (that is, when several templates share the same template type and templates class), the wizard defaults to a template matching type, class, and name. If no match is found, you must select another template with the same type and class.

• If no matching template is found (that is, no template with the same type and class exists) then you are prompted to select a template with the same type but with a different class. Then, a warning displays explaining this issue might lead to problems with page functionality, or issues with the page display.When no template of the same template type exists, then the theme cannot be switched. You are blocked from switching themes.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. Click Switch Theme.
   The Switch Theme page appears.
3. For Identify Theme:
   1. Currently Active Theme - Select the current theme for the application. A theme identifies a collection of templates which define the look and feel of the application.
   2. Switch to Theme - Select the new theme for the application.
   3. Click Next.
   The Verify Compatibility page appears.
4. Review the Status column to identify problematic mappings:
   • A check indicates the mapping was successful.
   • A warning indicates there are more than one template in the theme you are switching to with the identified class. The warning provides a select list from which to choose the appropriate template.
   • An error indicates that App Builder was unable to map the class among the themes. Ensure that a class is identified for the templates in both themes.

   Note:

   Failure to resolve warnings may result in a loss of functionality and applications that do not display well.

5. Click Next to continue.
6. Click Switch Theme.

1. Create a new application by running the Create Application Wizard:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Click the Create button.
2. Select Copy an existing application and select an application that uses Universal Theme - 42 (for example, Sample Database Application).
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

1. Copy the theme from an application that uses Universal Theme - 42 (for example, Sample Database Application) and subscribe to it. See "Copying a Theme."
2. Switch to the new theme. See "Switching Themes."
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. On the Tasks list, click Manage Workspace Themes.
3. Select Create Workspace Theme and click Next.

   Tip:

   If no workspace themes exist, the wizard selects Create for you.

4. For Create Workspace Theme:
   1. Application - Select the application.
   2. Application Theme to Copy - Select the theme to copy to the workspace theme repository.
   3. Subscribe Theme - Select whether to subscribe the workspace theme to the selected application theme. This option enables you to refresh the workspace theme with changes made to the selected application theme.
   4. Click Next.
5. 
   
   1. Theme Number - Enter a number with a value greater than 100. This number uniquely identifies this theme within a workspace.
   2. Theme Name - Enter a theme name. This name can be the same or different from the application theme name.
   3. Description - Enter a description of the theme.
   4. Click Next.
6. Click Create Workspace Theme.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. From the Tasks List, click Manage Workspace Themes.

   The Workspace Themes page appears.

   Tip:

   You cannot edit a workspace theme directly. To modify a workspace theme, you must create an application using the theme, modify it, and then manually add it to the workspace theme repository. See "Modifying a Workspace Theme."

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. From the Tasks List, click Manage Workspace Themes.

   The Workspace Themes page appears.

3. Select the theme name.
4. Click Delete.
5. Confirm your delete request and click OK.

1. Create an application using the theme you want to modify. See "Creating Database Applications."
2. Modify the theme. See "Editing Themes."
3. Delete the existing workspace theme. See "Deleting a Workspace Theme."
4. Add the modified theme to the workspace theme repository. See "Adding a Workspace Theme to the Theme Repository."

1. Create an application using the theme. See "Creating Database Applications."
2. Export the application. See "Exporting an Application."
3. Import the exported file into the target Oracle Application Express instance. See "Importing an Application, Page or Component Export."
4. Install the exported file from the Export Repository. See "Installing Export Files."

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. Click Reports.
3. On the Theme Reports page:
   1. Report - Select Application Templates.
   2. Theme - Select either 42. Universal Theme or All Themes.
   3. Click Go.
   A list of templates appears with the template type, template name, theme, and template class.
4. To edit a template, select the template name.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. Click Reports.
3. On the Theme Reports page:
   1. Report - Select Theme Template Counts.
   2. Theme - Select a theme or select All.
   3. Click Go.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. Click Reports.
3. On the Theme Reports page:
   1. Report - Select File References.
   2. Theme - Select a theme or select All.
   3. Click Go.
4. On the File References page:

   1. Show - Select the type of component to include in the report. If you do not make a selection, no results are returned.

   2. Show Files - Select one of the following:

      • With context displays the component, the theme identification number, the component name, the image (if applicable), and the page number. Select the page number.

      • Without context displays only the file name and the image (if applicable).

   3. File Extensions - Select the type of extensions for which to search.

   4. Click Go.

5. To download a comma-delimited file (.csv) version of this report, click Download at the bottom of the page.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. Click Reports.
3. On the Theme Reports page:
   1. Report - Select Class References.
   2. Theme - Select a theme or select All.
   3. Click Go.
4. On the Class References page:

   1. Show - Select the components to check for a class reference. If you do not make a selection, no results are returned.

   2. Show Class Names - Select one of the following:

      • With context displays the component, the theme identification number, the component name, the image (if applicable), and the page number.

      • Without context displays only the referenced class.

   3. Click Go.

5. To download a comma-delimited file (.csv) version of this report, click Download at the bottom of the page.

1. Navigate to the Themes page:
   1. On the Workspace home page, click the App Builder icon.
   2. Select an application.
   3. Click Shared Components.
   4. Under User Interface, select Themes.

   The Themes page appears.

2. Click Reports.
3. On the Theme Reports page:
   1. Report - Select Template Substitution Strings.
   2. Theme - Select which themes to include in the report.
   3. Click Go.
4. To link to a template definition, select the component name.