1. Developing Integrated Spreadsheets Using Oracle Visual Builder Add-in for Excel
  2. What's New in Release 2.8.0

1 What's New in Release 2.8.0

Here’s an overview of new features and enhancements added to Oracle Visual Builder Add-in for Excel in Release 2.8.0. Take note also of some limitations when using the add-in.

New and Changed Features

  • Create a business object definition from a data sample when you don't have an OpenApi-compliant service description. If you have the host, base path, and resource name for the service description, Oracle Visual Builder Add-in for Excel can form the REST endpoint URL and send a GET request to the service to fetch a sample of data. The add-in can then use this sample to produce a list of fields available for that REST resource. See Create a Business Object Catalog from a Data Sample.
  • Support for lists of values for context-sensitive descriptive flexfields (DFF) with "segment" client binds. Segment-type client binds are supported automatically as long as the service's OpenAPI 3 document provides all the proper metadata. If the metadata is present, the add-in configures the list of values at runtime. See List of Values for Descriptive Flexfields.
  • A new expression language for filter query parameter expressions for lists of values. Workbooks created using earlier versions of the add-in continue to work as they previously did. Configuration properties in the List of Values tab are automatically migrated to use the new expression language. See Configure a Filter for a List of Values.
  • New authentication control settings. When you create a new catalog from a URL, the add-in sets the authentication method depending on the service type. If required, you can change the authentication method using the Advanced tab of the Business Object Catalog Editor. At log in, the add-in uses the catalog's authentication setting to determine how to log in. See Set an Authentication Method for a REST Service and Security.
  • Support for managing attachments from Excel. You can add an attachment business object as a standalone table layout, the table layout of a Form-over-Table layout, or a table layout in a set of dependent layouts. See Create Layouts for Attachment Business Objects.
  • Support for adding grandparent or higher ("ancestor") columns to a dependent layout for a business object hierarchy. When you create a dependent layout, you can choose to include ancestor columns to help your business users track which child items are associated with which high-level items. For example, you may want to add the Order Number, Line Number, and Schedule Number columns to your Distributions layout so your business users can see which distributions are associated with which purchase orders, lines, and schedules. See Use Multiple Layouts for Multi-level Business Objects.
  • Simple search has been merged with filters on the List of Values tab. See Configure a Filter for a List of Values.
  • A new digital signature for the add-in. See The Digital Certificate.

Known Limitations