Oracle WebDB Basic Concepts

This preface introduces the basic concepts and navigational principles of Oracle WebDB and Web sites built with Oracle WebDB.

This preface includes the following sections:

Section
"What is Oracle WebDB?"
"Why Use Oracle WebDB?"
"Starting Oracle WebDB"
"Exiting Oracle WebDB"
"Navigating in Oracle WebDB"
"Displaying an Oracle WebDB Site"
"Getting Help"

What is Oracle WebDB?

Oracle WebDB is a complete solution for building, deploying, and proactively monitoring Web database applications and content-driven Web sites. WebDB provides a fast and easy way to "Web-enable" Oracle databases.

Manage database objects

Developers can create and view database objects through the easy-to-use, HTML-based WebDB interface. These objects include tables, views, procedures, functions, and triggers.

Develop HTML components

WebDB provides tools for creating HTML-based interfaces to database data. These interfaces include reports, forms, charts, and menus.

Build content-driven Web sites

Web sites created with WebDB (WebDB sites) are divided into manageable areas that can be delegated to individuals or groups. The tools for managing WebDB sites are provided within the site itself, enabling content creators to make changes to and ensure the quality of their own areas of the site, instead of relying on the Webmaster.

Track performance

DBAs can isolate and proactively resolve performance problems using the performance tracking facilities in WebDB. Information about individual components, Web pages, and their requestors is logged, and pre-built reports display their performance and security histories. DBAs can also create their own customized reports that display logged information.

Manage database security

DBAs can manage database roles, users, and privileges, as well as WebDB specific privileges and Web server settings, all through the WebDB interface.

Control access to Oracle Reports

Reports administrators can set up WebDB to control access to Oracle Reports reports (.RDF files), Reports Servers, and printers.

Why Use Oracle WebDB?

WebDB is easy to use, easy to access, and easy to administer. Wizards guide administrators and developers through tasks step-by-step. By lowering the amount of technical knowledge required to produce useful results and maintain a high quality of service, WebDB makes information readily available to everyone who has permission to see it.

Universal accessibility

The only software needed to develop and run WebDB applications and Web sites is a Web browser. WebDB is accessible from anywhere there is a network connection. Unauthorized access is prevented because WebDB leverages database security.

Reduced total cost of ownership

WebDB itself, as well as applications and Web sites created with WebDB are completely contained within the Oracle database. There is no need to install software on every machine being used. Thus, WebDB significantly reduces the amount of overhead usually associated with application rollout and maintenance.

Starting Oracle WebDB

1. Once WebDB has been installed, set up or obtain the following information from your DBA:
   • A user name

   • A password

   • The URL of your WebDB home page

   For information about installing WebDB, see the "Oracle WebDB Installation Guide."

2. Start your Web browser.

3. In the Address or Location field of your browser, type the URL of your WebDB home page and press the Enter or Return key.

   
   

4. In the log on dialog box, type your user name and password and click OK.

   If your browser displays an error message, check that you've typed the information correctly, or ask your DBA to verify the information given to you.

   If the connection is successful, your WebDB home page is displayed.

   
   

   Tip: It is a good idea to bookmark your WebDB home page so that you do not have to type the URL each time you want to access it. If you do not know how to add a bookmark, see your Web browser documentation.

Exiting Oracle WebDB

To exit WebDB, simply close your Web browser, or navigate to a non-WebDB page.

• If you close your Web browser, you will automatically be logged off WebDB.

• If you navigate to a non-WebDB page, you will not be logged off WebDB. If you return to a WebDB page, you will still be logged on. For security reasons, you may want to log off WebDB before navigating to a non-WebDB page.

To log off Oracle WebDB:

1. In the top left of any page, click the WebDB logo to display the Connection Information page.

2. Click Log off.

   If you return to a WebDB page, click your browser's Reload or Refresh button and you will be prompted for your user name and password.

Navigating in Oracle WebDB

WebDB's HTML interface makes it very easy to navigate within the product. The following list details some of the navigation tools offered:

• Hypertext links

  
  

  WebDB uses lists of hypertext links as menus to help you navigate through the product. The text below the link describes its destination in more detail.

• Toolbar

  
  

  The toolbar is displayed at the bottom of most WebDB pages and provides access to the most commonly used menus and tools.

• Home page navigation tree

  
  

  The navigation tree is a hierarchical menu displayed in a separate frame on the left side of the home page. You can use the navigation tree instead of the hypertext link menus if you prefer.

  To activate the navigation tree, clickat the top right of your WebDB home page. To return to the full page view, click Oracle WebDB at the top of the navigation tree.

• Home page Find Menu Options field

  
  

  The Find Menu Options field is displayed just above the toolbar on the WebDB home page. WebDB finds all the menu items that contain the text you type in the Find field. If you use the navigation tree instead of the hypertext link menus, the Find Menu Options field is displayed above the navigation tree in the left frame.

• Link history

  
  

  The link history is a list of links displayed just above the toolbar that enable you to quickly return to the pages that precede the current page in the WebDB menu structure.

  Tip: Wherever you are in WebDB, clickingat the top right of any page always takes you to your WebDB home page.

Displaying an Oracle WebDB Site

You can use WebDB to create database-driven Web sites. Once you a WebDB site has been created, all other site management tasks are performed within the site itself.

A WebDB site is divided into folders. A folder is a collection of related items, including files, URLs of other Web pages, and WebDB components. You can enable users to log on to the site and thus control the content displayed to them:

• Users who are not logged on to the site can only view items in folders that have been marked as public.

• Users who are logged on to the site can view items in public folders and can also view items in folders where they have been granted view privileges. Logged on users can also be granted privileges to edit items in folders or administer folders or the entire WebDB site.

To display an Oracle WebDB site:

Once a WebDB site has been created, you display it in the same way as you display any other Web site or page. For information about creating WebDB sites, see Chapter 5, "Creating WebDB Sites".

1. Obtain the URL of the WebDB site from your DBA or site administrator.

2. Start your Web browser.

3. In the Address or Location field of your browser, type the URL of the WebDB site and press the Enter or Return key.

   The WebDB site home page is displayed and you can view items in public folders.

   Tip: It is a good idea to bookmark the WebDB site home page so that you do not have to type the URL each time you want to access it. If you do not know how to add a bookmark, see your Web browser documentation.

To log on to an Oracle WebDB site:

If you are not logged on to the WebDB site, you can only view items in public folders. For greater access to the site, you must log on. Once you are logged on to the site, the tasks you can perform depend upon the privileges you have been granted.

Note: If you don't already have a user name for the site, ask your DBA or site administrator to set one up for you.

1. In the WebDB site navigation bar, click Log On.

2. In the log on dialog box, type your user name and password and click OK.

   If your browser displays an error message, check that you've typed the information correctly, or ask your DBA or site administrator to verify your user information.

   If the connection is successful, you will now be able to view items in non-public folders and perform those tasks for which you have the appropriate privileges.

To access the Administration page:

If you are a site administrator, you can perform administrative tasks on the whole site. If you are a folder owner, you can perform administrative tasks only on the folders that you own.

1. Log on to the WebDB site.

2. In the navigation bar, clickto access the Administration page.

To enter Edit Mode:

If you have been granted the appropriate privileges by the folder owner, you can add, edit, or delete items in a folder.

1. Log on to the WebDB site.

2. In the navigation bar, clickto display the Site Map.

   Note: The Site Map lists only the folders that you can access. You can access public folders, folders on which you have been granted view or item privileges, and folders that you own.

3. Click the folder name to display the folder.

   Until you enter Edit Mode, you can only view the contents of the folder.

4. In the banner at the top of the page, clickto enter Edit Mode and display the folder dashboard.

   
   

   The folder dashboard provides quick access to the tools for editing a folder. Edit Mode also provides you with access to tools for editing the content of the folder.

5. To exit Edit Mode, in the folder dashboard click.

Getting Help

WebDB includes a comprehensive online help system to provide you with all the information you need.

Help Type	Icon	Description
Online Help		Online help provides step-by-step instructions and reference information. You can access WebDB's online help by clicking the large question mark.
Context-sensitive Help		Context-sensitive help provides specific information about a particular page. You can access context-sensitive help by clicking the small question mark.
Quick Tour	<No icon>	The Quick Tour provides a visual introduction to the terminology, workflow, and concepts of WebDB. You can access the Quick Tour from the online help table of contents, or from the \docs directory on your WebDB CD-ROM.