5.7 Managing User Interface Defaults
Managing user interface defaults enables you to assign default interface properties, create default wizard, modify the table user interface defaults, add new attributes, and export the user interface defaults.
- About User Interface Defaults
User Interface Defaults enable you to assign default user interface properties for regions and items. - Creating User Interface Defaults for a Table
If no defaults have been created for a table, use the Table Dictionary Create Defaults wizard to automatically generate defaults based on the database table and column definitions. After the initial defaults are created, you can modify the individual default values. - Modifying Table User Interface Defaults
Learn how to modify existing table user interface defaults. - Creating User Interface Attributes
Use the Attribute Dictionary to define and add new attributes. - Modifying User Interface Attributes
Modify existing user interface attributes on the Grid Edit page or by selecting a specific column. - Exporting and Importing User Interface Defaults
You export user interface defaults in the same way you export any related application file.
Parent topic: Using Oracle APEX Utilities
5.7.1 About User Interface Defaults
User Interface Defaults enable you to assign default user interface properties for regions and items.
This wizard enables you to specify whether you want to use User Interface Defaults if they exist. When you create a form or report using a wizard, the wizard uses this information to create default values for region and item properties. Utilizing user interface defaults can save valuable development time and has the added benefit of providing consistency across multiple pages in an application. User Interface Defaults are divided into two categories, the Table Dictionary and the Attribute Dictionary.
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The Table Dictionary enables you to specify defaults for tables and columns that are initialized from the database definition.
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The Attribute Dictionary enables you to create defaults based on attribute or column names, thus being usable across all tables. Attribute definitions can also have synonyms, allowing more than one attribute to share a common definition.
When you use User Interface Defaults during creation of pages and regions, the Table Dictionary takes priority over the Attribute Dictionary. If a table and column combination exists, that is used rather than an attribute definition of the same name. This can be useful, for example, when you want to have a specific label or Help text for the CREATED_BY
column in the emp
table but then use more generic defaults for CREATED_BY
in another table.
Parent topic: Managing User Interface Defaults
5.7.2 Creating User Interface Defaults for a Table
If no defaults have been created for a table, use the Table Dictionary Create Defaults wizard to automatically generate defaults based on the database table and column definitions. After the initial defaults are created, you can modify the individual default values.
To create the initial user interface defaults for tables:
Parent topic: Managing User Interface Defaults
5.7.3 Modifying Table User Interface Defaults
Learn how to modify existing table user interface defaults.
To modify existing table defaults:
Parent topic: Managing User Interface Defaults
5.7.4 Creating User Interface Attributes
Use the Attribute Dictionary to define and add new attributes.
To create an attribute:
Parent topic: Managing User Interface Defaults
5.7.5 Modifying User Interface Attributes
Modify existing user interface attributes on the Grid Edit page or by selecting a specific column.
To modify an existing attribute:
Parent topic: Managing User Interface Defaults
5.7.6 Exporting and Importing User Interface Defaults
You export user interface defaults in the same way you export any related application file.
Exporting user interface defaults from one development instance to another involves the following steps:
- Export the user interface defaults using the Export User Interface Defaults utility.
- Import the exported file into the target Oracle APEX instance.
- Install the exported file from Export Repository.
When you export user interface defaults, all user interface defaults for the selected schema are exported to a single script. The file contains an API call to create table hints by making calls to the application PL/SQL API. You can use this file to import user interface defaults to another database and Oracle APEX instance.
See Also:
In Oracle APEX App Builder User’s GuideParent topic: Managing User Interface Defaults