Contents

Preface I Introduction Lesson Objectives I-2 Forms Curriculum Map I-3 Course Objectives I-4 Course Content I-5 Summary I-7 Why Move Forms Applications to the Web? Objectives 1-2 Benefits of Web Deployment 1-3 Improving Productivity 1-4 Reducing Costs 1-5 Increasing Accessibility 1-6 Maintaining Support 1-7 Balancing the Load 1-8 Leveraging Current Knowledge 1-9 Providing a Rich User Interface 1-10 Employing the Latest Technologies and Industry Standards 1-11 Utilizing New Features 1-13 Oracle 10g Products 1-14 Leveraging Oracle Application Server 10g for Forms 1-15 Oracle Application Server 10g Components 1-16 Oracle AS 10g Forms Services 1-17 Summary 1-18 Migrating Forms Applications Objectives 2-2 Streamlining Oracle Forms 2-3 Migration Path 2-5 Issues to Consider Before Upgrading 2-6 Performing the Migration 2-8 Using Forms Builder to Upgrade 2-9 Using the Forms Compiler to Upgrade 2-10 Upgrading with the Forms Migration Assistant 2-12 Performing PL/SQL Substitutions 2-13 Using the Forms Migration Assistant from the Command Line 2-14 Using the Forms Migration Assistant Wizard 2-15 Choosing the Modules to Upgrade 2-16 Choosing Log File Options 2-17

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Choosing Reports and Advanced Options 2-18 Setting Paths for the Forms Migration Assistant 2-19 Examining Conversion Results 2-20 Issues to Consider After Upgrading 2-21 Replacing Post-Query Triggers 2-22 Partitioning Application Logic 2-23 Redesigning Menus 2-24 Promoting Object Similarities 2-25 From Character Mode to GUI 2-26 Summary 2-28 Practice 2: Overview 2-29 3 Using Forms Applications with the Web Architecture Objectives 3-2 Utilizing Forms Services 3-3 Comparing Architectures: Client/Server 3-4 Comparing Architectures: Forms Services 3-5 Starting a Run-Time Session 3-6 Role of the Forms Servlet 3-10 Role of the Forms Client 3-12 Role of the Forms Listener Servlet 3-13 Role of the Forms Runtime Engine 3-15 Selecting a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 3-16 Testing Applications 3-18 Generating and Deploying Forms Application Executables 3-20 Environment Variables for the UNIX Forms Generator 3-21 Constructing a URL to Run the Application 3-22 Summary 3-25 Practice 3: Overview 3-26 4 Configuring Run-Time Behavior Objectives 4-2 Configuring Run-Time Behavior 4-3 Configuring the Forms Servlet 4-4 Defining System Parameters 4-5 Defining User Parameters 4-6 Defining Application-Specific Named Configurations 4-8 Using a Named Configuration When Running from Forms Builder 4-9 Configuring the Environment 4-10 Defining Forms Environment Variables for Design Time 4-11 Defining Forms Environment Variables for Run Time 4-13

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Customizing the User Interface 4-14 Using Configuration Files 4-15 Performing Configuration Tasks 4-17 Summary 4-18 Practice 4: Overview 4-19 5 Adapting Forms Applications to the Web Environment Objectives 5-2 Adapting to Feature Differences 5-3 Features That Work Differently on the Web 5-4 Font Mapping 5-5 Customizing Key Mappings 5-6 Integrating Oracle Graphics 5-9 Running Reports from Forms 5-10 Images 5-11 Icons 5-13 Deploying Icons to the Middle Tier 5-14 Directing Forms to Use the Icon Virtual Directory 5-15 Constructing the URL to Load Icons 5-16 Deploying Icons and Images to the Client 5-18 Creating JAR Files 5-19 Deploying JAR Files 5-20 Features with Performance Implications 5-21 Features Specific to Client/Server 5-23 Platform-Specific Features 5-25 Adjusting Built-ins 5-26 Adjusting OLE Automation 5-27 Adjusting User Exits 5-28 Adjusting to Case Sensitivity 5-29 Adjusting the Use of d2kwutil 5-30 Summary 5-31 Practice 5: Overview 5-33 6 Enhancing Forms Applications with Web Technologies Objectives 6-2 Extending Functionality with JavaBeans 6-3 Integrating JavaBeans 6-4 Interacting with JavaBeans 6-5 Extending the User Interface with PJCs 6-11 Launching a Web Page with the WEB.SHOW_DOCUMENT Built-In 6-12 Using Web Services in a Forms Application 6-13

Obtaining a Description of the Web Service 6-14 Creating a Web Services Client 6-15 Using the Java Importer to Call the Web Services Client from Forms 6-17 Integrating Forms Applications with Oracle Application Server 10g Portal 6-19 Integrating Forms as URL Portlets 6-20 Integrating Forms as a Portal Link 6-21 Summary 6-22 Practice 6: Overview 6-23 7 Using WebUtil to Interact with the Client Objectives 7-2 WebUtil Overview 7-3 Functionality of the WebUtil Utility 7-4 Configuring WebUtil 7-5 Configuring WebUtil on the Middle Tier 7-6 Modifying WebUtil Behavior 7-8 Integrating WebUtil into a Form 7-9 When to Use WebUtil Functionality 7-11 Interacting with the Client 7-12 Example: Opening a File Dialog Box on the Client 7-13 Example: Reading an Image File into Forms from the Client 7-14 Example: Writing Text Files on the Client 7-15 Example: Executing Operating System Commands on the Client 7-16 Example: Performing OLE Automation on the Client 7-17 Example: Obtaining Environment Information About the Client 7-20 Summary 7-21 Practice 7: Overview 7-22 Utilizing New Forms Features Objectives 8-2 New Features of Oracle Forms 10g 8-3 Integration Features 8-4 Run-Time Enhancements 8-5 Productivity Enhancements 8-6 Globalization Features 8-8 Security 8-9 Configuring JVM Pooling 8-10 Managing JVM Controllers 8-11 Managing Forms Services with Oracle Enterprise Manager: Starting EM 8-13 Managing Forms Services with Oracle Enterprise Manager: AS Home Page 8-14 Managing Forms Services with Oracle Enterprise Manager: Forms Pages 8-15

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Implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) 8-16 Configuring a Forms Application for SSO 8-18 Relationship Between SSO Elements 8-21 Configuring Run-Time Pooling 8-22 Remotely Debugging a Running Form 8-24 Using the Same URL to Display Different Languages 8-27 Detecting Browser Language Settings 8-28 Translated Applications at Run Time 8-29 Deploying Language-Specific Applications 8-30 Restricting URL Parameters 8-31 Summary 8-32 Practice 8: Overview 8-33 9 Integrating Forms and Reports Applications Objectives 9-2 Oracle Reports Services 9-3 Using RUN_REPORT_OBJECT to Run a Report 9-4 Creating a Report Object in the Form 9-5 Setting Report Object Properties 9-6 Defining Data to Pass to the Report 9-7 Configuring the Reports Search Path 9-8 Disabling Access Control 9-9 Matching the SSO Mode 9-10 Starting a Reports Server 9-11 Running the Report 9-13 Displaying a Report from Forms 9-14 Calling a Report with the WEB.SHOW_DOCUMENT Built-in 9-15 Summary 9-16 Practice 9: Overview 9-17

Appendix A: Practice Solutions Appendix B: Functionality of WebUtil

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