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Oracle Application Express‘MS Access on Steroids’Jules LanePrincipal Consultant
Tactical Database Development options
• Spreadsheets• Encourage data duplication and inconsistency, clog up emails• Insecure
• Traditional Tools (MS Access, Lotus Notes, Paradox etc)• Support few users, data volume issues, client server• Insecure
• PHP (LAMP - Linux / Apache / MySQL / PHP)• Simple, free, basic, very popular and widespread, general purpose• Tool support, complex requirements, scalability, security ?
• Ruby on Rails• Higher level, uses code Frameworks – generates java
Oracle Application Express
• Development Environment focused on Database centric web applications.
• Simplicity of a desktop database• Security, power and reliability of Oracle• Browser based• Graphical• MS Access Replacement• Free
Extremely high productivityWithout sacrificing flexibility
Benefits
• Development• Easy point-and-click – no programming• Reduces Time, Complexity and Expense• No Client Software• Leverages existing SQL, PL/SQL, HTML Skills
• Architecture• Integrated into Database• Very secure• Highly scalable
• No extra cost (feature of the database, including XE)
Functionality Overview
• Complete Environment• Application Builder• SQL Workshop• Utilities• Administration
D E M O N S T R A T I O N
Application ExpressCreate Table from Spreadsheet
Usage
• New Development• Traditional I.T. departments• Power users in business departments• Individuals, home use (with XE)• ISV’s
• Migration / rehosting / redevelpment• Spreadsheet replacement• Databases
• MS Access, with VB, VB Script• SQL Server with VB, ASP• MySQL with PHP
• Use also SQL Developer Migration Workbench• UI can be retained or rebuilt using APEX
D E M O N S T R A T I O N
Application ExpressBuild initial App
Standard App Dev Features
Architecture
With Apache and mod_plsql
With the Embedded PL/SQL Gateway (XE and 11g)
Run time Architecture
End Users
Developers
HTML Templates
Images
Table (etc.) Definitions
User Interface Defaults
Application Definitions
A P E X DataData
DataData
Bro
wse
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APEX
Wizards
Edit Screens
Bro
wse
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Db Connection Poolurl
Oracle Database
Development
Run time
HTML File(s)
Web pageDotted lines = optional
D E M O N S T R A T I O N
Application ExpressEnhance App
Application Express 3.0 Selected Features
• Development
• Wizards for all objects • Master – Detail structures• Declarative PDF Reporting• Flexible Flash, SVG, HTML Charts• Web-Service Consumption• Wide range of GUI widgets• Calendar Enhancements• Built in image library• PL/SQL functions and procedures• Page & Region Caching•. . .
• Monitoring• Application Reports• Schema management
• Access Migration Workshop• Export / Import
Admin
D E M O N S T R A T I O N
Application ExpressApplication UI Examples
Application Express - Customers
Approx 15% of all customers, = 45,000
Database Migration:Application Express encourages Consolidation
Spreadsheets
Desktop Databases
File Servers
APEX
SQLDeveloperMigration
Workbench
Existing Data Oracle DbwithAPEX
1Migrate ExistingData or Create new
Web app
2Develop NewApplication / UI
Migration
25 – 50% of time 50% - 75% of time0% - 10% of time
Simple, fully documented 2 stage process;
1. Create matching database tables, indexes• Manually• Import function via csv files• SD Migration Workbench
2. Build user interface using APEX• ‘Create Application’ Wizard on day 1• Consider APEX Migration Workbench
• APEX can match all the functionality• Reports, Forms• And then some - security, advanced searches etc.• Differing styles – Web vs Windows • Consider re-design rather than copy
MS Access Application Migration
Oracle SD Migration Workbench
• Free (but fully supported) utility• Supports all major databases• Create models and generates scripts to build Oracle objects• Migrates table data• MS Access
Uses a ‘plug in’ to extracts database meta data All versions from 95 onwards All database objects, Reports / Forms / Menus can be migrated into APEX
• SQL Server Direct Db connection. SS 6.5, 7.0 and 2000 All database objects, incl. T/SQL stored procedures (>= 90%)
Multiple source databases single Oracle Db
D E M O N S T R A T I O N
SQL Developer Migration Workbench
APEX Community• Growing list of APEX based I.T. services organisations• APEX Project on SourceForge.net (use of Web 2.0 / Ajax)
• http://apexlib.sourceforge.net/• APEX Wiki
• http://wiki.shellprompt.net/bin/view/Apex/WebHome• APEX Studio
• http://apex.oracle.com/studio• Tips & Tricks• Themes• Utilities
For More Information
http://search.oracle.com
Application Express
or
http://otn.oracle.com/apex
Packaged Applications
• Project Tracking• People Search• Discussion Forum• Bug Tracker
• Online Store• Ask the Expert• Issue Tracker• Document Management
APEX Summary• Fast• Simple• Flexible• Powerful• Unlimited scalability• Encourages data consolidation• Free – ish
Almost too good to be true ? Try it !
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“This presentation is for informational purposes only and may not be incorporated into a contract or agreement.”