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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

r

APEX

Wizards

Edit Screens

Bro

wse

r

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.”