`What is APEX?

Oracle Application Express (APEX) is Oracle’s primary tool for Database and web application development. APEX is a free to use development environment to build web based applications using SQL and PL/SQL. Explorer has been using APEX since 2004 to develop professional business applications for desktops and mobile devices. APEX adoption has exploded over recent years and is now considered by Oracle themselves to be fundamental to their own application development requirements for internal and external web based systems.

Whether it is speed of delivery or complete control and precision that is required, APEX caters for all. First and foremost the integrated development environment (IDE) is very intuitive, which makes the introduction and adoption of APEX, irrespective of whether the user is an experience developer or a data user, an easy transition.

APEX provides a development environment for professional developers but also accommodates data users who need to rapidly build and represent data by using intuitive wizards. With minimal coding, a data user can build and distribute data forms, reports and charts and a more experienced developer can, without limitations, deliver enterprise class solutions using a very productive page designer interface.

Because Application Express is so tightly integrated with the Database, the complexity of the application framework, including session management and security, are handled automatically allowing the developer or data user to focus on delivering application functionality, which drastically reduces the development lifecycle and lowers cost.

APEX should be adopted by businesses that recognise the value of keeping costs down and simplifying technical solutions to deliver business requirements. Simply put, by using APEX you can develop complex systems at up to 1/4 of the time it takes for an equivalent Java deployment – with no loss in functionality. It’s stable, it scales and it’s secure.

Oracle Application Express (APEX) should also be the preferred development tool for any Oracle developer with PL/SQL experience as it allows them to develop modern Web 2.0 applications by leveraging their existing development expertise. APEX applications are as good as you develop them and Explorer is renowned for our ability to develop enterprise class applications with APEX. We have been at the forefront of APEX development since 2004 and endorsed by the very people at Oracle who created Application Express and continue to manage the product today.

Why use Oracle APEX?

Oracle Application Express (or APEX as it is commonly known) is rapidly becoming the Oracle Development tool of choice for developers all over the world. Explorer develops with Oracle APEX because it gives us the ability to rapidly build Enterprise class applications at a low cost. Here are the key reasons why you should consider Oracle APEX.

Development Problem APEX Solution

Java is overkill for the projects I need to deliver.

We look at the “big picture” of any project we work on to make sure that both technical and development

deliverables are achieved with multi-faceted accountability.

I need to lower the cost of Oracle development.

Faster development times and rapid developer adoption means lower cost and earlier deployment.

I need to minimise the cost of Oracle Licensing.

APEX is a no cost feature of all Editions of the Oracle Database and can be deployed with no cost middleware

components like Tomcat and Glassfish.

Oracle Forms is no longer our strategic development

tool and I need an alternative.

APEX should be the preferred development tool for any Oracle developer with PL/SQL experience as it allows

them to develop modern Web 2.0 applications by leveraging their existing development expertise.

I need to replace Oracle Discoverer with a modern

reporting platform.

APEX is the perfect solution for replacing Discoverer and to enhance reporting visuals, dashboard content and

output. More information about APEX & Disco can be found here.

How can I develop mobile applications without

To support mobile application development, Oracle Application Express incorporates jQuery Mobile to

ADF? deploy compact yet functional applications in a browser.

How can I develop bespoke applications to

integrate Oracle E-Business Suite?

Fully supported by Oracle, APEX is ideal for developing bespoke EBS modules. More information can be

found here.

Spreadsheets are taking over my department and I

need an alternative solution.

APEX is a great solution to consolidate spreadsheets, improve data quality and security, reduce duplication and

administration and enhance functionality.

Technical overview of oracle

APEX is a fully supported, no cost component of all Editions of the Oracle Database.

Adoption of APEX for strategic and tactical web development has grown significantly over the last year due to a growing community and recognition within Oracle customers of how easy it is to develop enterprise class systems.

The development environment and end user interface are both delivered through the browser as HTML so it’s incredibly fast and lightweight. There are NO java applets running and APEX is web 2.0 compliant to deliver feature rich content. All APEX code is stored in the Database so the architecture is simple and lightweight. It’s flexible too so deployment options can align with requirements.

Representational State Transfer, or REST, is an architecture used for Web Services that is rapidly becoming an important standard for Web data access. RESTful Web Services operates over HTTP/S frequently in the form of a set of data. Oracle REST Data Services provide a RESTful interface to data and logic in an Oracle Database and was formerly known as “Oracle APEX Listener”.

Installed into any J2EE compliant Web Server such as Apache Tomcat or Weblogic, Oracle REST Data Services provide Explorer with the ability to open up APEX applications to external and remote data sources and tightly integrate applications.

A single Database can host large numbers of APEX Applications and users by providing developers dedicated workspaces to develop Applications against one or more schemas. This flexible architecture enables a single Database instance to act as a “Platform as a Service” (PaaS), providing a hosted Intranet capability within the organisation, or hosted Internet service.

For more technical information about Oracle Application Express, or to ask some specific questions please get in touch!usiness suite with APEX extensions and bespoke modules

Oracle E-Business Suite can be greatly enhanced with APEX...

Real time queries – reporting and dashboards

Develop new functionality, currently missing from EBS

Custom data collection or workflow

With cross-industry modules, Oracle E-Business Suite enables global businesses to manage the complexities of their day to day operations, no matter what size of the organisation. Oracle has long promoted the use of APEX to extend functionality of Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) and Explorer also promotes this practice by providing specialised APEX guidance and experience.

There are two main ways in which APEX and EBS are integrated:

1. Integrating EBS data inside APEX

2. Customising EBS using APEX

Both options provide a seamless end user experience with the ability to include Single Sign On and deeply integrate APEX with custom EBS workflows.

The installation of the system is also simple as can be seen from the Oracle recommended deployment architecture below, although alternative configurations are also supported.

How does it affect my Oracle licenses?

The short answer is that Oracle fully support customers using APEX to develop bespoke functionality and extensions to EBS with no impact on your Oracle licenses when deployed in a specific manner. To get clear and straight forward advice about Oracle licensing with EBS and APEX book a demo or contact us.Explorer has developed a number of bespoke modules for EBS users and we are perfectly placed to guide and advise you to get the most out of Oracle E-Business Suite and Application Express. For more information about EBS and APEX integration download the Oracle whitepaper.

APEX for Reporting

For many years the tool of choice has been Oracle Discoverer which is a tool-set for ad hoc querying, reporting, data analysis, and Web-publishing for the Oracle Database environment. For larger organisations with more complex querying and analysis workloads the alternative has been Oracle Business Intelligence. For everyone else its spreadsheets, which cannot really be classed as a data reporting tool due it being a siloed datasheet with limited functionality, minimum security and is impossible to scale.

Discoverer has become out-dated due to its poor user interface and Oracle Premier Support has also ended meaning it’s becoming more costly to support and manage. Oracle BI is cost

prohibitive for many organisations that do not use OBI EE to take advantage of its rich but complex features. The solution: Oracle Application Express.

One of the most powerful features of APEX is the interactive report, which is a well-established feature leveraged by many who use APEX. Once a report is created an end user can easily modify it to meet their needs, within controlled boundaries, or export the report to a multitude of file types like PDF, .csv or word

Frequently asked questions on Apex

Why is APEX free?

Application Express is a free to use component of the Oracle Database as long as the Database in question is fully licensed. Oracle recognises the value derived by its customers using Database Development tools such as Application Express and will continue to invest in the development and support.

What are the deployment options for APEX, including authentication and SSO?

Much like security, the deployment and authentication options of any APEX application depend the wider infrastructure capabilities and Oracle technology used elsewhere in the business. Explorer will scope out technical and non-technical requirements to deliver different recommendations on deployment and authentication.What does the future hold for Oracle Forms?

Oracle Forms was introduced by Oracle in the mid 1980’s as one of the industry’s first and most powerful database application development tools. Oracle Forms has had a long and very successful lifespan of 20 years and still going. Oracle Applications leverage Oracle Forms as do large numbers of database applications. Oracle Forms has transitioned from character mode and block mode to client server, and to the Internet with Forms Server, however many organizations today want to transition to an HTML based solution. For those developers that want native html applications, many alternatives are available. One solution is using Oracle Application Express. If you are unfamiliar with Oracle Application Express, you can gain an understanding of its key features by talking to Explorer.If you are an Oracle Forms customers with these characteristics then you really need to evaluate Oracle APEX:-

You have PL/SQL skills Most of your application logic investment is database resident PL/SQL Most of the processing time is in the database, and scalability is achieved by scaling up the

database server. You need to reduce development time but also utilise your existing investment. Mobile, tablet and browser based delivery requirements?

The following blog article may be of interest to you http://www.explorer-development.uk.com/the-future-of-oracle-forms/

Here are some more useful links to help you better u

How can I secure my APEX application?

Securing your APEX application to prevent Database breaches is critical for public facing applications, as well as protecting against internal threats.Explorer always consider security when scoping out new projects and we use the latest APEX versions combined with well-structured and best practice coding to provide the best possible level of security for your application and Database. For more severe requirements, Explorer introduce our technical consultants to include Oracle Database Security Options in the proposal.How do I integrate APEX with Oracle E-Business Suite and are there any Licensing implications?

APEX is an excellent development tool to enhance Oracle E-Business Suite applications. There are multiple ways to develop a solution and it all depends on the functional and technical requirements you need. Explorer will work with your EBS implementation specialist or application manager to scope out requirements and put forward different proposals and explain the licensing implications of each option whilst also leaving you compliant.

How can I learn more about APEX and the services Explorer offer?

There are several ways to start discussing APEX and our services in more detail – by calling 0113 2899 470, email apexdemo@explorer.uk.com or start an online chat, which is at the bottom of this page.

What is Application Express? 

Oracle Application Express (Oracle APEX), formerly called HTML DB, is a rapid web application development tool for the Oracle database. Using only a web browser and limited programming experience, you can develop and deploy professional applications that are both fast and secure. Oracle application express combines the qualities of a personal database, productivity, ease of use, and flexibility with the qualities of an enterprise database, security, integrity, scalability, availability and built for the web. Application Express is a tool to build web-based applications and the application development environment is also conveniently web-based. Watch this Application Express Positioning flash demonstration and then try Application Express simply by signing up for an account at apex.oracle.com.

Application Express Home Page 

No client software is required to develop, deploy, or run Application Express applications. Application Express provides three primary tools:

Application Builder - to create dynamic database driven web applicationsSQL Workshop - to browse your database objects, run ad-hoc SQL queries, as well as a graphical query builderUtilities - allows for data to be loaded and unloaded from both flat files and spreadsheetsWhat types of applications can you build with Application Express?Application Express is a productive tool to build applications that report on database data. Reports are typically hyper text linked with other reports allowing users to navigate through database data in the same way they navigate web sites. Columns in reports can be easily linked to other reports, charts, and data entry forms and it is all done declaratively. An extensive charting engine allows SQL queries to be represented graphically and that allows data to be more effectively communicated. Application Express is also very adept at editing database data and supports a large number of declarative form controls including radio groups, checkboxes, select lists, shuttles, text editors, and date pickers.

 Interactive Report

 Hyper Text Linked Report

   

 Data Entry Form

 Hyper Text Linked Chart

 When to use Application Express?Due to its ease of use, Application Express is designed to build opportunistic and departmental applications quickly. These application are deployed on the web with superior performance. Historically, departments, prototypes, and small projects have relied on desktop databases to provide an agile development tool for these smaller scale SMB or departmental application development needs. Desktop databases can become very fragmented because they keep data in too many places, they can be vulnerable or inappropriate for use with sensitive information, and they are typically not web friendly. The browser based design time interface, the declarative programming framework, and simple wizards make Application Express a natural replacement for multi-user desktop databases applications such as Microsoft Access.

SQL Savvy application developers also appreciate the ease with which you can create database applications with little or no web experience. You don't need to learn scripting languages or complex deployment frameworks, you simply write a few queries and choose from ready built user interface themes and form controls to create highly professional, secure, and scalable applications.

Declarative ProgrammingWith Application Express, coding is declarative. That means that no code is generated, no code is compiled, and you interact with wizards and property sheets. The SQL language is used to define reports and charts, so some knowledge of SQL is very helpful. You can optionally write snippets of code using PL/SQL, if procedural logic is needed. Declarative code yields fewer differences between developers and this consistency makes Application Express applications easy to maintain and manage.

ArchitectureThe Application Express engine renders applications in real time from data stored in database tables.  When you create or extend an application, Oracle Application Express creates or modifies metadata stored in database tables.  When the application is run, the Application Express engine then reads the metadata and displays the application.  Application Express lives completely within your Oracle database.  It is comprised of nothing more than data in tables and large amounts of PL/SQL code.  The essence of Oracle Application Express is approximately 215 tables and 200 PL/SQL objects containing 300,000+ lines of code.

To provide stateful behavior within an application, Oracle Application Express transparently manages session state in the database.  Application developers can get and set session state using simple substitutions as well as standard SQL bind variable syntax.

To access the Oracle Application Express engine within the Oracle database you must configure the Oracle HTTP Server(Apache) containing the mod_plsql plug-in . The plugin functions as communication broker between the Web server and the Oracle Application Express objects in the Oracle database. This maps browser requests into database stored procedure calls. The following graphic illustrates the Oracle Application Express architecture using Oracle HTTP Server and mod_plsql.

 

Oracle Application Express using the Oracle HTTP Server (Apache) with mod_plsql 

With Oracle Database 11.1, you can remove Oracle HTTP Server (Apache) from the architecture and replace it with the embedded PL/SQL gateway. The embedded PL/SQL gateway runs in the XML DB HTTP server in the Oracle database and includes the core features of mod_plsql, but does not require the Oracle HTTP Server powered by Apache. The graphic below illustrates the Oracle Application Express architecture using the Embedded PL/SQL Gateway.

 Oracle Application Express using the Embedded PL/SQL Gateway 

Converting ApplicationsOracle Application Express Application Migration Workshop (Application Migration) enables you to convert Oracle Forms and Microsoft Access applications and generate an Oracle Application Express application from the retrieved objects.

Oracle Forms modernization projects are often undertaken to convert legacy applications to the latest Oracle Database version and enable developers to satisfy user demands for greater user interactivity and Web 2.0 capabilities.

 Oracle Application Express Forms Conversion OverviewOracle Application Express 3.2 enables you to load your Oracle Forms source into an Oracle Application Express project and generate an initial APEX application. The conversion automatically converts most user interface components but does not convert business logic implemented within triggers, program units, or PL/SQL libraries. Loading Oracle Forms definitions into the Oracle Application Express project provides analysis and tracking of the conversion project. Once the initial design has been generated, the rapid application development capabilities inherent within Oracle Application Express can be utilized to enhance and expand the generated application. Post-generation the business logic within Oracle Forms can be re-implemented and new screens which take advantage of Web 2.0 capabilities such as interactive reports and flash charts can be added using the wizards built into the Oracle Application Express builder.

Microsoft Access presents organizations with a myriad of manageability issues. Often simple applications grow in size and complexity and become mission critical. These same applications are often scattered throughout the network making maintenance, backups, security, and access increasingly costly and inconsistent. One key reason for migrating from Microsoft Access to an Oracle database is to consolidate the data and build common applications based on a single data source.

Key FeaturesThe sections that follow describe key features of Oracle Application Express, including:

Reporting Forms

Charting PDF Printing Web Services Spreadsheet Upload Session State Management User Interface Themes Flow Control & Navigation Conditionality on all Components External Interfaces & Extensibility Declarative BLOB Support Optional Runtime-Only Installation Security SQL Workshop Tools Supporting Objects Utility Performance Packaged Applications Hosted Development Reporting With Oracle Application Express, you can quickly generate HTML reports that display the results of SQL queries.  You can also download and print reports in HTML, PDF, RTF (compatible with Microsoft Word), and XLS (compatible with Microsoft Excel) formats.You can declaratively link reports together to provide drill-down reporting and use bind variables to pass information from session state to a report.  Reports support declarative column heading sorting, control breaks, sums, and pagination.  Report sorting and pagination can use Partial Page Refresh (PPR) technology to avoid refreshing the entire page.  You can also add declarative links to a report to download the report data to CSV or XML formats.  Plus, you can customize the report appearance using templates.

"Interactive Reporting" Regions are a further extension of the classic reports that enable dynamic end-users report customization. Users can alter the layout of report data by displaying the columns they are interested in, applying filters, highlighting, and sorting. They can also define breaks, aggregations, include a chart, and their own computations. Users can create multiple variations of the report and save each as a named report. There are also multiple download formats available, including comma-delimited file (CSV) format, Microsoft Excel (XLS) format, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), and Microsoft Word Rich Text Format (RTF). 

 

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Forms Using wizards, you can easily create forms on tables or on a stored procedure.  When creating a form on a table, these wizards provide automatic management of insert, update, and delete as well as lost update detection.  Once you create a form, you can rearrange form fields (called form items) using a visual representation, enabling you to quickly achieve the layout you want.  Form items offer a variety of display options including text fields, text areas, radio groups, select lists, check boxes, date pickers, and popup list of values.

 

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Charting You can also use wizards to create HTML, SVG, or Flash charts.  You can create charts that enable users to drill down from one chart to another chart or report.  Charts can also be refreshed using Partial Page Refresh (PPR) technology, avoiding the need to refresh an entire page.  You can also configure a chart to refresh at defined intervals.  Additionally, you can take advantage of report column templates to add simple HTML bar charts to any report.

 

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PDF Printing As of Application Express 3.0, you can include the ability to export a report region to PDF - essentially, printing a report. A custom link or button can be added to any report region. You can also define Report Queries and Report Layouts under Shared Components. These are custom reports that can be linked anywhere within an application.

 

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