Introduction to Forms

Native frontend tool of Oracle.
Supports PL/SQL coding.
Supports communication with database.
Supports all database objects of SQL and PL/SQL ( Tables, Views, Synonym, Sequence, Triggers, Sub programs)
Supports to view and define database objects from forms environment.
Supports to share properties of controls using visual attributes and property classes.
Supports OOPS features.
Supports to share application with multiple users and multiple platforms.

Developer 10g suite
It consists of three components
Oracle Forms
Used to develop user friendly application screens for data manipulations and retrieval purpose.
Oracle Reports
Used to represent information for read only purpose in a user friendly format.
Oracle Graphics
Used to represent the information in char formar with X and Y co-ordinates.

Forms 10g
Supports to manipulate data or retrieve data available in RDBMS.

Interfaces in forms

Object Navigator ( F3 )

Allows to create components and navigate between other screens of forms.

Layout Editor ( F2 )

Used to design application screens. Supports to create controls ( GUI Controls).

Property pallete ( F4 )

Used to assign properties for controls.

PL/SQL Editor ( F11 )

Used to provide code for procedures, functions, packages, triggers.

Menu Editor

Used to design menus.

Wizards

Used to make components like blocks, canvas, charts, LOV.
Form Components
There are two important forms components.

Blocks
Canvas

Blocks

Represents collection of controls (items).
There are two types of blocks

Base table block
Control block

Base table block

Block created based on table, view or synonym or stored procedure.

Control block

Block created without any table. It will not represent any table.
Control blocks are created manually.
    2) Canvas
          Used to hold block items. It is a container which can hold more than one block on it.
          Canvas can be created through layout wizard or manually.
Note

The default type of canvas is content canvas.
Default type of item is text item.
Text item: It is an editable control, used to represent column of a table.
At least one content or tab canvas must be there to run the application.
At least one editable item must be available to run the application.
Whenever base table block is created in a form, it automatically frames an internal insert, update, delete and select statements.

Shortcut keys

ctrl + s	save the FMB file
ctrl + t	compiles the FMB file and gives FMX file
ctrl + r	Runs FMX file ( Gives the final output )
F8	Execute the query ( used to retrieve the data from table

Wizards
Data block wizard -- Used for creating datablock.
Layout wizard        -- used for creating Canvas.
LOV wizard            -- used for creating list of values
Chart wizard         -- used for creating chart.
Report   wizard     -- used for creating wizard.
Create your first form using wizard
Form Builder Tool
Open the "Form Builder" tool.
Welcome window
You will get the ‘Welcome to the Form Builder’ window.
Use the data Block Wizard, ( Tools Data block wizard )
You will get ‘welcome to the the data block wizard’

table or view

Enter the table name EMP

Refresh

provide connection details ( user name , password and host string )

Move all the columns from available columns to database items

Data block name ( let it be same as table name )

create data block then call layout wizard

finish.
We are done with datablock wizard , You will get ‘welcome to layout wizard’

Canvas – ( new canvas ) Type – content

Move all items from available items to displayed items

Select form

Frame tile – Emp Details

Finish
We are done with layout wizard
Go to File -

Save As -

Create new folder in desktop with the name MY_FORMS

Save the file with the name EMP_FORM.fmb
Important is to observe the object navigator ( Press F3 )
You can see under forms your form name i.e. EMP_FORM
Under form, data block is created i.e. EMP ( Data block refers to table )
Under data block, i.e. you find Item ( Item refers to columns in the table )
Under canvases, you can see a canvas
Under Canvas, you can see the frame
Understand hierarchy. It is simple.
Now, Compile the form.
In the Menu, Go to Program -

Compile Module ( Ctrl + T )
In your desktop, in your folder MY_FORMS , Observe .fmx file is generated.
Note:
When we compile fmb file, fmx file is generated.
To run the form, start the listener / Start OC4J listener
Now, Run the form
Click on Run Form Icon.

It will prompt to install Jinitiator, Install it.
Your Form is opened in the browser.

Now, Enter values in few fields like empno, ename ,sal , deptno, click on save.
You get a message, Transaction complete: 1 record applied and saved.
Now check your EMP table in the database, you can see the new row is inserted.

To look at all the rows in the emp table, click on execute query

To look at the next row click on next record.
To look at previous row click on previous record button.

To change the salary of ALLEN from 1600 to 2000.
Go to ALLEN record, change the value of sal field to 2000.
Click on save button.

To delete the row of empno 111, traverse the record, click on delete button and save.

Look at the EMP table , empno 111 is deleted.
To see the details of all the employees working in deptno 20.
Click on Enter query
Enter deptno 20
Click on Execute query
Now, when you click on next record, you will get only the records working in deptno 20.

Assignment
Create a table rail_reservation, with the following columns
Train_no, coach_id, seat_no, doj, pname, age, gender, from_stn, to_stn, timing, ticked_id, fare
Create FORM using rail_reservation table.
Perform the following actions

Add new reservations
Change Date of Journey
Cancel ticket. ( Remove )
See the passenger details of particular train/ doj / to_stn