<Insert Picture Here> Oracle Application Express MS Access on Steroids Jules Lane Principal 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 productivity Without 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 Express Create 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 Express Build initial App
Standard App Dev Features
Architecture With the Embedded PL/SQL Gateway (XE and 11g) With Apache and mod_plsql
Run time Architecture Oracle Database Wizards Developers Browser APEX Edit Screens HTML Templates Images Table (etc.) Definitions Development User Interface Defaults Run time Application Definitions End Users Browser url Db Connection Pool HTML File(s) A P E X Data Data Data Data Web page Dotted lines = optional
D E M O N S T R A T I O N Application Express Enhance App
Application Express 3.0 Selected Features Development Admin Wizards for all objects Monitoring Master Detail structures Application Reports Declarative PDF Reporting Schema management Flexible Flash, SVG, HTML Charts Access Migration Workshop Web-Service Consumption Export / Import Wide range of GUI widgets Calendar Enhancements Built in image library PL/SQL functions and procedures Page & Region Caching...
D E M O N S T R A T I O N Application Express Application UI Examples
Application Express - Customers Approx 15% of all customers, = 45,000
Database Migration: Application Express encourages Consolidation Spreadsheets Desktop Databases SQL Developer Migration Workbench APEX File Servers
Migration 1 Migrate Existing Data or Create new 2 Develop New Application / UI Existing Data Oracle Db with APEX Web app 25 50% of time 0% - 10% of time 50% - 75% of time
MS Access Application Migration 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
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!
Q & A
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