Oracle Application Express 'MS Access on Steroids'

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

Browser

Oracle Database

Developers

Wizards APEX

Edit Screens

HTML Templates Images Table (etc.) Definitions User Interface Defaults

Development

Application Definitions

Browser

Run time url

Db Connection Pool HTML File(s)

End Users Web page

APEX

Data Data Data Data

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 • 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 •. . .

Admin • Monitoring • Application Reports • Schema management Access Migration Workshop • Export / Import

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

File Servers

SQL Developer Migration Workbench

APEX

Migration

1

2 Develop New Application / UI

Migrate Existing Data or Create new

Existing Data

25 – 50% of time

Oracle Db with APEX 0% - 10% of time

Web app

50% - 75% of time

MS Access Application Migration Simple, fully documented 2 stage process; 1.

Create matching database tables, indexes • • •

2.

Build user interface using APEX • •

•

Manually Import function via csv files SD Migration Workbench

‘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    

•

SQL Server   



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 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

• Online Store • Ask the Expert

• Discussion Forum • Bug Tracker

• 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

“This presentation is for informational purposes only and may not be incorporated into a contract or agreement.”