3

Working in the Form

Builder Environment

Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Objectives

After completing this lesson, you should be able to

do the following:
Identify the main Form Builder executables
Identify the main components of Form Builder
Identify the main objects in a form module

3-2 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Form Builder Key Features

With Form Builder you can:

Insert, update, delete, and query data
Present data as text, sound, video, image, and ActiveX
controls
Control forms across several windows and database
transactions
Access Graphics and OLE2 applications
Use integrated menus
Send data to Report Builder

3-3 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Form Builder Executables

Form Builder

Form Compiler Forms

Runtime

Definitions

Runfiles

3-4 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Form Builder Module Types

PL/SQL Object
Library Library

Menus Forms Libraries

Oracle Developer ACTIVEX

Components Other DDE
OLE2

Data Sources Database

3-5 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Blocks, Items, and Canvases

Canvas 1 Canvas 2

Items
Items
Block B
Block A

3-6 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Navigation in a Block

Canvas 1 Canvas 2

3-7 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Data Blocks

A B C
Master Data Block
2
A B C D

Table 3
4
1 Detail Data Block
X Y Z 5
X Y Z

6
Table
3-8 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.
 Data Blocks

A B C
Master Data Block
2
A B C D

Table 3
4
1 Detail Data Block
X Y Z 5
X Y Z

6
Table
3-9 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.
 Forms and Data Blocks

Block 1 Block 1 Block 1

Form C
Block 2 Open Form
Block 2
Open Block 1
Block 3 Form
Form A Form B

Block 4 Multiple Form Modules

Single Form
Module
3-10 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.
 Form Module Hierarchy
Table

Module Database

Blocks
Block(s)
Column
Column

Trigger
Trigger Item
Item
Frame
Frame Item
Item
Program
Program Canvas
Canvas
Units
units Item
Item

Trigger
Trigger
Trigger
Trigger

Window
Window

3-11 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Summary

Form Builder allows screen-based querying, insertion,

updating, and deletion of data.
Form Builder has powerful GUI and integration
features.
Applications can consist of form modules, menu
modules, and library documents.

3-12 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.

 Summary

Form modules consist of logical data blocks, which

are logical owners of items.
Items in a data block can span several canvases.

3-13 Copyright Ó Oracle Corporation, 1999. All rights reserved.