Java Development Tools

Hi Michael

Thank you, I'll think of some suggestions to post here.

Would you like to receive suggestions relating to Form Builder here or in a separate thread? I bounce really hard off it every time I switch back from Visual Studio or NetBeans. Of course that's assuming you have resources to improve the IDE

Regards

Ben

Ok, I'm telling some thoughts:

• better support of calling and consuming webservices for feature enhancements
• a public betatest for the next release (ok, no new feature, just a personal wish)
• ability to store more information from formweb.cfg in the repository
• and I don't renew the things about Flexible UI, Repsponsive Design and so on, that's not Forms business

Feel free to add any Forms specific suggestions in this thread.  Regarding the Builder, although we are currently not planning any big changes for it, we are planning to make a variety of improvements.  One thing not on the roadmap at this time would be to do extensive redesigned.  For Builder, we are looking at cleanup and minor updates to help improve working efficiently.  For example, possibly adding wheel mouse support in places where it is currently not available, adding right-mouse click editing features (cut/copy/paste), etc.  Although unclear if anyone uses it, we plan to make a minor improvement to the Object List Report.  And numerous others like that... There are a few larger scale changes being discussed for Builder, but we are not prepared to share those details at this time.

Regardless of what your idea is, share it anyway.  All suggestions will be considered.  However, if you want your idea to have the highest chances of inclusion, be reasonable.  As mentioned, extensive redesigns the Builder is not planned. Again, the target areas include, but are not limited to:  runtime UI, FSAL, admin tooling (e.g. FMC/EM, FADS), performance, security, and other areas that I'm not at liberty to discuss

Whatever ideas you have, please share them.  Be sure to provide as much detail as possible.

Hi, Thanks Michael to let us make our wish list here.

I have two requests regarding the builder.

It could be super cool to have a feature allowing to make a diff between two modules and allowing to merged changes. Today we have to use an external tool to do that. To be able to call by command this feature will be the cherry on the cake.

Auto-completion for the code is also a feature that could good to have (specially when you use get_*_property or set_*_property built-in but for all form built-in and pl/sql code).

Are they reasonable ? ;-)

Thanks

@"Holger.Lehmann"

What did you have in mind when you asked about storing "more" formsweb.cfg information in repository?  Today we do not store any information from our config files in repo.  Can you be specific?  What would you like stored in repo and why?

@"SFrix"

Auto-complete in the PLSQL editor is not likely something we can do for any near term release.

Regarding your idea for "diff", what exactly would you like to see?  Diff what?  We already give you the ability to diff properties.  Diff'g the code and identifying each difference would be extremely difficult without making significant changes.  However, it may be possible to expose something more like what we currently do for properties.  What if you selected two (or more) triggers and if they are not all exactly the same we show something like **** in the Property Palette or somewhere else?  Again, we already do this for Properties. I suspect we could do similar for triggers, PUs.  Doing this for pl/sql libraries may be difficult, but not impossible.

Hi Mike,

I thought of hiding the application user that runs a form if it is not user specific or every user does login with a specific userid.

Often there is a user/password with term userid= in formsweb.cfg that could be moved to the OPSS repository maybe,

Thanks for the initiative,

posibility to get "meta-data" from paramlist : get the list of parameters included in the paramlist and possibility to loop and  extract value of each parameter.

possibility to get list of forms opened. and the current active form from this list.

possibility to order the close of one forms from another

possibility to send custom event from one form to another.

i want the possibility to manage forms from background form(the main form) javascript event and pjc can be attached only in the main form and they have the ability to send events to another forms specially the active one.

have the integration with VCS tools (git, svn ...) this can be very helpful

Another topic for linux based systems:

there are many binary package as a prerequisite for an installation:

question? why can't these packages be automatically installed by the installer?

same for windows: the Visual C++ Files. they have to be manually installed at the moment ?

Hello,

By diff I meant to be able to identify the changes between two versions of a module (fmb, pll, mmb). Not only the property or specific triggers. It is for the entire module; like ORCL Forms API Master tool do.

With this tool we are able to find the items created or deleted or changed between the two versions; also which code of triggers have changed, trigger added or removed, ...

@"Holger.Lehmann"

Although I agree that the system requirements could/should be handled by the installer, we can't do it in most cases because some packages have unique licensing and terms of use that you are expected to read before installing them.  If the installer installed them we would have to take ownership of ensuring you are notified of each license for each package or actually ship each package's license.  Since every machine is different, your actual needs may differ from the next organization.

That said, I do plan to work with our Release and Install team to see if we can do a better job of testing the system before performing the installation.  Meaning, the installer should warn of what may be missing before it continues.

ALL,

These are all great ideas.  Please keep them coming.  And also, be sure to spread the word that we are looking for feedback.  So far only a few people have commented in this thread.  Let's see if we can start a trend.

Also, please read the first post.  Be sure to provide details and explain why your idea adds value.

SUGGESTION DETAILS

Sorting of multi-record blocks in execution by clicking on header

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Allows end users to change the order of the records by clicking on the column of your choice. The ordering could be ascending or descending.

EXAMPLE MOCKUP (IF POSSIBLE)

SUGGESTION DETAILS

NEW RUN TIME MODERN NATIVE UI LIKE JAVA FX APPLICATION LOOK AND FEEL

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

SUGGESTION DETAILS

add filter box  above data block fields, coloring pl sql code in the editor

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

SUGGESTION DETAILS

Resize width columns in multi-record blocks in execution.

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

The user can adjust the column width when they need.

SUGGESTION DETAILS

To be able to put stacked canvas on another stacked canvas.

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

To ease the contextual display of complex screens and to create more "components" that can be use in any case.

SUGGESTION DETAILS

New Canvas type browser for integrate web applications.

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Possibility of displaying a panel (canvas) that integrates a browser where web applications are integrated with the forms that can communicate with javascript.

EXAMPLE MOCKUP (IF POSSIBLE)

SUGGESTION DETAILS

Better formatting for the triggers and plsql code. A code formatter is very important.

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Right now everyone in my team writes the code in forms builder and once completed copies to Toad or sql developer and formats there and then copies back.

Best Regards

Rajesh Alex

Hi  @"RajeshAlex" , I do exactly the same.

Format the code in SqlDev and paste it back to form builer.

Mike,

Another one I can think is Multi Select LOV

Most modern languages has this feature.

SUGGESTION DETAILS

Multi Select LOV.

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Very useful for query blocks.. Right now we are limited to either one item from list of values or none.Many times search users need to select multiple values. This will be also helpful when reports are being called from forms..

Multi Select LOV can return multiple values separated by comas

( If these features gets implemented add my name to it:-)

Best Regards

Rajesh Alex

Hi Michael,

i used to be a heavy forms user and contributor in this forum, but my working focus switched to C#-Development some years ago. Nethertheless i frequently have to deal with Forms Builder an do some changes to existing modules.

SUGGESTION DETAILS

A modern IDE

There is one thing any developer who uses an "up-to-date" IDE  immediately complains about when having to use forms (including me after using Visual Studio and Eclipse for several years now). The Forms IDE was already outdated when i started building forms modules in 1997. And, with the exception of some minor changes, NOTHING has changed in the IDE. The IDE is HORRIBLE if you have ever used a modern IDE. There is no kind of comfort for the develeoper, starting from code-completion, code-formatting, code inspection, debugging (with keeping break-point stable). The window handling is the worst i can imagine. There is no kind of docking windows, having an easy way to open more than one code editor, tabbing etc.. There is nothing like code inspection, refactoring or any other modern help for the developer. The binary file format makes it nearly impossible to do a sensible version-control. No chance for merging or file-compare without manual interference or third-party tools.

Whenever i have to deal with doing changes to a forms-module nowadays, i feel uncomfortable and look forward to be able to do developing in Visual studio again. And in my eyes this is one of the biggest problems, as productivity, which was one of the outstanding advantages of forms for a long time, is far better in the meantime in other tools.

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Productivity. Feeling, that you work in the 21. century.

Best regards,

Andreas

@"RajeshAlex"

What about multi-select TLists ?

Hi Michael,

I have a suggestion not directly related to Forms Builder, but is part of it on local runtime mode.... that's why I'm sending it..

SUGGESTION DETAILS

Hide messages related to WEBLOGIC on  running localy (my PC/laptop), or even better sending to Java Console

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

During development work (coding, testing, fixing issues, etc) we usually open, close, maximize or minimize several windows, but keeping open/minimized those windows related to Weblogic starting/working is not necessary.  Saving all in a log file, or showing into the Java Console could be better.

What would be the value?... I would say give us a cleaner environment on Developement time on Windows, without those console windows

1) Last 20 years you did nothing on upload files, spaghetti with webutil still exists.

2) Ask guys at APEX how to offer Forms in the cloud of the third party and not Oracle cloud.

3) Ask Google how to manipulate Google Maps.

4) Find someone who will move Forms runtime to mobile.

5) Try to understand that 30 years after the first Report we still need Report.

6) Few cents of investment in youngsters will help us manage sustainable development.

Yours sincerely,

me, APEX, and Forms&Reports

Today the value property of an item can be a formule.

A hughe developers benefit could be introduced when ALL properties could be formulas.

For example

The visible property of an item is set determined by a boolean expression.
item employee.salary
Visible =   (employee.rank not in ('MANAGER','CEO'))

For example
A button enabled property
Enabled = ( system.record_status = 'QUERY' and employee.status = 'IN SERVICE')

Is it part of the standard forms or java bean ? Does it allow  data to be filtered before display?

And which version is this available ?

Rajesh Alex

@"RajeshAlex",

The example I shared was just a mock-up and does not currently exist in any Forms version.  I was merely sharing it as a possibility, asking you if something like that would accommodate the use-case you had in mind.

Multi-select LOVs will not likely be feasible, however it may be possible to do what I proposed as a mock-up.

Mike,

End users like a checkbox type multi select list (similar to what BI Publisher has) in order to run the report from forms or for the block

search criteria fields. Right now forms has either give  one value for the field or no value for the field for search. Many users like to

search for 2 values  or more in the same field .

  I am sure this is an easy thing.  Return the selected values in a comma separated string.

Best Regards

Rajesh Alex

SUGGESTION DETAILS

Allow special characters and line breaks for the  Push button.   

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Currently  forms builder does not support a multi line label for a pushbutton. Hence this can be set only in run time by using CHR(10)

Also it does not allow special unicode characters like graphic UP /DOWN which could be used as a symbol for SORT.

Recently I was implementing a sort feature for a multi record block similar to what APEX has.  I could not use the below characters

• ▲ - U+25B2 BLACK UP-POINTING TRIANGLE
• ▼ - U+25BC BLACK DOWN-POINTING TRIANGLE

EXAMPLE MOCKUP (IF POSSIBLE)

SUGGESTION DETAILS

One of the most important components is the Oracle Forms LOV.

Therefore, I would first like to propose the following change:

Data:

     - search-place:       {first-item | all-items}

     - search-algorithm: {auto-complete | auto-suggest}

Binding:

     - Item    (first LOV row)

     - Block  (result set of the LOV)

Layout:

     - simple table grid

     - search item

     - canvas property

     - button properties (e.g. `accept | cancel ..`)

Style:

     - Flat UI

     - color properties (schema)

     - row banding (Zebra stripes)

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Oracle Forms is a data-centric application system and so features for data selection and filtering are essential.

The proposed solution allows the user to quickly filter data according to modern best practice concepts.

It is also possible to use the LOV as a `read-only table grid` incl. data searchings.

EXAMPLE MOCKUP (IF POSSIBLE)

   e.g.: `all-items & auto-suggest`

               Search:  am              

               John               Silver                     Miami                   USA

               William           Richards                Birmingham          UK          

Cheers,

Friedhold

Andreas Weiden wrote:
The IDE is HORRIBLE if you have ever used a modern IDE. 

Couldn't agree more.

One maybe minor change of a feature which always baffeled me and caused us havoc:

SUGGESTION DETAILS

Remove the "feature" in the Forms API (which will affect the builder / the compiler / the JDAPI) that it removes attached libraries which cannot be found anymore in the forms path upon saving a file. Or at least ask before you get rid of them like eclipse does when you reference java classes in the import section which aren't in the classpath anymore like "there are libraries attached wich cannot be found in the forms path anymore. would you like to remove them before saving?" Y/N.

WHAT VALUE WOULD THIS ADD TO APPLICATIONS OR THE PRODUCT

Honestly I don't know what purpose that feature serves in the first place. If I dump a library I most certainly will remove the attachment from forms anyway. I am however certain that I am not the only one who started forms builder with an invalid FORMS_PATH, opened a form, accidentally saved it and had to reattach every single library by hand from scratch accompanied by an unusual amount of swear words.

Andreas Weiden wrote:
Productivity. Feeling, that you work in the 21. century.

That made me laugh very hard until I started crying and crawled under my desk.

cheers

@"Andreas Weiden" @"Christian Erlinger" I feel your pain

I have many suggestions and for my first one I'd like to expand on what Christian just wrote "I am not the only one who started forms builder with an invalid FORMS_PATH, opened a form..."

Background

My tiny team looks after 15 Forms and Reports applications, many 20+ years old. Over 800 forms and 350 reports in total.

We have 36 main code branches:

1 for each app

2 for Forms Java Beans that are full blown Java apps implementing JFreeChart and using JDBC

1 for a .NET developer workflow app that assists with branching, merging and preparing database and client patches

2 for .NET utilities invoked from Forms to perform client functions not provided by Webutil or to bypass the middle tier for database operations that are too slow that way, such as moving BLOBs

1 website for our users of Forms apps

The balance are mainly for libraries providing common database objects or Form libraries used in all our apps, one example being our application security layer involving base menus, forms, PLLs and database objects.

My point related to Christian's comment is: configuring Form Builder so it follows which branch I'm working in is a very tedious process and it could be easier to integrate it with WLS_FORMS

My Current Workflow

1. Perform a hack in the Windows Registry at HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\LastVisitedPidlMRU for frmbld.exe to set its "most recently used folder" to the path for client modules in my branch. This is so File > Open automatically starts in that folder saving me from manually navigating through many folder levels to find the form I want to work on in the branch and version I need

2. Edit cauprefs.ora and set Forms.compiler_module_path = C:\path\to\bin\folder\matching\WLS_FORMS\env\for\this\app. This is so WebLogic and Form Builder are using the same FORMS_PATH folder for compiled modules

3. Edit cauprefs.ora and set Forms.html = "http://127.0.0.1:9001/forms/frmservlet?config=<formsweb_named_config_section_for_my_app>". This is so the correct formsweb.cfg config will be started which references the app.env file pointing to the FORMS_PATH that WLS_FORMS needs to run from

4. Modify Registry key HKCU\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\KEY_OracleHome1\FORMS_MODULE_PATH to match to the path for client modules in my branch, otherwise no attached libraries or menus as per Christian

5. Start Node Manager, Admin Server and WLS_FORMS

Only then can I launch frmbld.exe and start doing my job

Suggestions 1 and 2

I believe adding several new command line parameters would be too unwieldy. I'd prefer one new command line parameter such as: frmbld_config=<path_to_my_config_file>

The parameter would instruct frmbld to read its configuration from a file at startup. For example:

module=<path_to_my_branch>\application_main_menu.fmb

userid=app_schema/password@SID

login_script=<path_to_my_login.sql>

MRU_folder=<path_to_my_branch>

Forms.compiler_module_path = C:\path\to\WLS_FORMS\bin\folder\matching\env\for\this\app

Forms.html = "http://127.0.0.1:9001/forms/frmservlet?config=<formsweb_named_config_section_for_my_app>

FORMS_MODULE_PATH=<path_to_my_branch>

Most of those should be obvious but I'd like to describe one that covers the second suggestion: login_script=<path_to_my_login.sql>

This is an SQL script to be executed after connecting or reconnecting to the DB, just like SQL*Plus and SQL Developer already have.

The requirement this fulfils is when I need to debug in Form Builder using an application user instead of the main application schema you'd typically use. You need to do this when developing or troubleshooting problems with your menu form, menus or application security that all have to work for the application to startup successfully.

My form builder login.sql would contain commands such as:

ALTER SESSION SET CURRENT_SCHEMA=<app_schema>;    (for when I haven't polluted my database with a million public synonyms )

SET ROLE <database_privilege_role> IDENTIFIED BY <role_password>;

And this would probably be useful for similar things, for example connecting to a container DB and then: ALTER SESSION SET CONTAINER = <PDB>;

Benefits

Easier configuration of Form Builder that aligns it with WLS_FORMS

Tighter integration between Form Builder and WLS_FORMS improves developer workflow

Permit debugging of application startup as an application user and debugging other forms as an application user

@"Christian Erlinger" @"ben_g"

You almost had me with this on.  The idea that the PLL attachment is removed if it can't be found when the module is opened.  But then it occurred to me, why would you want to keep the reference?  Without the file you won't be able to compile any PL/SQL that calls PUs within that library and you won't be able to generate the form into an X.  So what's the point of just having it show up in the Object Nav??  Why not just fix the problem?  Close the module without saving (leave the Builder open); add the missing path to FORMS_PATH in the Registry; reopen the module.  Done...

Ben, regarding your need/desire to have unique environment settings for various projects, you are proposing that the Builder accept an arg that reads a configuration file of choice.  Although not exactly the same as your suggestion, you can already do this.  Rather than having config files, just make your config file idea a batch file.  This is how it is done on Unix.  Then you can have a batch/script for each project.  In each file you can set exactly the same entries you see in the Registry.  In fact, this is how I have multiple versions on one machine.  I remove all the system settings (e.g. PATH, FORMS_PATH, etc) that reference Forms and enter what I want in individual batch files.  This would give you exactly the behavior you described.

Finally, the Builder has absolutely not relationship with ANY of the servers in WLS.  So you can start those servers at any time.  And "FORMS_MODULE_PATH"?  Why are you modifying this on a developer machine?  In most cases, there is no reason to make changes to this other than possibly remove the value(s) completely.  By setting this value to null/blank you can enter your module (X) path in the URL.  You should be editing FORMS_PATH in most cases.

And finally, are you aware that you can set the X file output directory in the Builder?  You don't need to set it in config file unless you want different values for different projects.  That said, the output path is currently not available as an environment variable so it can't be set in a batch startup script.  I'll look into this.

Michael Ferrante-Oracle wrote:
Christian Erlinger ben_g
Without the file you won't be able to compile any PL/SQL that calls PUs within that library and you won't be able to generate the form into an X.

You are missing the point. I don't care about compile errors at that time. Suppose I opened the form with an invalid forms path without noticing (or ignoring) the invalid library attachments and start hacking. Now I either have to revert all my changes (by not saving the form) or destroy the module (by hitting save). I could save, do a svn diff to see what libraries were attached before and reattach them, but hey, the beauty of oracle forms source binary files also prevents that.

The point is that Forms Builder (a IDE) itself destroys a source file just because the environment which is controlled by something totally different might be invalid.

Another possibility: I need to patch a bugfix from one branch to another. In every single other tool where source code is not stored in binary files I'd get the file(s) in question from version control, patch my changes and commit the changes. Enter oracle forms: there is literally no way I can do that - at least I'd have to get all the referenced libraries. Oh, and the subclassed forms referenced. And the object libraries. And what ever else I just forgot. So in the end I'd have to check out an entire branch just for adding one single if statement to one single program unit in one single form. Some of our libraries are based on generated code, so I have to generate them as well if I don't want to loose that attachment in the forms file in question.

I don't care if all the libraries are there or not at development time. Compile errors are OK at that time. If the FORMS_PATH is invalid at development time Forms Builder - on purpose - makes sure that the forms file in question will not be compiled anymore except I fix the path and revert all the work Forms Builder has done.

If at build time in an environment with a 100% correct FORMS_PATH the library still isn't there I get compile errors and the build fails anyway which also is the correct behaviour. The solution is simple: don't touch the source files unless I tell you to do so. As said - an eclipse like behaviour - the choice "there are library files which are not found in the FORMS_PATH would you like to remove them y/n" would be totally OK with me.

cheers

Whenever you want to help a coworker with a simple fix for one of his modules (maybe because you have changed a package he uses) you have to find every pll etc. before you can do so.

Usually we don't even compile a module locally but copy them into a server directory where a job looks every minute for new files and compiles them.

Hello,

features :

- svg icon / image and no longer have a jar for icons (certificate management for images ...)

--> storage in the pll / fmb or server ...

- simplified installation of cluster forms

- forms builder without weblogic -> compilation / runtime via a remote server

There are a lot of posts related to the development workflow, so I add my case:

In the case of my clients, there are different observations about developing with oracle 12c forms:

- the target operating system is linux

-the current form cannot be executed directly, usually there is a front login screen and different menu levels (a whole context of forms and pl to initialize)

- there is already an fsal or forms browser runtime that we don't want to restart all of this, so as not to lose the context.

Currently, the forms generator generates an fmx file (without saving fmb), launches the forms servlet and "posts" some parameters in the servlet (the fmx path, the user ID ...)

a better alternative is to add one or more buttons to perform execution with a custom script.

in this button, the forms will do these steps:

1- save the fmb in a temporary folder.

2- start the cmd program with arguments like the temporary fmb.

the cmd program (java program, I will write it)

1- Download the temporary fmb file into a servlet of the development application server.

2-compile the form

3- inform if the compilation succeeds or fails (if the compilation fails, display the .err content)

4- if the compilation is successful, copy the fmx in the directory linked to the developer.

all this can be done in the same servlet (upload, compilation, fmx copy or return from .err ...)

The developer can now access the fsal application (currently used with its env and forms_path), exit and enter the form from the menu for testing.

with that, i don't need to install weblogic for every developer.

I don't need to launch the forms directly because the form is usually accessible from the login screen and from different menu levels

sample windows shell scripts or exe to install portable jdk, fsal, create shortcut in the desktop...

FSAL will change the install of client pc, a simple url in ie is no longer sufficient, so you can help with windows scripts or/and utilities to do the client installation.

For example an equivalent of wget in windows. If i put frmsal, portable jdk and .bat file available for download in http server. a script to download these components in windows folder, create shortcut to the desktop ...

@"Walid KHARRAT"

Please review this for your FSAL script and installation idea.

https://community.oracle.com/thread/4111118

Can we have Oracle Forms Integration With Oracle OAS (Oracle Analytices Server).

Thanks for your suggestion, i will also evaluate vbscript and python to do this, both can do the job(create folder,download, extract...) and i can create exe from script. a small exe to deliver to pc clients...

@Akhtar_w

Forms 12.2.1.4 can already make calls to Analytics Publisher (on-prem or Cloud).

Thanks Sir for Your Reply Michael Ferrante-Oracle . Can You Please Refer a document or process how to make call to Analytics Publisher (on-prem) from oracle forms.

Refer to the Forms New Features guide and/or refer to the 12.2.1.4 Builder Help.  Specifically look for the information about SET_REPORT_OBJECT_PROPERTY.  That section has most of the technical details. For the most part, the concept is exactly the same as making calls to Reports.  You should be able to mostly re-purpose your existing code.

The New Features Guide and many others can be found on the Forms product page:

https://www.oracle.com/application-development/technologies/forms/forms.html

Hi,

It would be nice,

* SAML2 or Openid authentication, SSO Alternatives other than OAM.

* Log with Active Directory, without OID dependency.

* Automated scripts or deployment for FSAL in desktops. In web centric, it's tedious to have to manually deploy this for users. For reference Office 365 installer, automatically, downloads, install everything it needs and also put dekstop/start menu icons.

Thanks,

There is so much wrong with the Forms Builder I will just write all my ideas here:
- Let us choose an editor font (with ligatures please)
- Editor Color Schemes
- ability to "fold" code blocks
- FontAwesome in Forms
- don't store as FMB
so we can use git
why even one file per Form? Why not a couple of files where each trigger and program unit gets stored in their own file (to preserve formatting and line feeds, these get butchered in the XML file and make clean diffs impossible)
- DoubleClick on Trigger while pressing SHIFT opens a separate editor. Would like to do the same when pressing F11 with SHIFT.
- Enable use of MouseWheel in Object Navigator
- Get rid of MDI user interface. Dock all windows and use Tabs at the top to navigate between them.
- Miniature view of code on the right side of the window
- create set_block_property for "Number of Records Displayed"
- create set_menu_item_property HINT_TEXT
- when converting an FMB to XML don't append spaces to each line
- let us put images and JavaClasses into a special file which we can deploy with our fmx. it always is a hassle to use a JAR for this
- please allow NVL2 in PL/SQL
- make it an error during compile time if referencing a non existing field in a set_item_*/get_item_*/find_item
I know this is impossible since a variable could be in use. So only check it if a literal is used. Or climb up the call tree to find out which literal was used.
That this isn't picked up by the compiler makes maintaining Forms really hard when you restructure big parts of your application.
- Blocks:
Check "Query Data Source Name" and "DML Data Target Name" for validity during compile.
And last but not least:
Make the FormsBuilder OpenSource so we as a community can do great stuff with it ;-)

What does everyone think about this idea?
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Mike,
two enhancement requests
1.) After the repository installation this script should come at the end. I have seen many customers where Weblogic stopped working because of Password_life_time restriction.
PREFIX FRM12214:
CREATE PROFILE RCU_PROFILE
LIMIT PASSWORD_REUSE_MAX UNLIMITED
PASSWORD_REUSE_TIME UNLIMITED
PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME UNLIMITED;
alter user FRM12214_IAU profile rcu_profile;
alter user FRM12214_IAU_APPEND profile rcu_profile;
alter user FRM12214_OPSS profile rcu_profile;
alter user FRM12214_STB profile rcu_profile;
alter user FRM12214_IAU_VIEWER profile rcu_profile;
alter user FRM12214_WLS_RUNTIME profile rcu_profile;
alter user FRM12214_WLS profile rcu_profile;
2.) Weblogic is storing the "HOSTNAME" of the repository DB in the runtime environment during installation. (Example Windows Server)
When the Hostname changes you are lost
Suggestion - as Hint in the documentation
Add for example an entry in HOSTS
192.168.1.19 REPOSDB
Do your Repository Installtion now - if your Datebase moves from 192.168.1.19 -> 192.168.1.20 the startup of weblogic will hang.
If you switch the entry in HOSTS it directly starts up and you do not have to change any scripts.
With this trick you could also place your old serverhostname there and simply switch the IP adress.

Frank