Dermot MurrayExtending your Oracle Forms EstateUsingOracle Application Express

Agenda• Introduction• Introduction

• The Forms Challenge

• Introducing Oracle Application Express

• Use Cases

• Technical Architecture and licence

considerations

• Conclusion

INOAPPS COMPANY OVERVIEW

Oracle Platinum Partner Multiple accolades from customers and Oracle

►Largest Independent Oracle Specialist Partner

►Applications, EPM, BI and Technology

►Expertise in Hosting, Managed Services

►Engineered Systems and Hardware Practice

►Capable to deliver the whole Red Stack

► Implemented and Operating Oracle Fusion ERP

Cloud

►2015 Winner: Specialized Partner of the Year:

Oracle Cloud

►2014 Sunday Times Tech Track 100

►Deloitte Technology Fast 50 UK 2014 & Fast 500

EMEA 2014

►2010 & 2012 Winner, Specialized Partner of the

Year: Oracle Accelerate For Midsize Companies

Long track record of using Oracle Forms and Application Express

UK OFFICESAberdeen (Head Office)Edinburgh

Global Locations

EdinburghDerby

INTERNATIONAL OFFICESKuala Lumpur, Malaysia Houston, Texas, USA

►Global delivery experience and capability

►Established off shore and on shore model

OUR FOCUS AREAS

Inoapps Company Overview

OUR MAIN INDUSTRY SECTORS

►Application Implementations►Business Intelligence►Engineered Systems and Storage►HCM►Hyperion & EPM►JDE and PeopleSoft►Managed Services and Cloud►Mobility►R12 upgrades►Oracle Forms and Apex

►Business/Professional Services►Engineering and Construction►Financial Services►High Technology►Manufacturing►Oil & Gas►Public Sector►Telecommunications►Utilities

Long track record of using Oracle Forms and Application Express

So, you have Oracle Forms…

► Stable

► Mature► Mature

► Big Investment

► “Does what it says on the tin”

► BUT…

So, you have Oracle Forms…

►User Interface is ‘mature’

►High development cost►High development cost

►Licencing limitations

►Integration capabilities

►Limited scope for extending footprint

How to solve a problem like…

Integration MobileDesktop

limitationsIntegration Mobile

Simplified UI

limitations

“External” users

Oracle Application Express

► Toolkit to allow the rapid development of applications using only your web browser

► Fully-supported, no-cost feature of the Oracle Database

► Can extend and supplement Oracle Forms in a wide variety of ways

► Consists of a UI development tool, based on DB Schema and objects

APEX and Forms

► Retain existing Forms estate

► Re-use the business logic and IPR of existing apps

► Extend footprint using Apex screens

► Expand functionality using Apex capabilities

► Reduce and minimise the limitations of Forms

► Increase the use of your Oracle estate with minimal additional costs

Forms and APEX: Perfect Companions

Forms Apex

IntegrationDatabase Objects

Business Logic

Legacy Screens

Admin Screens

Core App “Spine”

Integration

Mobile

Simplified UI

External users

Oracle Applications Express

The Swiss Army Knife of Development Platforms

Use Case: Application extension

Application ExtensionApplication Extension

Use Case: Extend Application

► Existing Forms estate delivers core functionality

►Want to extend the footprint intoNew UsersNew functionality

►Use Apex to deliver new scopeEnhanced Look and FeelNo desktop limitationsRapid development

Use Case: Refresh User Interface

► “Mature” application seeks new “look and feel” (for long walks on the beach, fine dining and new experiences)

►New ways to engage your users with a simpler user experience

►Apex has a huge variety of data presentation themes

Mobile enablement

Application ExtensionRefresh User

Application Extension

Mobile Enablement

Refresh User Interface

Use Case: Mobile Enablement

► You wish to extend the footprint of your Forms application to allow users on Mobile devices – phones or tablets

► Oracle Forms on mobile is not easy

►Security considerations are signifcant

►Other Oracle middleware options available – but complex

► Extend footprint using Apex screens, using optimised “Mobile Themes”

Mobile Enablement

Mobile Enablement

Use Case: Mobile Enablement

► Online access only – No Offline capability or “App” capabilities

►Security considerations – needs externally facing server, DMZ, patches, hardening

►Licencing considerations – potential user audience increases, licence needs to match

Back Office Integration

Data Gathering Platform

Business Intelligence

Back OfficeProcessing

Business Intelligence Platform

Mobile Enablement

Use Case: Back Office Processing

► Mature forms estate that needs to extend beyond its current limitations

►Require back end integration and interfacing capabilities

►Don’t want to implement additional middleware layers Oracle Forms will not offer sufficient capabilities

►Back Office capabilities required to facilitate integrationSOA IntegrationEmail IntegrationCSV production and uploadBatch processing

Use Case: Back Office Processing

Web ServicesPresentation/ Email CSV/ Blob

HandlingPresentation/consumption Integration

Batch Processing

Handling

SSO Integration

Use Case: Business Intelligence Platform

►Forms based application used to “gather” data

►How to “enable” that data out to a wider audience

►Many BI tools out there (including from Oracle), but all will incur significant cost, time and effort

►Apex offers a wide variety of “out of the box” reporting capabilities

►Can be used to offer BI capabilities to existing applications

Data Gathering Platform

Data Warehousing

Email Integration

Single Sign On

Oracle Application Express

Excel Killer

Business Intelligence Platform

Workflow and automation engine

Document Management

Web service integration

Batch Processing

Data Warehousing

SSL Encryption

Pixel Perfect Reporting

Forms and Apex – Perfect Companions

Complement

SupplementReplace Supplement

ExpandExtend

Replace

System Architecture - Forms

Forms Client

Java AppletGUI and beans

Forms ServerForms Listener

Manages Runtime

Runtime EngineApp logic, data management,

PL/SQL engine

Database Server

System Architecture - APEX

Web Listener

Web Browser

Meta Data

Oracle Database with Oracle Applications Express

System Architecture – Forms and Apex combined

Forms Client

Java AppletGUI and beans

Apex Browser

Forms Server

Apex Web Listener

Database Server

Apex Schema

Architecture Considerations

► Existing Database infrastructure can be used

► Web listener can be located on DB server

► Or use existing Forms Middleware Server

► NO additional hardware

► NO additional middleware

Project Phases of a typical system deployment

Requirements Gathering

Solution Design

Data Dictionary

Build Business Logic

Technical Architecture

UI Test and Deploy

Project Phases of an Apex extension

Requirements Gathering

Solution Design

Data Dictionary

Build Business Logic

Technical Architecture

UI Test and Deploy

Licence Considerations

► First Rule of Oracle – make sure you are licenced► First Rule of Oracle – make sure you are licenced

► Oracle Applications Express licence is included in Database licence usage

► NO additional licence requirements(As long as all users are licenced for DB)

Oracle Apex 5

► Latest release, GA in April 2015► Latest release, GA in April 2015

► Huge step forward in terms of functionailty, scope and “look and feel”

►Underpins Oracle’s strategic investment in Apex

Don’t believe me?

Skills Considerations

► Core skills – SQL/ PL/SQL► Core skills – SQL/ PL/SQL

►Screen designer is simple and intuitive

►Low cost of entry – but huge scope for development

►LOTS of Google resources

Business Benefits of Apex Extension

Time to DeploymentCost of infrastructure

Scope of solutionCost of infrastructure

Cost of licencesCost of Project

Risk

Scope of solutionIntegration

User Adoption

Summary

► Many organisations have made a significant investment in Oracle Forms

►There are many upgrade or migration paths available to Forms users

►Oracle Application Express offers a simple and low cost way to retain that investment whilst retaining the ability to meet the changing needs of the business

Questions?

#InoappsCloudcast

E: dermot.murray@inoapps.com | T: 0870 112 2000 | W: www.inoapps.com

Dermot MurrayTechnology Division Manager