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http://www.iselfschooling.com/Free_Oracle_Training/02_Developers/01_Forms/lesson01.html

Introduction-------------

Form Builder tool is a FRONT-END development tool.You use the Form Builder tool to simplify the creation of data-entry screens orForms.Forms are the applications that connect to a database, retrieve information requested by the user,present it in a layout specified by the forms designer, and allow the user to modify or add information.Form Builder allows you to build forms quickly and easily.Form Builder components-------------------------

The main Form Builder components are:FORM modules,MENU modules,PL/SQL libraries, andObject libraries.

Form Module------------

The Form Module is a binary program code that is generated by Form Builder (fmb).Menu Module------------

The Menu Module is a binary menu code that should be compiled and used by the Form Module (mmb).PL/SQL libraries

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The PL/SQL libraries are storage for stored procedure (pll).Object Libraries-----------------

The Object libraries are storage for FORM objects.The main objects in a Form module are:Windows,Blocks,Items, andCanvases.

Windows---------

Window is an empty frame to hold your object and it is the outermost boundary for a form.Blocks-------

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Block is a logical container that holds form objects such as data items and control buttons.There are two types of block: Data Block and Control Block.A Data Block is a link to your database information and holds database data.A Control Block holds information that has nothing to do with database.Items------

An item could be a database column or non database item.

Canvases----------

A canvas is a place to hold the objects.The four types of canvases are: Content, Stacked, Tab, and Tool-bar. All can coexist within a single window.A content canvas is the basic background for all windows. A stacked canvas layson top of the others.A tab canvas is the same as stacked canvases with handy tabsat the top.It can simply move from one canvas to another.A tool-bar canvas contains push buttons giving users quick access such as horizontal canvas or vertical canvas.

Object Navigator------------------

When you open the Forms Builder tool, the first window you will see is the Object Navigator window.The Object Navigator will be used on all development tools.It gives you a hierarchical listing of all the modules open in your current session.You use this listing to navigate to, and work on, those objects.It gives you access to all database objects you own or have grant to, and a listof all the built-in functions and procedures.Clicking on the plus sign next to an object in the Object Navigator will expandthe object and clicking on the minus sign will collapse the object.

Property palette-----------------

Oracle tools follow object oriented methodology.Although they are not pure object oriented but there are not far from it either.Each item in the Oracle tools can be identified as an object. To manipulate an object, you use Property Palette.As you can see from now on, you can do much without property palette. A PropertyPalette contains object properties.The contents of the Property Palette are referred to as the Property sheetfor thect.

You use the Property Palette to modify object properties. To open the Property Palette of an object,go to the object and right click on the mouse button then select Property Palette.The Property Palette provides complete control over your objects. It contains the property list of an object.Remember that the properties of an object can be changed to control the behaviour of the object.The Item properties such as Tooltip, Hint, and Display Hint automatically,will be used to provide item-level assistance for the client and can be changed

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only from property palette.A text item appearance can be modified by manipulating properties such as Justification, or Format Mask properties.For controlling the data within a text item or display item, you can use properties such as Calculation Mode, and Lowest and Highest value.Data Block Wizard tool-----------------------

You can use the Data Block Wizard tool to create and modify data blocks.Layout Wizard tool-------------------You can also use the Layout Wizard tool in Form Builder to create, and modify forms quickly and efficiently.The Layout Wizard asks you a series of questions and then generates a basic formthat fulfils the criteria you have specified.You can later use the Layout Wizard to modify the form if you want to change itsfundamental design or contents.You always can modify the layout manually to better suit your application's needs.