Oracle Apex & Database Solutions: TRIGGERS IN ORACLE FORMS

Triggers are blocks of PL/SQL code that are written to perform tasks when a specific event occurs within an application. In effect, an Oracle Forms trigger is an event-handler written in PL/SQL to augment (or occasionally replace) the default processing behavior. Every trigger has a name, and contains one or more PL/SQL statements. A trigger encapsulates PL/SQL code so that it can be associated with an event and executed and maintained as a distinct object. There are different level trigger in oracle forms.

Block Processing Triggers: Block processing triggers fire in response to events related to record management in a block.

When-Create-Record Perform an action whenever Oracle Forms attempts to create a new record in a block.
When-Clear-Block Perform an action whenever Oracle Forms flushes the current block; that is, removes all records from the block.
When-Database-Record Perform an action whenever Oracle Forms changes a record’s status to Insert or Update, thus indicating that the record should be processed by the next COMMIT_FORM operation.

Master/Detail Triggers: Oracle Forms generates master/detail triggers automatically when a master/detail relation is defined between blocks.

On-Check-Delete-Master Fires when Oracle Forms attempts to delete a record in a block that is a master block in a master/detail relation.
On-Clear-Details Fires when Oracle Forms needs to clear records in a block that is a detail block in a master/detail relation because those records no longer correspond to the current record in the master block.
On-Populate-Details Fires when Oracle Forms needs to fetch records into a block that is the detail block in a master/detail relation so that detail records are synchronized with the current record in the master block.

Message-Handling Triggers:

Oracle Forms automatically issues appropriate error and informational messages in response to runtime events. Message handling triggers fire in response to these default messaging events.

On-Error Replace a default error message with a custom error message, or to trap and recover from an error.
On-Message To trap and respond to a message; for example, to replace a default message issued by Oracle Forms with a custom message.

Query-Time Triggers:

Query-time triggers fire just before and just after the operator or the application executes a query in a block.

Pre-Query Validate the current query criteria or provide additional query criteria programmatically, just before sending the SELECT statement to the database.
Post-Query Perform an action after fetching a record, such as looking up values in other tables based on a value in the current record. Fires once for each record fetched into the block.

Interface Event Triggers:

Interface events trigger fire in response to events that occur in the form interface. Some of these triggers, such as When-Button-Pressed, fire only in response to operator input or manipulation. Others, like When-Window-Activated, can fire in response to both operator input and programmatic control.

When-Button-Pressed Initiate an action when an operator selects a button, either with the mouse or through keyboard selection.
When-Checkbox-Changed Initiate an action when the operator toggles the state of a check box, either with the mouse or through keyboard selection.
When-Image-Activated Initiate an action whenever the operator double-clicks an image item.
When-Image-Pressed Initiate an action whenever an operator clicks on an image item.
When-Radio-Changed Initiate an action when an operator changes the current radio button selected in a radio group item.
When-Window-Activated Initiate an action whenever an operator or the application activates a window.
When-Window-Closed Initiate an action whenever an operator closes a window with the window manager’s Close command.
When-Window-Deactivated Initiate an action whenever a window is deactivated as a result of another window becoming the active window.

Transactional Triggers:

Transactional triggers fire in response to a wide variety of events that occur as a form interacts with the data source.

On-Delete
On-Insert
On-Update
On-Logon
On-Logout
Post-Database-Commit
Post-Delete
Post-Insert
Post-Update
Pre-Commit
Pre-Delete
Pre-Insert
Pre-Update

Navigational Triggers:

Navigational triggers fire in response to navigational events. Navigational triggers can be further sub-divided into two categories: Pre- and Post- triggers and When-New-Instance triggers. Pre- and Post- Triggers fire as Oracle Forms navigates internally through different levels of the object hierarchy. When-New-Instance-Triggers fire at the end of a navigational sequence that places the input focus on a different item.

Pre-Form Perform an action just before Oracle Forms navigates to the form from “outside” the form, such as at form startup.
Pre-Block Perform an action before Oracle Forms navigates to the block level from the form level.
Pre-Record Perform an action before Oracle Forms navigates to the record level from the block level.
Pre-Text-Item Perform an action before Oracle Forms navigates to a text item from the record level.
Post-Text-Item Manipulate an item when Oracle Forms leaves a text item and navigates to the record level.
Post-Record Manipulate a record when Oracle Forms leaves a record and navigates to the block level.
Post-Block Manipulate the current record when Oracle Forms leaves a block and navigates to the form level.
Post-Form Perform an action before Oracle Forms navigates to “outside” the form, such as when exiting the form.

When-New-Form-Instance Perform an action at form start-up. (Occurs after the Pre-Form trigger fires).
When-New-Block-Instance Perform an action immediately after the input focus moves to an item in a block other than the block that previously had input focus.
When-New-Record-Instance Perform an action immediately after the input focus moves to an item in a different record.
When-New-Item-Instance Perform an action immediately after the input focus moves to a different item.

Validation Triggers:

Validation triggers fire when Oracle Forms validates data in an item or record. Oracle Forms performs validation checks during navigation that occur in response to operator input, programmatic control, or default processing, such as a Commit operation.

When-Validate-Item
When-Validate-Record

What is the difference between CALL_FORM, NEW_FORM, and OPEN_FORM?

CALL_FORM: It starts a new form and passes control to it. It will open the requested form by keeping the parent form active but hidden.

New_Form: It' terminates the current form and replaces it with the indicated new form.

Open_form: It opens the indicated new form without replacing or suspending the parent form.

What are the sequences of firing triggers in forms?

The sequence of firing triggers in forms When forms open is

Pre-form
Pre-block
Pre-recorded
Pre-text-item
When-new-form-instance
When-new-block-instance
When-new-record-instance
When-new-item-instance

What is the canvas in oracle forms?

A canvas is a layer within a window where visual objects like interface items or graphics can be placed. Oracle forms support four types of canvas, as mentioned below:

1. Content Canvas (Default)
2. Tab Canvas
3. Toolbar Canvas
4. Stacked Canvas

Name the different triggers associated with Oracle Forms having a master-detail relationship.
The enlisted trigger gets created during the creation of the master-detail block:

ON-CHECK-DELETE-MASTER
ON-CLEAR-DETAILS
ON-POPULATE-DETAILS

Various types of reports include:

Tabular
Group Left
Group Above
Matrix-Minimum 4 Groups are required
Matrix with Group
Form Reports
Form Letter Reports
Mailing Labels Reports

There are three types of columns in Oracle reports. They are:

Formula Columns: Columns that can do user-defined calculations on values within other columns and return some value. Formula columns are used to calculate information dynamically.
Summary Columns: Columns can do summary computations like sum, average, etc. on values placed in the other columns.-Used for calculating summary information.
Placeholder Columns: Column for which data type or value can be set using PL/SQL.Used to hold some values at runtime.

Oracle Apex & Database Solutions

Monday, April 11, 2022

TRIGGERS IN ORACLE FORMS