Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

miaurman@auraplayer.com
• Oracle Development Geek for 15 years.
• 6 years at Oracle as a senior support analyst and local product manager of Forms and ADF.
• CEO and Founder of AuraPlayer - Addressing Oracle Forms modernization challenges encountered at blue chip customers
• Board member of ODTUG, Leader of the ilOUG Oracle
Developer Group and presenter of Oracle tools at international conferences OOW, Kscope , UKOUG …
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

 What is your current Oracle Forms / Oracle EBS Version ?
 Are you interested in mobility , Webservices or both?
 Have you begun to think about future strategy?
 Do you have ADF / APEX developers in house?
 Have you begun to think about migration
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Where are we now?
 Systems were developed years ago: Look antiquated, lack functionality
 Businesses processes, trapped in Oracle Forms
 Migration to a new technology challenging, risky and costly, not always possible
 No documentation and original developers are no longer available
 Oracle Forms does not support mobile devices
 Customers lack clear vision from Oracle how to move forward
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Our Game Plan:
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In the beginning…
1981 1991 1999 2014
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Statement of direction http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/issue-archive/2010/toolssod-3-129969.pdf
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015 Oracle 8

Our Game Plan:
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

• Are any modules obsolete?
• Review usage of the system
• What forms are now obsolete?
• What reports are not run?
• Do we will use PLL / OLBs?
• Remove dead code
• Delete multiple copies of same sources
• Merge forms that perform similar tasks
• Systems replaced by packaged apps?
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Our Game Plan:
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• Ensure support (C/S de-supported 2004/10g Dec. 2011)
• Certification – New browsers, O/S, Java versions
• New features - SOA, REUI, JavaScript
• Strategic Middleware - Runs on WebLogic
• Upgrade is Seamless from 10g to 11g
• Platform for integration
• Ensure the highest level of security
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Forms 3.0
Oracle Forms
4.0 – 6i
Client Server
Oracle Forms
9i/10g
IAS
Forms 11g
Weblogic
Server
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

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Backup ALL related files !!
Pilot Upgrade of application (50-100 forms)
Clean up environment – unused, dead code
Check forms for C/S or OS Specific features
Get an estimate of the work, time, cost
Freeze C/S - all new developments should be web
Modernize Look and Feel of the application
Do full upgrade in modules / Phases
Testing should be with each module!
Do Production Pilot (Phased rollout)
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Our Game Plan:
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

• Toolbar and navigation
• Look and Feel Project
• Color / Font / Size
• Prompts / Titles
• Images
• Frames
• OLB, templates for visual standards
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Java Beans
– Java Bean Area - layout object on canvas
– Use custom trigger to get and set properties
PJC – Portable Java Component
– Change default behavior/properties of objects
Java Classes – Run webservices
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Run Java code in forms triggers
Java importer – PLSQL java wrapper
JavaScript
– Interact with objects in the browser page - Maps
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Importing Java Classes into Forms
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Call External Services From Forms
 Run external Webservices from within Oracle Forms triggers
• Create a Web Service proxy in Jdeveloper
• Call the WS client from the Forms application using the Java Importer package CurrencyConverter
/* currconv3.mypackage.CurrConv3Stub */ IS function new return ora_java.jobject; function getrate( obj ora_java.jobject, a0 varchar2, a1 varchar2) return ora_java.jobject; end;
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Two way client Side communication
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Highly Available Asynchronous Communication
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Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Our Game Plan:
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• Living Side By Side
Forms running alongside new technologies
• Visual Integration
Create a common UI
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Forms & ADF/APEX/Java
• Process / Service Integration
Run common business logic DB/Events
• Innovation
Run Forms business process from new environments - AuraPlayer
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Living In Harmony
Form System External System
Web.show_document
web.javascript_eval_expr
AQ Messages
Common Bus Logic
Security / Management
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Portal \ Unified Desktop \ Dashboards
Concept
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Integrating Oracle Forms and Other Technologies Into a single user experience
One point of access - SSO
Customized based on users business needs
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Implementation iFrames
Javascipt guiMode – Remove menus
OraFormsFaces
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Share Forms Business Logic – SOA / BPM
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Concept
Reuse the business logic locked inside your Forms –
Separate GUI from business logic
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Implementation
Decoupling – Remove and Centralize bus logic to DB – 3 rd party tools
Events – Use AQ events for messaging
JavaScript
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Our Game Plan:
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

 Observe real end users doing real work:
Can we make them more productive?
 Watch surrounding and environmental challenges:
Can we improve employees user experience.
 Are users missing data to do their jobs?
 Enhance data gathering: cameras, SMS, social media, personal , location, voice
 Types of Users – Occasional, Internal/external
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Mobile Requirements
• What OS: iOS / Android / Windows / BYOD?
• Type of Applications – Browser Based / Hybrid
• Device type, Screen size
• New Hardware / Software needed?
• New development tools and environments
• Mobile developers
Challenges to Consider
• Slower network – Disconnects - Offline / Connected
• No mouse, Function keys - Gestures
• Smaller screen / Less screens
• Difficult to touch small elements - Harder to type
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Mobile Infrastructure – Security, Load
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Mobile Application
Framework
Oracle
Mobile Suite
Oracle Mobile
Security Suite
Oracle
SOA Suite
Oracle Cloud
Services
Version 9i, 10g, 11g
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Enable the Oracle Forms process 
Generate a Webservice (Wizard) 
Connect WS to Oracle Mobile Cloud or SOA Suite or Weblogic 
Create the Mobile App in MAF or APEX 
Run Your Mobile App!

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Benefits of Migration
• No Oracle Forms maintenance/licenses
• Fully portable system
• No applet, full HTML client
• Larger developer pool
Things to Consider
• This is a PROJECT. No silver bullet
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Need a business reason to redevelop
Need thorough understanding of the Forms application
No tool can re-write your business logic
Need deep knowledge of the new technologies
UI implications – HTML vs Applet
Investigate 3rd party tools for migration assistance
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

 How long did it take for total redevelopment?
– 1 year of 25-35 developers then 2 years 30 people fine tuning
 What was your biggest challenge during redevelopment?
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Lack of knowledge about the original Oracle Forms
Lack of knowledge in technology stack
Hard to train new implementation partners on new technology
 How long did it take to train the Forms staff to the new technology?
– 1 year for experienced developer to understand the ADF stack and experts in the new technology
– Hard to find ADF experts easier to find Java developers.
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Considerations For Modernization Projects
• Asses Your Requirements
• What systems do we need to integrate with? UI requirements?
• What platforms do we need to deploy to?
• Understand Your Existing System
• Where does the business logic sit today?
• What functionality is duplicated in other systems?
• Do we have documentation? Developer resources?
• Define Timeline and Budget
• Decide on Implementation Method
• Integrate, Migrate, 3 rd party solution
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Step 1
Upgrade
• Customer Upgrades to 11g
• Weblogic Suite / Modernize / SSO
Step 2
Mobility
• Mobilize Existing Use Cases
• Mobile Framework / SOA Suite / Security / Cloud
Step 3
Hybrid
• Phased Hybrid Development
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Oracle ADF / J2EE / APEX
Step 4
Migrate
• Phased Migration to New Technologies … Maybe
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

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Clean up Forms environment – unused, dead code
Upgrade to Latest version – Forms 11gR2
• Modernize Look and Feel - Incorporate Java elements
• Chose right tool for the job
• Refactor code to the DB
• Systems on common infrastructure Weblogic – SSO
• Slowly evolve teams and systems
• Start thinking about system INNOVATION – ADF Mobile
• Use AuraPlayer to move systems to the next generation platforms / environments without migration
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

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– Surgery Scheduling System - Mobilization of Oracle Forms surgical scheduling system using ADF Mobile and AuraPlayer.
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Scheduling application serves over 1000 surgeons for over 500 procedures and about 2,000,000 surgeries a year.
– Increased efficiency and maximized information availability for surgeons and medical center customers.
– Application was developed in under a week.
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Stay in touch with the family
• Oracle Forms on the Oracle Technology Network
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/forms
• Oracle Technology Network Forms Forum
• https://community.oracle.com/community/development_tools/forms
• Oracle Communities (My-Oracle-Support)
• https://community.oracle.com/community/support/middleware/oracle_forms
• Follow us on Twitter
@OracleFormsPM
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Mia Urman (Me  ) miaurman@AuraPlayer.com
@miaurman
Forms Community Blog www.oracleformsinfo.com
AuraPlayer www.AuraPlayer.com
PJC Master site http://forms.pjc.bean.over-blog.com/
Forms Look and Feel Project http://fdtool.free.fr/LAF/doc/Oracle_Forms_Look_and_Feel_project.htm
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

• Demo: JavaScript in oracle Forms
• Demo: Oracle Look and Feel Project
• Demo: Oracle Forms on iPad
• Demo: Oracle Forms running from ADF
Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015