Mia Urmanmiaurman@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 …

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

About You

Customer Pain PointsWhere 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

Where Are We Going?

Our Game Plan:

Oracle Forms

In the beginning…

1981 1999 20141991

Oracle Forms

Statement of direction

Oracle 8

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/issue-archive/2010/toolssod-3-129969.pdf

Our Game Plan:

Clean UpDon’t Migrate/Upgrade What’s Not in Use

• 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?

Our Game Plan:

Why Upgrade Your Forms?

• 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

Oracle Forms

9i/10g

IAS

Forms 11g

Weblogic

Server

Forms 3.0

Oracle Forms

4.0 – 6i

Client Server

Upgrade RoadMap

Suggested Work Plan

• 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)

Our Game Plan:

Forms Look and Feel Modernization

• Toolbar and navigation

• Look and Feel Project

• Color / Font / Size

• Prompts / Titles

• Images

• Frames

• OLB, templates for visual standards

Summit Demo - Modernization

Yes - Java in Forms!

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

– Run Java code in forms triggers

– Java importer – PLSQL java wrapper

JavaScript

– Interact with objects in the browser page - Maps

Java Beans & PJCs

Java ImporterImporting Java Classes into Forms

WebservicesCall External Services From Forms

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;

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

JavaScript IntegrationTwo way client Side communication

Oracle Forms EventsHighly Available Asynchronous Communication

Using Events in Forms

Our Game Plan:

Hybrid Options

• Living Side By Side Forms running alongside new technologies

• Visual IntegrationCreate a common UI –Forms & ADF/APEX/Java

• Process / Service Integration

Run common business logic DB/Events

• InnovationRun Forms business process from new environments - AuraPlayer

Forms & External Apps Living In Harmony

Form System External System

Security / Management

Web.show_document

Common Bus LogicAQ Messages

web.javascript_eval_expr

What is Visual Integration?

Portal \ Unified Desktop \ Dashboards

Concept

• Integrating Oracle Forms and Other Technologies Into a single user experience

• One point of access - SSO

• Customized based on users business needs

Implementation• iFrames

• Javascipt

• guiMode – Remove menus

• OraFormsFaces

Process / Service IntegrationShare Forms Business Logic – SOA / BPM

Concept

• Reuse the business logic locked inside your Forms –

Separate GUI from business logic

Implementation• Decoupling – Remove and Centralize bus logic to DB – 3rd party tools

• Events – Use AQ events for messaging

• JavaScript

Our Game Plan:

How Do We Get Forms Users Here?

Understand Your Business Needs

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

Analyze Your Mobile Needs

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

• Mobile Infrastructure – Security, Load

Create a Service Layer

Mobile Application

Framework

Oracle

Mobile SuiteOracle Cloud

Services

The Oracle Mobile Landscape

Oracle Mobile

Security Suite

Oracle

SOA Suite

Version 9i, 10g, 11g

The Process : Oracle Forms to Mobile/Cloud

1. Enable the Oracle Forms process

2. Generate a Webservice (Wizard)

3. Connect WS to Oracle Mobile Cloud or SOA Suite or Weblogic

4. Create the Mobile App in MAF or APEX

5. Run Your Mobile App!

Mobilize Existing Applications

Migration

Innovation By Migration

Things to Consider

• This is a PROJECT. No silver bullet

• 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

Benefits of Migration• No Oracle Forms maintenance/licenses• Fully portable system• No applet, full HTML client• Larger developer pool

Migration Statistics

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?

– 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.

Moving Forward 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, 3rd party solution

4 Step Plan To Future

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• Oracle ADF / J2EE / APEX

Step 4

Migrate

• Phased Migration to New Technologies … Maybe

Summary

• 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

Mobilization : Oracle Forms to HTML (Windows CE Device)

– Mobilization of the Forms 6i (upgraded to 11g) container inspection system

to HTML on Windows CE 4.2 using AuraPlayer and Weblogic.

– Ports America is the leading container terminal operator in the United

States, handling approximately 12 million TEU annually at its facilities

nationwide.

– Solution will allow Ports to achieve huge cost savings by not needing to

redevelop the Forms systems or purchase costly new devices.

– POC was completed in 2 days

– Status: In budget approval process

Customer Success Story

Mobilization : Oracle Forms from Mobile Framework

– Surgery Scheduling System - Mobilization of Oracle Forms

surgical scheduling system using ADF Mobile and AuraPlayer.

– 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.

Full Oracle Success Story

Questions?

Oracle FormsStay 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

More Information

Mia Urman (Me ) miaurman@AuraPlayer.com

@miaurman

Forms Community Blogwww.oracleformsinfo.com

AuraPlayerwww.AuraPlayer.com

PJC Master sitehttp://forms.pjc.bean.over-blog.com/

Forms Look and Feel Projecthttp://fdtool.free.fr/LAF/doc/Oracle_Forms_Look_and_Feel_project.htm

Demos

• Demo: JavaScript in oracle Forms

• Demo: Oracle Look and Feel Project

• Demo: Oracle Forms on iPad

• Demo: Oracle Forms running from ADF