Welcome to the wonderful world of Oracle Application Express (APEX). You’re about to learn how to use a tool that we believe will revolutionize the way you think about and approach writing web-based Oracle systems. It certainly has for us.

Prior to the advent of APEX, developing fully interactive web based systems over data that resided within an Oracle database almost always meant learning a new and often complex language like Java, .NET, or PHP and then figuring out how to integrate your chosen language seamlessly with the data that resided in your database. Often this also meant trying to incorporate business rules that were already coded in the form of PL/SQL.

In such situations, it could take months or even years just to become proficient enough with your chosen language to begin to write a functional system. If you’re like many, you’ll become frustrated with the fact that you’ve spend an inordinate amount of time to do what seems like a relatively easy task. Fear not! The days of long-winded and complex web development platforms may just be behind us.

Beginning Oracle Application Express 4 introduces one of the most talked-about development platforms to come out of Oracle Corporation in years. Oracle Application Express, called APEX for short, enables rapid and easy development of web-based applications that make full use of Oracle Database. The release of APEX 4 brings a huge leap forward in terms of functionality and usability for both the developer and the end user. Power users and programmers alike can quickly put together robust and scalable applications for use by one person, by a department, by an entire company.  

Whether you’re new to Oracle or an old hand who’s yet to test the waters of APEX, Beginning Oracle Application Express 4 introduces the processes and best practices you’ll need to become proficient with APEX. The book shows off the programming environment, the utilities and tools available, and then continues by walking through the process of building a working system from the ground up. While the book assumes a foundational knowledge of SQL and PL/SQL, all code used is documented and explained so that those new to the languages will not be lost.

• Covers brand-new functionality in APEX 4 
• Provides fully documented and explained example code
• Guides you through creating a working and fully deployable application

What you’ll learn

• Provides fully documented and explained example code
• Guides you through creating a working and fully deployable application  
• Design, code, and troubleshoot APEX applications
• Create forms and generate reports
• Apply best-practices to database and application design
• Create intuitive navigation that inspires confidence amongst users
• Secure your applications from outside attack
• Deploy applications for one, a dozen, or hundreds of users

Who this book is for

Beginning Oracle Application Express 4 is for programmers and power users wanting to create rich, data-centric applications that are web-based, and that rest on Oracle’s industry-leading database technology.