Companies around the world are looking for ways to maintain and optimize the Oracle Forms applications they have been using for decades. Right now – in the run-up to the launch of the new Oracle Forms 14 release – is the perfect time.
In connection with the new Oracle Forms Release 14.1.2 – as well as the modernization and optimization of your current Oracle Forms application – we have received numerous questions. Together with Oracle Senior Principal Product Manager Michael Ferrante, we provide you with the most important answers on this page.
If your question is not included, please write to us. Our experts will be happy to help you!
REVITALIZE ORACLE FORMS Q&A
Answered by:
Michael Ferrante
Senior Principal Product Manager, Oracle
Oracle Forms expert since ’99. He is responsible for the further development of Oracle Forms and is a regular speaker at big Oracle events all around the world.
Stephan La Rocca
Business Development Manager, PITSS
Stephan has been helping companies to bring their Forms applications to the next level and maximize profit for over 20 years. He can be seen presenting innovative solutions for Oracle applications at events such as the DOAG (German Oracle Users Group) Conference.
1. What will be the new features of Oracle Forms 14?
2. How long will Oracle Forms be supported?
As for Oracle Database there is no “desupport-notice” for Oracle Forms existent. Oracle Forms is not desupported!
3. How to apply new features to previous Forms 10g / 12c?
You could rollout them very easy to your entire application with PITSS.CON. Otherwise you could implement and use new features manual Forms by Forms.
4. How is the upgrade from Forms 12c to latest Forms release?
In the same way as from 11g or 12c to the latest versions.
5. In mid term we want to replace Forms. In the meantime we need to keep the application running.
Good decision. Let’s go. Start with an Status Quo Analysis for Oracle Forms and Reports. The insights will help you and show you what to do.
6. Oracle Forms vs APEX? What's the difference?
Oracle Forms needs an Oracle WLS as middle tier and Java on the client side as infrastructure. Oracle APEX on the other side is a pure Web application, running on each browser with native HTML, JS, CSS.
7. Oracle Forms 14 with weblogic 14 compatibility?
Certification Matrix will be updated as soon as Oracle FMW 14 will be released. It’s very likely, that Forms 14 require WLS 14.
8. What does reliance on Java look like in 14.1.2 ? Are we still only supporting Java 8?
Will be updated in the Certification Matrix if available.
9. Oracle Forms 14 will still use Java on client?
Yes.
Want to know what’s best for your Forms application?
Status Assessment Oracle Forms & Reports
For knowing what’s best for your Forms!
10. Currently our oracle forms applications run with java webstart. Will Forms 14 x version run with java webstart?
Yes.
11. Upgrade path from 12c Forms?
Just compile the modules with the latest version. To benefit from the new features, consider PITSS.CON Products for application wide rollout possibilities. In addition it’s a very good opportunity to remove technical dept like dead code, redundancy and refactoring with PITSS.CON Products: https://pitss.com/product-overview/
12. What is the update path from Forms to Angular/Spring Boot?
There is no direct update path from Oracle Forms to another Framework, like Angular/Spring Boot. We would advise considering PITSS.CON Products for analyzing the Oracle Forms application, refacture PL/SQL Logic either into database or web services and generate template based fragments.
13. Forms compatibility with DB2 and Postgres?
There is no native access to DB2 or Postgres. Oracle Forms 14 will provide accessing data via webservices, which won’t be a replacement for selecting mass data via an Oracle Block. For integrating DB2 or Postgres we would advise to use Oracle Database capabilities to access those database providers.
14. Should I still switch to APEX?
Depends on your requirements.
15. I have moved from oracle forms 10g to 12c.. With oracle forms 12c I have started from scratch with oracle DB 19c, weblogic 14, and oracle forms 12c and the reporter server. Can connect to the DB, compile, debug, and deploy Forms with Reports. Everything is working well. With Oracle Forms 14, do I need to start again from scratch to avoid unexpected issues?
Even from 10g to 12c you were not forced to start from scratch. If you have problems with infrastructure or updates, we are out here to help. Please get in touch with us. We will save you a lot of time and trouble.
16. Nowadays users use mostly xls sheets and pdf files. They expect their applications to read data from these files and insert them into the DB. Retrieve the uploaded data to do some very minimal changes and verification. Is this possible? Is there any built-in calendar? I have one written purely in pl/sql.Next pcs are already kept in fixed places whereas with mobile devices we can move and wifi to connect to the DB which is ok. However in some instances we load the data on screen and go offline for example if I'm inside a container to verify goods. Will Oracle Forms 14 run on mobile devices either in offline or online mode? Or in this case do we need hybrid applications - that is Oracle Forms and html pages?
These are a couple of questions. In detail:
- In general Excel and PDF Documents could be loaded into the database (independent from Oracle Forms). Based on the structure of the data and the information you like to select out of them, various techniques are available.
- No. There isn’t a calender built in available in Forms. If you like, we could provide a library to use one.
- Oracle Forms won’t run on mobile or offline devices. Therefore you need a hybrid approach. With PITSS.CON Products we could support by extracting logic out of your application and help to keep such hybrid environment in synch.
17. Reports migration to what ?
Oracle itself advises to Migrate to Oracle Analytics Publisher. On the other hand,PITSS.CON Products support you to go to other technologies like Jasper Reports, Birt or AOP.
18. Will Oracle Forms be completely web-based?
No. Just require an Java-Client.
Find out the status for your Oracle Forms & Reports
Status Assessment Oracle Forms & Reports
For knowing the status of your Forms!
19. Images handling improvement?
20. What is changed in Oracle Forms Release 14.1.2?
21. Using Oracle Forms with different databases?
No other databases have native support. Please see question 13.
22. Can APEX run in a parallel DB along with the Main DB?
Yes.
23. How do we modernize the look and feel of Oracle Forms?
There are a lot of new features in Oracle Forms 14.1.2 which allow us to create a more modern user interface. To roll out them consistently and fast to your entire application, we advise to use PITSS.CON.
24. We are using Forms 12c, every application with image and communication with cellphone, does this work easily?
If that works in Forms 12c it will also work in Forms 14.1.2.
25. Is Forms 14 version scheduled to launch?
Planned for CY2024. Refer to the Middleware Statement of Direction: https://www.oracle.com/a/ocom/docs/middleware/fusion-middleware-statement-of-direction.pdf
26. Why does Oracle Forms have to disappear ?
No reason!
27. Can I run my Oracle Forms using any browser?
No. You need Java-Support on your client.
Get to know all about your application
Structure, Scope, Measurements, Values, Weights, Complexity, Technical Depts, Redundancies, Dead Code, Simplified Maintenance, Improvement Potential, Modernization Options & more…
Status Assessment Oracle Forms & Reports
All about the inside of your application!
28. Should I migrate to another language?
Only if you have requirements, which couldn’t be solved by Oracle Forms.
29. Is Reports available in the new version?
Yes. Reports is planned for 14.1.2.
30. Will Forms Reports Builder 14c support to read and write source files as .xml ..instead binary files like .fmb .rdf etc?
Reports 14 is planned to be exactly as it is in 12.2.1.19
31. Will all these new UI Features have proper scaling (and HiDPI) support?
Check out the clientDPIRatio feature added in 12.2.1.19
32. Instead of Weblogic server, can it be used in Tomcat etc?
No.
33. The REST Call are sent from client computer or from Weblogic server to outside url?
REST call as made from mid tier
34. Will Forms be database independent?
You can avoid using a DB if you fully use the new REST support.
35. In report builder can we get the data in excel format?
Excel support already exists in Reports 12.
36. We get notification from ORACLE that support forms will be discontinued from 2025Is it true now?
Not true. Fake news.