Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting Started
WAIT!
You are probably eager to start learning to develop your first plug-in, but don't skip over this
section. The rest of the topic assumes that you have all the necessary tools in place to successfully and
efficiently develop plug-ins. This section will cover all the tools you'll need throughout this topic.
Oracle Database
Before using APEX, you'll need to have an Oracle database to develop on. All the examples in this topic
were built on an Oracle 11gR2 instance. Some of the code may not be compatible with previous versions
of Oracle but can be easily modified to work with older versions.
There are several options to choose from depending on your current situation. If you have access to
a development instance of Oracle 11gR2, then you can skip this subsection. If not, there are several easy
options for you:
apex.oracle.com
: Oracle provides a free online instance of APEX for
development purposes. The SQL Workshop will allow you to create and modify
PL/SQL code. This is the easiest solution to setup; however, it will be
cumbersome to develop and debug PL/SQL code via a web interface. You may
encounter some restrictions connecting to external resources (such as web
services) using
apex.oracle.com
for the examples in this topic.
Oracle XE
: Oracle provides a free (both for commercial and personal use)
database called Oracle XE. It is an ideal option for installing a personal instance
of Oracle. Oracle XE does have some size and functional limitations, but they
should not hinder your ability to build plug-ins or follow the examples in this
topic. For more information about how to download and install Oracle XE, go to
the following OTN page:
Virtual machine
: Oracle provides a virtual machine image thatis a full version of
11gR2. You'll first need to install Oracle Virtual Box:
developer virtual machine image can be downloaded from the OTN Developer
Days page:
vm-
161299.html
.
Install Oracle
: If you want a full version of Oracle directly, you can obtain a
developer's license and download a copy from OTN:
ml.
This is not a recommended approach for non-DBAs as it can take a while to
properly configure Oracle from scratch.Of the four options just listed, Oracle XE
may be the best option to implement on a personal or work PC. Each of the
links provides installation instructions where applicable. Before installing or
using any of the foregoingoptions, please read the licensing agreements.
