Oracle Openworld Sessions

For anyone attending Oracle Openworld in San Francisco we have put together a paper on all the Oracle Application Express sessions, hands-on-labs, demo ground details, etc.

From the link above, select 'Customized Schedules' in the Sessions, Keynotes and Exhibits section and then scroll down to the Technology "Focus On" papers.

I suggest you download the FOCUS ON Database Application Development – Oracle Application Express paper to ensure you don't miss any of the great APEX sessions and labs.

Another useful "Focus On" paper is FOCUS ON Database Application Development – Oracle SQL Developer.

Look forward to catching up with lots of people throughout the event.

Latest Statement of Direction

We have updated our Statement of Direction in respect of 3.1 and 4.0.

One of the biggest changes is the fact that "Dynamic Reporting Regions" feature has moved from 4.0 up to 3.1. Carl Backstrom's blog Oracle Application Express (APEX) 4.0 - Preview Video shows a video of what sort of functionality to look forward to.

Other notable enhancements now planned for 3.1 include improvements to the PDF report layout and enhanced print attributes allowing for more control of PDF document structures.

Previously our plan was to not include any UI changes in 3.1, therefore, we would not need to go through and translate the source. Obviously introducing this new region type and changes to our PDF printing screens includes significant UI changes.

The down side of this is that it will take us longer to release 3.1 but the upside I think will make the wait VERY worthwhile.

For those of you attending Oracle Openworld we are planning on having one of our Demo machines running our "Pre-Production" version of 3.1. We can't guarantee that everything will function 100% (it is pre-poduction after all) but we should be able to give you a nice sneak peak of what to expect. So please stop by the Demo Grounds and say G'day!

New OTN Feature Casts

I know there have already been several blogs on Scott Spendolini's podcast with Oracle Magazine.

We have gone and added a link on our Podcasts and Viewlets page to his podcast together with one from Tony Jedlinski. These and other excellent podcasts can be found by clicking on the Podcasts link on the left hand column of all OTN pages and then selecting Oracle Magazine Feature Casts.

The official blurb on each of these podcasts:
Oracle Application Express 3.0: A Closer Look (Sep 18, 2007) Scott Spendolini, CEO, Sumner Technologies, speaks with Oracle Magazine senior editor, Jeff Erickson, about the benefits of Oracle Application Express 3.0 and how it works with the Oracle database. Learn how to get started customizing this powerful tool to meet your business needs.

Catching the Express (Jun 25, 2007) Tony Jedlinski, Oracle Magazine author and editorial board member and the Director of Web Content for the IOUG, talks with Oracle Magazine about his use of Oracle Application Express at the IOUG today and the upcoming Oracle Application Express-based OPEN project.

Given the vast experience both Scott and Tony have with Oracle APEX, I certainly enjoyed listening to them and getting their perspectives.

Growing Community now Showcases Applications

Please check out our new and improved Community and Partners page.

We have changed the look of the page completely as it was getting too big. Having too many companies to list on one page is a problem we love to have.

Now there are Links to our Americas and European Consulting Companies, Hosting Companies and Blogs. We have also added two brand new links for Internet Applications and Commercial Applications.

Internet applications really help to show how diverse and creative sites made with Oracle Application Express can be.

The Commercial applications illustrate companies who see the benefit of building in a flexible secure tool. These applications meet very diverse business requirements and are well worth checking out.

Special thanks to Jorge Rimblas, Flavio Casetta, Jan Huyzentruyt, and Dimitri Gielis for sending me their Internet applications, together with Hotsos - Doug Gault and Mythics - Nick Intintolo for their Commercial applications.

We are regularly adding new companies and sites, so please come back regularly.

If you want to be added to our site please send an email to oracle-application-express_ww@oracle.com or me.

Regards,
David