The 4 Step Plan to Leverage your Oracle Forms Investment into the Mobile/ Cloud Generation

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015

Mia [email protected]

@miaurmanwww.oracleformsinfo.com

The 4 Step Plan to Leverage your Oracle Forms Investment

into the Mobile/ Cloud Generation

mailto:[email protected]

http://oracleformsinfo.com/


Oracle FormsStatement of direction

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


Mia [email protected]

• Oracle Development Geek for 15 years.

• 5 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 …


• Mission critical back office systems

• Can’t access business processes from external applications

• Systems developed years ago, lack documentation

• Migration to a new technology challenging if at all possible

• Redevelopment takes years and involves enormous cost and risk

Customers are frozen need a way ….

Oracle Forms/ EBS Challenge


Into the FUTURE


CLEAN UP

UPGRADE

MODERNIZE

INTEGRATE

INNOVATE!

Our Game Plan: Leverage your EXISTING investment


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?


CLEAN UP

UPGRADE

MODERNIZE

INTEGRATE

INNOVATE!



Oracle Forms 9i/10g

IASForms 11gWeblogic

Server

Forms 3.0

Oracle Forms 4.0 – 6i

Client Server

Upgrade Road Map


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


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)


CLEAN UP

UPGRADE

MODERNIZE

INTEGRATE

INNOVATE!



Forms Look and Feel Modernization

• Toolbar and navigation

• Look and Feel Project

• Color / Font / Size

• Prompts / Titles

• Images

• Frames

• OLB, templates for visual standards


ModernizationBefore After







•Forms to XML ConverterImpact Analysis & Programmatic manipulation of text files

• JDAPIMake Global Changes via API

Manipulating Forms in Batch


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 Web Services– 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


Webservices Call 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 in Forms


JavaScript IntegrationTwo way client Side communication


Oracle Forms Events Highly Available Asynchronous Communication


Using Events in Forms


CLEAN UP

UPGRADE

MODERNIZE

INTEGRATE

INNOVATE!



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


WeblogicBy Jim Cote, Oracle


CLEAN UP

UPGRADE

MODERNIZE

INTEGRATE

INNOVATE!



Bringing Legacy Forms to the Mobile World



Your Employees Have Gone MobileTime For Your Enterprise to Catch Up!


Mobile Strategy “We can run our system using Remote Desktop…”


DO NOT run Forms on the mobile run your BUSINESS on the mobile


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 NeedsMobile 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


Mobile ApplicationFramework

Oracle Mobile Suite

Oracle MobileCloud Services

Oracle’s Mobility Products

Oracle Mobile Security Suite

Service Bus / SOA Suite

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015Copyright © 2014, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. |

Copyright: AuraPlayer 2015Copyright © 2014, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. |


Wizard Based Mobile DevelopmentDeploy to iOS or Android


Business Services Development

• Code logic with Java• Lightweight JVM• Easy access to Remote - Web service

• SOAP• REST XML, REST JSON

• Local Business Logic• Java Classes• SQLite DB - Portable, lightweight relational database


Do you still carry around one of these?


Mobile devices can lose/turn off connectivity Offline access to data is a common requirement But it will increase the complexity of your application

If you cache data locally you must consider– When to cache the data

– How much data to cache

– When to synchronize updates

– Recording the order of updates

– How to deal with synchronization conflicts

– Security of the data if the device is lostSimple Offline

Sec

urity

Data Caching Challenges


How Do We Do It ?


• Understand business process we want to translate to the small screen. • Selecting what input and output data we to run the business process. • Identifying expected results What output data and messages do we want to receive from the Forms system?

• Decide Navigation of user through the app

How We Do It: Step 1Define Business Process and Data


• Expose business processes as services• Use pre-built APIs supplied by providers to build connected systems• Create your own Services using development tools

How We Do It: Step 2Create the Service Layer


Introducing AuraPlayerUnlock Oracle Forms Systems as WebServices

Expose existing systems as Webservices without writing one line of code!

Same System Many UI / Devices


Oracle Forms / EBS Service Layer

Migration


51

Oracle Forms MobilityUnlock Oracle Forms Systems to Mobile/Cloud

Expose existing systems as Web Serviceswithout writing one line of code

Same System, Many UI / Devices


Oracle11g DB

DMZExternal Network

FireWall

Internal Network

Desktop

Solution ArchitectureOne System – For both Desktop and Any UI


How We Do It: Step 3 Jdeveloper – Build Mobile Project


• Create AMX pages and design new mobile UI

How We Do It: Step 3 Create Mobile UI - Jdeveloper


Let’s See it in ActionDemo time!


The Process : Oracle Forms to Mobile/Cloud

1. Enable the Oracle Forms process ü

2. Generate a Webservice (Wizard) ü

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

4. Create the Mobile App ü


Check out the full story

• System: Insurance proposal generation and sales system. • Customer Need: Oracle Forms 11g was unable to run on mobile devices.

AuraPlayer was used to create HTML5 pages from Forms• Technologies: Forms 11g Weblogic / Tomcat / DMZ / HTML5 j

• Benefit to Customer: • Cost Savings: Insurance policy can be generated in 9 minutes instead of 3

days• Revenue Generating: Agents can now sell policies in remote areas and via

new channels (banks) without any additional hardware/software.

Jubilee Life (a member of the Aga Khan group) is an insurance company in Pakistan with a clientele of over one million corporate and individual insured parties.

Customer Success Story: Jubilee Life Insurance

http://www.auraplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Jubilee-Newest-Style.pdf

http://www.auraplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Jubilee-Newest-Style.pdf


• Surgery Scheduling System - Mobilization of Oracle Forms surgical scheduling system using MAF 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.

Matrix is a leading information technology company in Israel, employing over 6,500 IT Professionals with sales revenues of over 2 billion NIS.

Check out the Oracle Customer Story

Customer Success Story: Matrix Mobilizes Oracle Forms Using Oracle Mobile Framework

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/jdev/auraplayer-matrix-casestudy-2014397.pdf





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 from our Survey• How long did it take for total redevelopment?

• 1 year of 25-35 developers then 2 years 30 people fine tuning – Average 3-5 years

• What was your biggest challenge during redevelopment?

• Lack of knowledge, documentation on the original Oracle Forms

• Lack of knowledge in the new 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.

• How much was your budget?• Average of 2 – 5 million dollars to redevelop 400 Forms


• 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

Moving Forward


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


Questions?


Stay 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

Oracle Forms


Mia Urman (Me ) [email protected]

@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

More Information

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.oracleformsinfo.com/



http://www.oraplayer.com/


http://forms.pjc.bean.over-blog.com/

http://forms.pjc.bean.over-blog.com/

http://fdtool.free.fr/LAF/doc/Oracle_Forms_Look_and_Feel_project.htm