Really hoping someone out there can help me out. I am in dire need of
an Oracle 7.2.3 install CD, for ANY operating system that runs on x86
hardware. Preferably one that can run in VMware.

We have an old database that is currently running on 7.2.3 but on
Sequent hardware and on the Dynix OS. The hardware is dying and can
no longer be replaced. Since 7.2.x was the last version of Oracle to
include Oracle Forms 3.0 (and we have thousands of forms in 3.0
format), I have to find a way to port the code straight over to
another working 7.2.3 system, hopefully one that runs a more
supportable OS and hardware.

Please contact me if you have the install CD's or know where I can get
them. I've spoken with Oracle and the oldest release they still have
on file is 7.3.x.

Thank you.

On Mar 9, 5:24*am, dontinou <robert.y... (AT) l-3com (DOT) com> wrote:
Haven't done anything like that in this century, but I seem to recall
there were companies selling forms converters that got most forms most
of the way to something newer. MOS 1020543.6 mentions some companies,
I haven't checked if they are still around. If they are, perhaps they
have what you are asking for, or another way out.

I will remember this the next time someone mentions not upgrading a
"stable" system. You have my sympathies.

jg
--
@home.com is bogus.
http://www.topix.com/who/charlie-sheen

On Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:34:49 -0800, joel garry wrote:

Oracle 7.2.3 went out of support shortly after the night they drove old
Dixie down. It was in XIX century.



--
http://mgogala.byethost5.com

On Mar 10, 3:34*am, joel garry <joel-ga... (AT) home (DOT) com> wrote:

There is a slight difference between not upgrading a "stable" system
and grossly exceeding all the lifetimes and lifecycles of the hardware
and software...

Mind you: our last 7.3 db was on a server that had rust coming off the
sides and needed a whack on the disk drives in order to boot after a
power fail.
You cannot imagine the fight I had to bring it to 10.2. It took an
almost unrecoverable db crash to convince the PTB that it might be a
good idea...
It's now in the first db that will be upgraded to 11gr2.

On Mar 9, 8:24*am, dontinou <robert.y... (AT) l-3com (DOT) com> wrote:
Wow....

You may want to contact the poster of this link, as he may have ended
up finding something.

http://www.dbforums.com/oracle/16516...e-7-2-3-a.html

You may want to consider converting your Oracle Forms application to OracleApplication Express (http://apex.oracle.com)

If you are able to copy off your system the related Oracle Forms files:
Oracle Forms FormModule (.FMB), ObjectLibrary .OLB), or MenuModule (.MMB) files
Oracle has a few tools that can be run on your new server that will covert these metadata files into XML format for import into a "conversion type project" on Application Express.

If you have backups of your associated database schema(s), either in .DBF format directly from the OS or the DDL and insert scripts for data (.SQL format), the migration guide instructs conversion users to upload their Forms database to a schema accessible by Application Express.

I have been developing off the Application Express platform for nearly three years now, but I've never done a conversion project before. Still, it looks straightforward and less pain than scouring the globe for an install CD which undoubtedly would be outside of any legal licensing agreement anyways..

I have not seen a Forms application before, so I am unable to comment on what differences you will see when you "convert", but there may be some changes to the format and presentation of the user interface. All can be tweakedto the user's liking through the app developer interface. Application Express is web browser based but it is a native service that can be run off anyOracle database version 10 and up (you might be able to get 9 to work, butwhy?)

The fact that Oracle offers a converter utility and pathway for Forms usersinto the Application Express (APEX) suite suggests that there may be a long term strategy for support of this platform. It comes installed for free on all versions of Oracle 11g, and full release updates/patches are freely downloadable from the Oracle site at: http://apex.oracle.com.

So, you may be able to make a case for APEX with your management, as they need to get their database system up to date anyways.

More info on the migration process, which takes place totally external to your Forms server aside from backing up and copying over the related Forms META files and database .DBF files:

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E...mgr_start..htm

Good Luck!

Rich Pascual

rich p wrote:
There is no way that apex - or anything like it - could replace even the most simple Forms
application. Maybe you could have a look at a Forms application before you advise someone to
try something impossible.

Gerard

rich p wrote:
You did not neglect it, I quote a certain p rich : "I have not seen a Forms application before,
....".

Your advice is free, as is APEX, and worth as much. The only alternative for Forms 3 and later
on Client-Server Forms 6, is the java applet used by current Webforms. Not Forms Fusion. I've
seen a customer with a lot of manpower fail to replace forms by web-based applications. When
presenting a number of man-years worth of development to the end user, the recycle bin was its
destiny. To my great despair, my current employer is having a try too. I've got 15 years
experience with Oracle Forms, and a very in depth knowledge of web technology - certainly enough
to know what it can and what it cannot.

Good luck to you too, you are more in need of it.

Gerard

Rich:

Couple of things that Gerard already pointed out ...

# I have been developing off the Application Express platform for
nearly three years now, but I've never done a conversion project
before. Still, it looks straightforward and less pain

Your advice would probably be worth a lot more with several medium
complexity conversion projects in your experience.

# I have not seen a Forms application before, so I am unable to
comment on what differences you will see when you "convert"

Over the last 20 years we have seen a lot of web development tools.
Powerbuilder anyone?

As powerful as Apex is ... migrations from one environment to another
one especially for applications that are more than trivial ... are
always painful.

Unless the emulation capabilities are so "profound" ( read complicated
and perhaps brittle at times ) that the old application runs pretty
much unchanged.

(What's with google not allowing a reply to early posts in a recently
active thread?)

Jonathan mentioned this on his blog: http://theformspider.com/

Sounds all startup-speaky to me, but they do mention being able to
deal with forms. I'd be curious to know their response to this kind
of forms conversion request.

jg
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