We're need to migrate a Forms 6i application to work w/ 10g
(and also to move into the 21st century), and are evaluating
possible alternatives. Forms 10g is of course one of them,
as is Application Express.

What other quality alternatives are out there? It does not have
to be an Oracle product. It does need to allow query and
insert/update/delete of data. It would be great if we didn't
have to reinvent everything that we've done w/ our 6i
application... but of course if the result is a much better
product (6i has been very buggy in our experience) then
we're happy to take a look.

Thanks for your input.

Carol

carol_marra (AT) msn (DOT) com wrote:
That would depend on what you are doing with the front end. The only
other product I would consider for a serious application is JDeveloper
with the ADF Framework. Otherwise I might look at PHP.

But my personal preference, especially if you don't have a huge training
budget is Forms 10g.
--
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan@x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond)
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
www.psoug.org

Application express is easier for those who are already familiar with
pl/sql. JDeveloper is more powerfull but be prepared to start from
scratch if you don't speak Java.

As for non-oracle alternatives take a look at Servoy Developer
(www.servoy.com). Very similar to forms. I'm just informing you that
it exists, not recommending it, because I just superficially explored
the demo.

There are some technologies like Ruby on Rails. Take a look at OTN.

So, I can recommend you more or less the same as Mr. Morgan:

1. Forms10g: easy migration; powerful tool,
2. Apex: takes a little time for some new concepts to learn; based on
wizards and not so flexible,
3. JDeveloper: takes a lot of time to migrate and learn, but it may be
the future (further developement of Forms/Reports has been stopped
long time ago, i think).

N.

hitman wrote:
Forms 11g is supposed to be released sometime this year.

Jonathan Whitehead wrote:
Possibly though I'm thinking announcement at OpenWorld and first product
just after the first of the year: No one knows for sure.
--
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan@x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond)
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
www.psoug.org

The most straight forward thing to do will be to upgrade (note that
I'm not saying migrate) to Form 10g.
This will get you onto the Web and with better integration options.
There are a few interesting papers you might want to read before you
decide you want to re-write with another tool here:
http://www.oracle.com/technology/pro...rms/index.html

If you are thinking about a complete new front end then have a look at
JDeveloper and ADF.
There are a lot of features there specifically aimed at people who are
coming from a Forms background:
http://www.oracle.com/technology/pro...ignerj2ee.html

Yes, but with how many features offering new funcionality? I believe
it's basically just update to make it work with db11g. At the end of
every article about DeveloperSuite on OTN you can hear the mantra
echoing: "switch to Java, switch to Java,..."

hitman wrote:
Possibly. But what new features does it need? The tool is fully
functional and infinitely extensible using functions, packages, and
procedures.

Drop ups rather than drop downs? <g> Square radio buttons?
--
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan@x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond)
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
www.psoug.org