Oracle Application Express

Plug-Ins

Plug-Ins allow for the Application Express framework to be readily extended with custom item types, region types, processes and Dynamic Actions. Once defined, plug-in based components are created and maintained very much like standard Application Express components. Plug-ins enable developers to create highly customized components to enhance the functionality, appearance and user friendliness of their applications.

Below is a list of Plug-Ins that can be used with Oracle Application Express 4.0 and above. These provide usable examples of what you can create and show plug-in developers how to create such plug-ins. You can also learn how to build your own plug-ins using this OBE, Extending Your Application Using Plug-ins.

Note: Before downloading, please read the Installation Instructions and Terms of Use at the bottom of the page.

Topics

• Item Type Plug-Ins
• Region Type Plug-Ins
• Process Type Plug-Ins
• Dynamic Action Type Plug-Ins
• Community Plug-In Repositories
• Installation Instructions
• Terms of Use

Item Type Plug-Ins

• Facebook Like Button
  The Like button lets a user share content with friends on Facebook. When the user clicks the Like button on your site, a story appears in the user's friends' News Feed with a link back to your website.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.1
  Released on: 7-Dec-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: facebook_like_button_v_1_1.zip
• Google reCaptcha
  Automated programs, known as "Bots", can't read distorted text very well. This item type plug-in acts as an additional security provision to help prevent automated programs completing inforamtion, such as registration forms.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 6-Oct-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: recaptcha_v_1_0.zip
• Group Select List
  If the content of your select list needs more structure, you can now group the values. This is done by adding a third column, the "group column" to the "List of Values SQL Statement".
  Minimum Release: 4.1
  Version: 1.1
  Released on: 10-Jan-2013
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: group_selectlist_v_1_1.zip
• Masked Text
  This plug-in allows a user to easily enter fixed width, formatted data (e.g. dates, phone numbers, SSN).
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 15-Oct-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: masked_field_v_1_0.zip
• Simple Checkbox
  This plug-in displays a single checkbox but allows you to set 2 values (one for checked and another for unchecked). It's perfect for Y(es)/N(o) type checkboxes.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.2
  Released on: 2-Aug-2011
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: simple_checkbox_v_1_2.zip
• Star Rating
  Have you ever rated something on Amazon or any other major Web 2.0 platform? You can now add that capability to your own application. Import this Item Type Plug-In and then use it within your application to allow your users to rate whatever you choose. This plug-in supports designating between 0 and 99 stars (depending on how many stars you select to display) and can be used for input and for display-only.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 23-Jun-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: star_rating_v_1_0.zip
• Twitter Button
  Add this button to your application to let people share content on Twitter without having to leave the page. Promote strategic Twitter accounts at the same time while driving traffic to your website.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 7-Dec-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: twitter_button_v_1_0.zip

Region Type Plug-Ins

• HTML Chart
  HTML charts are used to plot streamlined data, e.g., plotting sales data for sales pipeline analysis. A HTML chart consists of a bar chart showing one data series with each data point represented by a bar. Prior to Oracle Application Express 4.2, the option to create a HTML chart was exposed in the Create Chart wizards. However, that option has been removed in Release 4.2, and you will need to install this region-type plug-in in order to continue creating HTML charts.
  For further information please refer to the Oracle Application Express Application Builder User's Guide - About HTML Charts.
  Minimum Release: 4.2
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 12-Oct-2012
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: html_chart_v_1_0.zip

Process Type Plug-Ins

• Twitter Status Update
  This process type plug-in enables you to keep your Twitter Followers up-to-date. Use this new process type to update your Twitter status directly from your APEX application.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 23-Jun-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: twitter_status_update_v_1_0.zip

Dynamic Action Plug-Ins

• Fade In
  Fade In is an animation effect which slowly fades in a region or page item. This differs from the built-in "Show" dynamic action which immediately shows the component. The 'Duration' setting is used to specify how quickly the component will fade in.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 23-Jun-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: fadein_v_1_0.zip 
• Fade Out
  Fade Out is an animation effect which slowly hides a region or page item. This differs from the built-in "Hide" dynamic action which immediately hides the component. The 'Duration' setting is used to specify how quickly the component will fade out.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 23-Jun-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: fadeout_v_1_0.zip
• Hide "Check All" Tabular Form Checkbox
  This dynamic action hides the "Check All" checkboxes in Tabular Forms. This will force your users to individually select records, rather than using the "Check All" and then hitting the 'Delete' button for example.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 13-Sep-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: hide_check_all_checkbox_v_1_0.zip
• Notification
  This dynamic action plug-in provides an unobtrusive notification popup. You provide a title and text and can include an image that will display to the left of the text. You can also determine whether to make the notification 'sticky', meaning the user will need to manually dismiss, or to have it hide after a prescribed amount of time (even with this option, the user can dismiss it early).
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.3
  Released on: 28-Nov-2011
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: notification_v_1_3.zip
• Timer
  This plug-in is a dynamic action which allows you to periodically fire other dynamic actions in the browser. For example use the timer to refresh a region every five minutes. You can perform any dynamic action you want using this infrastructure.
  Minimum Release: 4.0
  Version: 1.0
  Released on: 13-Sep-2010
  Links: Demonstration
  Download: timer_v_1_0.zip

Community Plug-In Repositories

• http://www.apex-plugin.com
• http://skillbuilders.com/apexplugins

Installation Instructions

1. Ensure the 'Minimum Release' is the same or less than your Oracle APEX version (i.e. 2.2 code will install in 3.0 but not vice versa).
2. Download the zip file associated with the desired plug-in.
3. Unzip and extract all files.
4. Read the readme file.  If it is not the initial release, the changes will be described.
5. Access your target Workspace.
6. Select the Application Builder.
7. Select the Application where you wish to import the plug-in (plug-ins belong to an application, not a workspace).
8. Access Shared Components > Plug-Ins.
9. Click [Import >].
10. Browse and locate the installer file (ending with .sql).
11. Complete the wizard.

Note that if you are updating an existing plug-in, you will need to confirm that you wish to replace it.