16.6 Importing Export Files

Once you export an application and any related files, you must import them into the target Oracle Application Express instance before you can install them. Note that you cannot import an application created in a specific release into an earlier version. As a general rule, always import the application first and then the related files. See "How to Move an Application to Another Instance".

Tip:

You can simplify the steps needed to deploy an application by creating a custom packaged application. See "How to Create a Custom Packaged Application".

Topics:

16.6.1 Importing an Application, Page or Component Export

To import an Application, Page or Component Export into a target Oracle Application Express instance:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. For Specify File:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select Application, Page, or Component Export.

    3. Verify that File Character Set is correct.

    4. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  3. To install the file, click Next.

    The Install Application wizard appears.

  4. For the Install wizard:

    1. Parsing Schema - Select a schema.

      This is the schema against which all of the application's SQL and PL/SQL are parsed.

    2. Build Status - Select one of the following:

      • Run Application Only - Users can only run an application.

      • Run and Build Application - Users can run an application and developers can both run and edit an application.

      Selecting Run Application Only is an effective way to protect an application from modifications from other developers.

      Tip:

      If you select Run Application Only, the only way to change this setting after you import the application is to log in to Oracle Application Express Administration Services. See "Changing Application Build Status Set During Deployment" in Oracle Application Express Administration Guide.

    3. Install As Application - Select one of the following:

      • Auto Assign New Application ID

      • Reuse Application ID From Export File

      • Change Application ID

      Use these options to avoid application ID conflicts. These options come in handy when you have two versions of the same application in the same instance. For example, you might be migrating an application to a production instance and still need to maintain the development version.

    4. Click Install.

      If you are installing a custom packaged application (that is, one for which you have defined Supporting Objects), the installer prompts you to install the custom packaged installation scripts. Follow the on-screen instructions.

See Also:

"How to Create a Custom Packaged Application"

16.6.1.1 About Importing Application Groups

Application groups are exported with an application, application exports include an group ID, name, and comments. When importing an application, the application import follows these rules:

  • On import, an application uses an existing group if the ID matches.

  • If no application group exists with the same ID on the target system, then application import looks for another group ID with the same name. If a name match is found, the application is imported with the ID corresponding to this application group name.

  • If no ID or name matches existing application groups on the target system then a new application group is created. The new application group uses the application group ID if that ID is not used in that Oracle Application Express instance. If the group ID is being used, then a new ID is generated.

16.6.2 Importing a Websheet

See Also:

"About Websheet Applications"

To import a Websheet into a target Oracle Application Express instance:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. For Specify File:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select Websheet Application Export.

    3. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  3. To install an imported file, click Next.

    The Install Application wizard appears.

  4. For the Install Application wizard:

    1. Install As Application - Select one of the following:

      • Auto Assign New Application ID

      • Reuse Application ID From Export File

      • Change Application ID

      Use these options to avoid application ID conflicts. These options come in handy when you have two versions of the same application in the same instance. For example, you might be migrating an application to a production instance and still need to maintain the development version.

    2. Click Install.

16.6.3 Importing Plug-ins

To import an exported plug-in file:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. For Specify File:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select Plug-in.

    3. Verify that File Character Set is correct.

    4. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  3. To install an imported file, click Next.

  4. Click Install Plug-in.

Note:

If the plug-in with the same name exists, a dialog displays requesting permission to write over the existing plug-in.

16.6.4 Importing Cascading Style Sheets

After you import an application into the target Oracle Application Express instance, you must import all related files.

To import a CSS Export file:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. For Specify File:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select CSS Export.

    3. File Character Set - Verify that File Character Set is correct.

    4. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  3. To install an imported file, click Next.

  4. Click Install CSS.

See Also:

"Using Custom Cascading Style Sheets" and "Exporting Cascading Style Sheets"

16.6.5 Importing Images

After you import an application into the target Oracle Application Express instance, you must import all related files.

To import an Image Export file:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. On Import Definition:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select Image Export.

    3. File Character Set - Verify that File Character Set is correct.

    4. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  3. To install an imported file, click Next.

  4. Click Install Image.

See Also:

"Managing Images", "Using the Images Finder", and "Exporting Images"

16.6.6 Importing Static Files

After you import an application into the target Oracle Application Express instance, you must import all related files.

To import a static file:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. For Specify File:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select File Export.

    3. File Character Set - Verify that File Character Set is correct.

    4. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  3. To install an imported file, click Next.

  4. Click Install Static Files.

See Also:

"Exporting Static Files"

16.6.7 Importing Themes

After you import an application into the target Oracle Application Express instance, you must import all related files.

To import a Theme Export file:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. On Import Definition, select the following:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select Theme Export.

    3. File Character Set - Verify that File Character Set is correct.

    4. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  3. To install an imported file, click Next.

  4. Click Install Theme.

See Also:

"Managing Themes" and "Exporting Themes"

16.6.8 Importing User Interface Defaults

User Interface Defaults enables you to assign default user interface properties to a table, column, or view within a specified schema.

After you import an application into the target Oracle Application Express instance, you must import all related files.

To import User Interface Defaults:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. Select an application.

  3. On Import Definition:

    1. Import file - Navigate to the file.

    2. File Type - Select User Interface Defaults.

    3. File Character Set - Verify that File Character Set is correct.

    4. Click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  4. To install an imported file, click Next.

  5. Click Install User Interface Defaults.

See Also:

"Managing User Interface Defaults" in Oracle Application Express SQL Workshop Guide and "Exporting User Interface Defaults"

16.6.9 Importing Feedback

To import Feedback:

  1. Navigate to the Import page:

    1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.

    2. On the Application Builder home page, click Import.

  2. Select Feedback.

  3. For File Character Set, verify that File Character Set is correct and click Next.

    Once you import a file, you have the option to install it.

  4. To install an imported file, click Next.

  5. Click Install Feedback.