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From: may@28182.dec.com
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: ORACLE documentation
Message-ID: <18@arkham.enet.dec.com>
Date: 15 Dec 89 18:15:10 GMT
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Distribution: usa
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 38


There are two methods for accessing SQL*Forms data other than the
standard interface.  The first is to write a report which accesses
the database tables that Forms uses.  These tables all begin with
the letters "IAP".  If you have Forms experiance you should have no
trouble recognizing which tables and columns are of interest.

The second method is the one I use even more than the painter
interface when doing development:  editing the .INP file.  When you
generate an application from within SQL*Forms two files are generated,
appname.inp and appname.frm.  Appname.frm is accessed by runform/iap
to run the application, appname.inp is the "source" code.

The .INP file contains a list of questions and answers that represent
what you entered via the painter interface.  You can edit this file
directly to avoid using the time consuming standard interface.  It
is much easier to insert standard triggers, for example, in an editor
than by typing it in everywhere it is needed through the screen
painter.

Caveat: The number of questions varies depending on the answers you
gave to previous questions.  Also, some responses are preceeded by
one or two asterisks; these are important.  Experimentation is the
best way to determine what is and is not necessary -- if you get
stuck feel free to send me email, I'll try to help you out.

After editing the .INP file you create the .FRM file with the command:

     iag appname.inp -to

The 't' switch suppresses terminal output; if you have trouble finding
the location of a problem then leave it out.  The 'o' switch prevents
the loss of your file if the iag utility finds an error; you probably
want to use it always.

Good luck,

Patrick