What types of database portlets can I build?

You must have Edit or higher access privileges on a provider in order to build a database portlet.

Oracle Portal database portlets enable end users to display, create, or update data stored in objects in the database.

Some database portlets, such as charts, only display database data. The build wizard for the database portlet helps you select which data to display using a SQL SELECT statement.

Other database portlets provide interfaces that allow end users to change data in the database objects on which the database portlet is based. A Query by Example report, for example, can insert or update the employee first name, last name, and IDs in the same table you used to create the chart.

You use build wizards accessible from the Navigator to create database portlets. The build wizard produces a PL/SQL stored procedure that is stored in the database. When executed, the stored procedure dynamically renders the HTML and JavaScript code that displays the database portlet.

The Oracle Portal database portlets you can build are:

database portlet Type

Description

Form

Displays a customized form that can be used as an interface for updating tables, executing stored procedures, and generating other customized forms. You can build three types of forms:

A form based on a table or view enables end users to insert, update, and delete data in a database table or view.

A master-detail form displays a master row and multiple detail rows within a single HTML page. The form contains fields for updating values in two database tables or views.

A form based on a procedure enables end users to insert, update, and delete data in a database stored procedure.

Report

Displays data you select from the database table or view in a report. The report can have tabular, form or custom layout.

Chart

Displays data you select from a database table or view as a bar chart.

You can also create Java-based image charts.

database portlet

Displays data in spreadsheet format.

Calendar

Displays data you select from a database table or view as a calendar.

Dynamic Page

Displays dynamically-generated HTML content on a Web page.

Hierarchy

Displays data you select from a database table or view as a graphical hierarchy of items containing up to three levels.

Menu

Displays an HTML-based menu containing hyperlinked options to other menus, Oracle Portal database portlets, or URLs.

Frame Driver

Displays a Web page with two frames. End user queries in one frame control the contents of the other frame.

Link

Displays a clickable link that provides a hypertext jump between Oracle Portal database portlets and other database portlets, database portlet customization forms, or any HTML page.

List of Values

Enables end users to choose entry field values in a form or database portlet customization form. You can use LOVs when creating database portlets to pre-select the possible values in an entry field. The end user clicks the mouse to select a value rather than type it.

You can also build LOVs based on other LOVs.

URL

Displays the contents of a URL.

XML

Displays an XML page.

database portlet Type	Description
Form	Displays a customized form that can be used as an interface for updating tables, executing stored procedures, and generating other customized forms. You can build three types of forms: A form based on a table or view enables end users to insert, update, and delete data in a database table or view. A master-detail form displays a master row and multiple detail rows within a single HTML page. The form contains fields for updating values in two database tables or views. A form based on a procedure enables end users to insert, update, and delete data in a database stored procedure.
Report	Displays data you select from the database table or view in a report. The report can have tabular, form or custom layout.
Chart	Displays data you select from a database table or view as a bar chart. You can also create Java-based image charts.
database portlet	Displays data in spreadsheet format.
Calendar	Displays data you select from a database table or view as a calendar.
Dynamic Page	Displays dynamically-generated HTML content on a Web page.
Hierarchy	Displays data you select from a database table or view as a graphical hierarchy of items containing up to three levels.
Menu	Displays an HTML-based menu containing hyperlinked options to other menus, Oracle Portal database portlets, or URLs.
Frame Driver	Displays a Web page with two frames. End user queries in one frame control the contents of the other frame.
Link	Displays a clickable link that provides a hypertext jump between Oracle Portal database portlets and other database portlets, database portlet customization forms, or any HTML page.
List of Values	Enables end users to choose entry field values in a form or database portlet customization form. You can use LOVs when creating database portlets to pre-select the possible values in an entry field. The end user clicks the mouse to select a value rather than type it. You can also build LOVs based on other LOVs.
URL	Displays the contents of a URL.
XML	Displays an XML page.