The good old Oracle Forms UI does not look really cool. Of course, you can use nice icons and choose the right colors, but the controls are not fancy compared to swing controls.

If you try to to migrate from Oracle Forms to Java, wouldn't it be great to migrate one screen after the other. Or better, create new screens with Java and integrate them in your existing Oracle Forms application. Use both technologies as long as is necessary.

Don't think that you have to migrate the whole Oracle Forms application, migrate step by step. It is absolutely possible to use your new screens in your Oracle Forms aplication or as separate application without Forms. Save time, money and don't replace your existing Oracle Forms developers.

You would like to see how this can look like?


The first screenshot shows a standard Java swing application, with a simple master/detail and some editors:

JVx Swing UI

The next screenshot shows the same screen (without source code changes) used in an Oracle Forms application:

Forms with Java screen

You are right, it is great to embedd the same Java screen, but the Look and Feel is not very cool. Do you know that Java has some nice LaF's? Here is the same screen with Nimbus Look and Feel:

Oracle Forms Nimbus LaF

The scource code is online. Thanks to Stefan for his great work!

Check out the project page.

In the coming weeks we will finalize the documentation and build the binaries.

You find the JPA integration and a complete example application in the repository.
Have fun.

Our new project is created and we are preparing the source upload.

What is JVx EE?

It's the integration of JPA 2.0 in JVx. Create professional backend software with JVx and use your domain model which is already available in your Java EE based web application. With JVx EE you can use the configured EntityManager and JPA implementation of your web application. Reuse your existing DAOs or EAOs without changes in your application.

With JVx EE it is possible to create a standard JVx application that is connected to your domain model, e.g.:

or with a custom EAO

Do you need a professional backend application for your existing web frontend? Use JVx and your problems are solved. You get all advantages of JavaEE in your JVx application.

JVx EE is licensed under Apache License 2.0.

Do you have any questions? Let me know.

We were never asked what JVx means, neither on conferences nor via social media - until yesterday!
So we simply reveal the secret.

JVx stands for: Java Application extension

Why not JAx?
JAX is a well-known conference about Java, so we were a little creative and turned the A to a V.

We used Hudson for nightly builds since the first day of JVx. The hudson server was an internal server, so the reports were "private". We have never liked it!

Since 1 May are the reports now publicly available. Check it out:

https://dev.sibvisions.com/jvx.nightly/

You see the JUnit test reports, Checkstyle reports, Code Coverage reports and FindBugs reports.
And we now use Jenkins instead of Hudson

The current Javilion release 1.2.0 allows configuration via Preferences or Project properties. Now it is very easy to change the http port or to configure automatic reloads by file extension. With the old version, you had to change the .project file manually.

If you use the port parameter with Javeleon, no automatic reload is executed. The old Javilion plug-in sent a reload event after a java file was changed, but that was a bug. With the current version, you can configure, for which file extension you want to send a reload event.

The configuration is saved per project.

Project properties		Open the project properties (right click on the project / Properties) and be sure that Javilion nature has been added to your project! Otherwise it is not possible to change the configuration.
Preferences		Open the preferences (Window / Preferences) and set the default values! The default values are used when you Reset the settings in your project setup.

Have fun

Use the following URL to install SIB Visions Eclipse Plug-ins:

http://eclipse.sibvisions.com/update

The above URL is the official SIB Visions Eclipse Updatesite.

We released VisionX 1.1.1 as little Thank you to our customers. Thanks for the great Feedback and for all the compliments!

The new release contains many improvements and solves some ugly problems.

The details

• Application reload in Browsers

  It is not necessary to clear the Java or Browser cache. The application now reloads automatically.

• Data export

  The simple export of records now creates valid CSV files. Simply open it with Excel or other Office suites.

• Install the database without freeze

  VisionX had a problem with opened database connections, because the installation waits until all resources are freed. In the current release, VisionX closes all opened connections during installation. The database installation now runs smoothly.

• Translation update

  We updated the English translation.

• Tomcat Settings

  If you reused a Tomcat setting, the port is set to 80. Now the stored port is used.

• User Management

  Now it is possible to customize the User Management screen.

• Form screen validation

  If you close a form screen but not all required fields are filled, you get only one information dialog.

• Default table sort

  If you sort a table with different columns and different sort orders, it is saved now.

• Edit data table

  We found a potential freeze during screen update and changed the display of the data type.

• Action editor

  A value change command does not create a new insert command anymore.

Have fun with this fantastic release.

Single Sourcing - what?

The Problem:
You develop an application for a customer that should run on Desktop, Notebook, Netbook, Smartphone and Tablet. You have to support different platforms, different screen sizes (resolutions), different network speeds.

The solution:
You need a technology that allows you to develop the application once and execute it on any device without changes to the application / source code.

Actual state
You develop the application multiple times, optimized for the target device. Of course you use the same business logic/middle-tier. Or you develop a web application (ajax, html) and distribute it without app stores, but have not the same usability as native apps.

There are many projects that offer multi-device support, e.g. PhoneGap, Appcelerator, Eclipse RAP, Adobe Flex

But did you know that JVx has Single Sourcing since 2008 - the time as single sourcing was not so popular.
The difference between JVx and all other technologies is, that JVx is a full-stack application framework. It has all components that are needed to develop data-driven applications. It is not just a development platform as all others.

If you are software developer and create database applications that should run as RIA or as html/ajax application - JVx is your friend. If you are not a software developer - VisionX is the right tool for you!

No other tool is faster for database-application development!

The first update-release of VisionX is out. But it is more than an update - it's a tool for the gods.

VisionX 1.1 contains about 90 Tickets, a brand new JVx release and the best UI designer ever, for End-Users and/or Software developers.

Other companies talk about Software Development in the cloud or really cool Rapid Application Development tools. Everything sounds very technical and is only for specialists. But where is the innovation?
It makes no difference where we develop software (local or remote) - it is still software development. If you are a developer... no problem. If you are interested but have no technical education... damn.

Are development tools as easy as modern Office suites? No way.

Wouldn't it be great to create handmade software without software development knowledge?
Don't think how. Think what. If you have an idea for an application, simply create it with VisionX.

Curious?

New in VisionX 1.1

• 1-2-3 Reports

  Create a report in 3 steps. First - create a template, Second - Use your preferred Office solution (MS-Office, LibreOffice, ...) to customize the template, Third - Open the report in your application

  It is so easy to create a report and it is even easier to see your records in the report. VisionX fills your reports with filtered records, sorted or not, all available records or with master/detail related records.

  The current release handles filtered and sorted records automatically. A very important feature compared to 1.0.

  What You See Is What You Get.

• Applications everywhere

  Install your application in your private network, a public cloud or use it only on your desktop. Use commercial or open source database products. Switch between databases or use all of them together. You can decide for yourself. Sounds too complicated?
  You are right, and many software developers have the same thoughts!
  With VisionX, your application is installed with 3 mouse clicks and we do the tricky stuff for you!

  Now you can decide what you want to install: only Application, only Database or both together.

• Multi-User Spreadsheets

  Give VisionX your Spreadsheet and you get a Multi-User Online Application with access control for your records. Decide, who can see what.

  Now we have better support for different timestamp formats and a very intelligent delimiter detection. Don't waste time with the configuration, it just works.

• Standardized Specifications

  VisionX creates specifications, that describes your application. It contains Screenshots of your current screens, describes all visible fields and gives you an overview of used actions.

  In the new release, we give you more details about fields, e.g. the possible values of choice boxes, the precision and scale of numbers, the field type (text, number, date, time, ...).

• Legacy databases

  If you have old database applications and you need a modern frontend, use VisionX to create it. Simply connect to the database and create management screens with some mouse clicks. If you are not happy with the standard layout - change it until it fits your need.

• Manage your datasources

  The new release comes with management screens for your existing datasources. Now it is very simple to change your administrative datasources or create new user-defined datasources.

• Design-Runtime

  If an exception occurs in your application, switch to design mode with only one click. VisionX now saves even more time.

• Copy screens, Copy elements

  If you need a screen copy - Create it per Drag and Drop. The keyword is <CTRL>. Press <CTRL> while you drag an element and you automatically create a copy when you drop it. Have you ever seen a visual designer that supports this?

Start today with your handmade applications. You just need an idea!