Time to validate your APEX validation processes: Are you always validating client side and server side? Are you using the most efficient validation options? Are you up to speed on interactive grid validation options, single and multi-row? Are your validations firing all the time, when they are supposed to? Are you sure? If any of the above questions make you pause – attend this session on APEX validation processes and best practices.

1. TH Technology
Validate Your
Validations:
Both Sides
Now
Karen Cannell
kcannell@thtechnology.com
TH Technology
@thtechnology

2. TH Technology
About Me …
• TH Technology – Oracle Consulting Services, APEX Focus
• Mechanical/SW Engineer - Analyzed, designed, developed,
converted, upgraded, enhanced legacy & database applications
for 30+ years
• Building Web/APEX applications for Government, Medical,
Engineering industries since HTMLDB beginnings
• Leveraging Oracle, Oracle tools 25+ years
• ODTUG Director, Editor Emeritus, Technical Journal
• Oracle Ace Director
• APress Author
APEX Validations: Both Sides Now
25/3/2020

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APEX Validations: Both Sides Now 35/3/2020

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5/3/2020 4APEX Validations: Both Sides Now

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STAY SAFE
#FlattenTheCurve
5/3/2020 5APEX Validations: Both Sides Now

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5/3/2020 6APEX Validations: Both Sides Now

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About You …
• APEX Users ?
• APEX Versions ?
• Current Validation Practices??
• Why Are You Here?
APEX Validations: Both Sides Now 75/3/2020

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Why Attend This Presentation?
• Why Validate ?
• Where Validate ?
• Validations in APEX
• Items,
• How You Submit, Gotchas
• Interactive Grids
• Submit Options, Gotchas
• Validation Strategy
APEX Validations: Both Sides Now 85/3/2020
Work a Little Harder,
Payoff is Better Data,
Tighter User Interface
Safer User Interface

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Agenda
• Why Validate ?
• Database – Server – Client
• Validations in APEX
• Items, Forms
• Interactive Grids
• Gotchas
• APEX Validation Strategy
APEX Validations: Both Sides Now 95/3/2020

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Both Sides?
• Database (Tables, Constraints, Triggers)
• Server (APEX Engine)
• Client Interface
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ALL Sides!

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Use Your Database!
• Have a Data Model
• Enforce Constraints
• Enforce Data Types
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At the Database Level …
• NUMBER(4) vs NUMBER
• VARCHAR2(12) vs VARCHAR2(4000)
• DATE --- Beware of Date Formats
• Beware of Implicit Conversions
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Data Quality
Why Validate?
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Why Validate?
• Data Quality
• Prevent SQL Injection
• User Experience
• Faster Response for User
• Preserve Client State
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Where Validate?
1. Database
• Data Types
• Keys
• Constraints
2. Server – On Submit
3. Client – Upon Entry
5/3/2020 15APEX Validations: Both Sides Now
Use Your Database!

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Where Validate? When It Happens
1. Client – Upon Entry (Immediate)
2. Server – On Submit
3. Database - When It Hits
• Data Types
• Keys
• Constraints
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APEX Architecture
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Client
Server (APEX)
Database
from apex.oracle.com/platform/architecture

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What Are Validations?
Data Checks
• Page Item
• Page (Multiple Page Items)
• Column
• Row (Multiple Columns)
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What Are APEX Validations?
In Your APEX App

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APEX Client-Side Validation
• Compatibility Mode 5.1+
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APEX Client-Side Validation
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Validation / Validity JS APIs
• apex.page.validate
• apex.page.submit( {validate:true;});
• apex.page.comfirm( {validate:true;})
• apex.item getValidity
• apex.item.setCustomValidity
• apex.message
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Demo:
Very Simple Item
Validations
APEX Validations: Both Sides Now 225/3/2020

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There Are Lots of Validation Options
• Example: “Required”
• Value Required Attribute (Client)
• Required Template (Client)
• Item Not Null Validation (Server)
• Dynamic Action, JS (Client)
Use Simplest (Declarative) First
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Where You Validate Matters
• Client Side
• Feedback Before Submit
• A Few Declarative Settings
• Dynamic Actions
• Server Side
• Feedback After Submit
• Lots of Declarative Options
Use Both!
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How You Submit Matters
• Submit
• Dynamic Action → Submit Page
• apex.submit()
• apex.page.submit ({validate:true;})
Know the Difference
Be Consistent
Don’t Leave Holes
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Don’t
Fire
Client
Side

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How You Say It Matters
• Default Error Messages
• data-valid-message
• setCustomValidity
• apex.message
Be Informative
Be Consistent!
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Where You Say It Matters
• Inline
• Inline and Notification
• Notification
• Error Page
Be Informative
Be Consistent!
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Declarative
Validations
Do It Declaratively First …
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Declarative Validations (Easy) Stuff…
• Item Types
• Text, Number, Date Picker
• Minimum, Maximum, Format
• Select List, Popup LOV, Shuttle, Radio Group
• Text Subtypes
• Email
• Phone
• URL
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Use the Declarative (Easy) Stuff…
• Value Required
• Templates
• Required
• Optional
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data-valid-message
• Use to Enter a
Custom Error
Message
• Instead of
“Please fill in
<value>.”
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Use Conditions to Control When …
• Validations – (Server Side)
• Server Side Conditions
• Client Side Conditions
• Dynamic Actions (Client Side)
• Server Side Conditions
• Client Side Conditions
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Server-Side
Validations
Our Standard APEX Validations …
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Server Side Validations
• Fire On Submit
• IF all Client Side Validations are OK
• Many Declarative Types
• Many Declarative Conditions
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Creating a Server-Side Validation
• Simple Page
Item
• Many
Validation
Types!
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Creating a Server-Side Validation
• Use Declarative
Types First
• PLSQL
Expression,
Function, etc.
Last
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Validation Conditions
• Server-Side, When Button Pressed
• Server-Side, Condition
• Client Side, JS Expression
Use The Conditions!
→ Simplify Your Validation Code
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Use The Validation Attributes
• Sequence
• Editable Region (If Validating Item in
a Grid)
• Type
• Always Execute
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Validation: Error Attributes
• Error Message – Your Consistent Error Message
• Display Location
• Inline w Field and In Notification
• Inline w Field
• Inline in Notification
• On Error Page
• Associated Item
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Client-Side
Validations
via Declarative Settings and
Dynamic Actions …
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Client Side Validations
• Declarative
• Required
• HTML5
• Dynamic Action
• Execute JavaScript
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Validate via Dynamic Actions
• On Change vs. On Lose Focus
• vs Your Requirements
• Use Conditions on the Dynamic
Actions
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Improve the
Message
Use the JS APIs to Tailor the
Message and Be Consistent
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Use the Documented JS APIs
• apex.oracle.com/api → JavaScript
APIs
• apex.item
• apex.message
• apex.model
• Interactive Grid APIs
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Example JS Validate
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apex.item

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Example JS Validate
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apex.item
Validity

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Example JS Validate
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apex.message for the
uniform message format

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Validation in
Interactive Grids
Apply the Same Server-Side/Client
Side Strategy …
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In General
• Each Column Is An Item
• Validations and Dynamic Actions
Work the Same as Page Items
• :COLUMN_NAME Bind Reference
The Same Stuff Applies!
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Grid Validation - EName
• EName Must Be Alpha
• Custom Message
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Example Grid Validation
• Server-Side
Salary Between
100 and 2000
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Client-Side Grid Validation - Item
• Dynamic Action
• On Change
• Execute JavaScript
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Grid Validation - Salary
• Client-Side Salary Betw100 and 3000
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Grid Validation – Dyn Action Salary
• Salary Betw100 and 3000
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Demo:
Interactive Grid
Validations
Basic Interactive Grid Validations
APEX Validations: Both Sides Now 555/3/2020

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Grid Validation - Comm
• Server-Side - Row
Between10% of Salary
and Not > Salary
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Grid Validation – Client Side -Row
• Dynamic Action
• On Change
• Execute JavaScript
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Grid Validation – DA - Commission
• 10% Sal < Commission < Salary
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Why Did My Grid Validation Not Fire?
• Grid Validation Settings
• Created and Modified Rows
• All Submitted Rows
“Submitted Rows”
… Not All Rows
Get Submitted!
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General Validation
Strategy
Cover All the Bases …
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General APEX Validation Strategy
• Do It Declaratively First
• Create Server Side
• Create Client Side
• Be Consistent !
• Same Validations
• Same Informative Messages
• Help Gives Same Messages
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More Validations == More Testing
• Check for Requirements
• Is All Validated That Should Be?
• Check Everything Fires When It Should
• Validation Holes?
• Check User Experience
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Validate Your Validations ~ Summary
• Database Design – Final Data Check
• Server Side – Final App Check
• Client Side – Immediate Feedback
Take The Time
Secure All Fronts!
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Some APEX
Validations
Homework ...
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APEX Validations ~ Homework
• References
• Sample DB App
• Sample Grids App
• IG Cookbook
• Grids – Learn the
APIs
• Know What Fires
When and Why
• Adjust the Samples
For Your
Requirements
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Learn More!
• Sample, Productivity Applications
• APEX Video Training
• apex.world
• apex.oracle.com
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Comments?
Questions?
STAY SAFE
#FlattenTheCurve
Karen Cannell
kcannell@thtechnology.com
@thtechnology

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Thank You
STAY SAFE
#FlattenTheCurve
Karen Cannell
kcannell@thtechnology.com
@thtechnology

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Resources
• Oracle APEX Documentation
https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/application-
express/19.2/htmdb/validating-user-input-in-forms.html#GUID-8BA81FD5-
E138-494D-9F8E-35D5A370E31A
• J Snyders, Client Side Validation
https://hardlikesoftware.com/weblog/2017/05/10/apex-client-side-
validation/V….
https://community.oracle.com/community/database/developer-tools/oracle-jet
• M Mulvaney Client Side Validation
https://explorer.co.uk/client-side-validations/
• M Mulvaney Grid Validations
https://explorer.co.uk/the-numerous-options-for-apex-18-1-interactive-grid-validations/
• Translate Client Side Messages
http://apexbyg.blogspot.com/2017/02/apex-51-translate-html5-client-side.html
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Exceptions
• https://explorer.co.uk/the-
numerous-options-for-apex-18-1-
interactive-grid-validations/
• Sometimes Error Link No Good
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Client Side Messaging
• Display Messages w/o Full Page Reload
• Change in Behavior in App w Old Themes
• Reload on Submit: Only For Success vs Always
• Universal Theme
• Anthony Rayner Post For More Details
https://www.orafaq.com/aggregator/sources/1
64
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