Oracle Forms Developer – Form Builder Reference, Volume 1

Built-in named parameters
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The named parameter should be followed with the equal/greater than signs (=>), which point to the
actual parameter that follows the named parameter. For example, if you intend to change the
milliseconds in the SET_TIMER Built-in you can directly use that parameter with the following syntax:
SET_TIMER(timer_name => ’my_timer’, milliseconds => 12000,
iterate => NO_REPEAT);
Also, you can continue to call the built-in with the following syntax:
SET_TIMER(’my_timer’, 12000, NO_REPEAT);
Built-in code examples
Examples have been included for the built-in subprograms. Some examples are simple illustrations of
the syntax. Others are more complex illustrations of how to use the Built-in either alone or in
conjunction with other built-ins. A few points to keep in mind regarding the syntax of examples:
• Examples are shown exactly as they can be entered.
• Casing and use of italics can be ignored and is included for readability.
• Built-in names and other PL/SQL reserved words, such as IF, THEN, ELSE, BEGIN, and END are
shown in capital letters for easier readability.
• Named parameters, when illustrated, are shown in an italic typeface. If you choose to use named
parameters, enter these parameter names exactly as shown, without quotes and follow them with the
equal/greater than symbols (=>).
• CHAR type arguments must be enclosed in single quotes.
• Any other data type argument should not be enclosed in quotes.
• Special characters other than single quotes (’), commas (,), parentheses, underscores (_), and
semicolons(;) should be ignored.
Built-in object IDs
Some built-in subprograms accept object IDs as actual parameters. An object ID is an internal, opaque
handle that is assigned to each object when created in the Form Builder. Object IDs are internally
managed and cannot be externally viewed by the user. The only method you can use to retrieve the ID is
to define a local or global variable and assign the return value of the object to the variable.
You make the assignment by way of the FIND_ built-in functions. Once you have used FIND_ within a
PL/SQL block, you can use the variable as an object ID while still in that block. The valid PL/SQL type
for each object is included in the syntax descriptions for each parameter. The description for the
FIND_BLOCK built-in provides an example of how to obtain an object ID.
Built-in form coordinate units
Many built-in subprograms allow you to specify size and position coordinates, using properties such as:
• HEIGHT