Oracle Application Framework Introduction

        

Introduction to OAF

            Oracle Application Framework (OAF) is the development and deployment platform which is used to develop web-based oracle E-business suit application. In order to develop and maintain OAF functionality, Oracle's JDeveloper tool is used. OAF pages allows customers for personalization, customizations and custom-application development. OA Framework is based on the industry-standard J2EE MVC (Model-View-Controller) Architecture.

Advantages of OA framework:

 *   End User Productivity:

        OA Framework has always kept user interface interactivity a top priority with features such as partial page rendering (PPR), hot keys, smart choice lists and auto completion of fields with lists of values.

        OA Framework's implementation of BLAF (Browser Look And Feel) standards yields a consistent user experience and further enhances user productivity.

*         Enterprise-Grade Performance and Scalability:

        OA Framework has aggressive performance and scalability targets.It takes a bit longer the first time a page is accessed within the same Java Virtual Machine, but thereafter, most of the commonly needed information (such as user information) is cached in the middle tier, allowing faster response

*         Developer Productivity:

OA Framework is designed around the simple Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture.

*         Application Customizability:

OAF pages allows customers for personalization, customizations and custom-application development.

*         Open Standards:

OA Framework is J2EE based and features several industry standards such as XML, HTML, Java, JSP, SQL and Web Services.

MVC Architecture:

Model:

The Model is the place containing the business logic. The model component is implemented using the BC4J. BC4J provides optimized, ready-to-use implementations of the J2EE design patterns.

 Components of BC4J:

        *         Entity Objects

              Entity Objects encapsulate business logic and DML operations for application tables.

        *       View Objects

             View Objects encapsulates a database query

        *      View Link

             View link Establishes a master/detail relationship between different view objects

        *       Association Objects

             Association object is used to create relationship between Entity objects

        *      Application Modules

               Application Module serves as container for ViewObjects and ViewLinks

View:

The View is the presentation layer

Controller:

The Controller manages the flow between pages. User actions are handled by the OA Controller.

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