How to Use Forms2XML Utility to Convert Oracle Forms Modules to XML
Oracle Forms is a software product for creating user interfaces to interact with Oracle databases. It allows developers to design, build, and deploy applications quickly and easily. However, sometimes it may be necessary to convert Oracle Forms modules to XML format for various reasons, such as migrating to a newer version of Oracle Forms, or using a different tool for development.
One way to convert Oracle Forms modules to XML is to use the Forms2XML utility, which is a command-line tool that comes with Oracle Forms Developer. The Forms2XML utility can take one or more Forms Module files as an argument, and output the corresponding XML files in the current folder. The files can be FormsModule (.fmb), ObjectLibrary (.olb), or MenuModule (.mmb) files[^2^].
FORMS2XMLUTILITYDOWNLOAD
To use the Forms2XML utility, you need to have Oracle Forms Developer installed on your computer. You also need to set the environment variables ORACLE_HOME and FORMS_PATH to point to the appropriate directories. Then, you can run the following command in a terminal window:
frmf2xml [options] file1 [file2...]
or
java oracle.forms.util.xmltools.Forms2XML [options] file1 [file2...]
The options are optional parameters that can modify the behavior of the utility. For example, you can use the -o option to specify a different output directory for the XML files, or the -e option to specify the encoding of the XML files. You can also use the -h option to display the help message for the utility.
The file1 [file2...] are the names of the Forms Module files that you want to convert to XML. You can specify one or more files, separated by spaces. The utility will create an XML file for each input file, with the same name but with a .xml extension.
For example, if you want to convert a FormsModule file named myform.fmb and an ObjectLibrary file named mylib.olb to XML, and save them in a folder named xmlfiles, you can run the following command:
frmf2xml -o xmlfiles myform.fmb mylib.olb
This will create two XML files named myform.xml and mylib.xml in the xmlfiles folder.
The XML files generated by the Forms2XML utility contain all the information about the Forms Module files, such as properties, triggers, program units, menus, etc. You can view them in any text editor or XML viewer. You can also use them as input for other tools that can process XML files.
One of the benefits of converting Forms Module files to XML is that it makes them easier to compare and merge. For example, if you have two versions of the same Forms Module file, and you want to see what changes have been made between them, you can convert them to XML and use a tool like WinMerge or DiffMerge to compare them. You can also use a tool like TortoiseSVN or Git to manage the version control of your XML files.
Another benefit of converting Forms Module files to XML is that it makes them easier to customize and extend. For example, if you want to add some functionality or features to your Forms Module files, you can edit the XML files manually or use a tool like JDeveloper or Eclipse to modify them. You can also use a tool like Oracle Application Express (APEX) or Oracle Forms Migration Assistant (FMA) to migrate your XML files to a web-based platform.
However, converting Forms Module files to XML also has some drawbacks. One of them is that it may cause some loss of information or functionality. For example, some properties or triggers may not be supported or converted correctly by the Forms2XML utility. You may also encounter some compatibility issues or errors when using the XML files with other tools or platforms. Therefore, you should always test and verify your XML files before using them for production purposes.
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