Oracle Forms 4.5 and motif 1.5

[Andre Menard]

We are using Oracle 8i with Forms 4.5. We are using the Forms GUI interface with X-windows.

We upgraded our test environment to OpenVMS 8.2, and DWmotif V1.5 from OpenVMS 7.3-1 and DWmotif V1.2-6.

From the Gui interface into Oracle Forms, the Function keys (i.e F9) and Control keys (i.e. CTRL-P) no longer work (CTRL-P enters a blank into the form instead of calling up the print option like it used to).

I have re-linked the Oracle Forms 4.5 and have re-generated the actual Oracle forms.

Does anyone have any idea why the x-windows application can no loger interpret the Function and control keys?

Thanks

Andre

[Hoff]

While this could quite conceivably be a problem with DECwindows V1.5 (and I would check for ECO kits regardless), do check first with Oracle Metalink and see if Oracle has information potentially related to this posted.

Oracle Forms may or may not be at fault here, but Oracle is in a better position to determine the particular trigger.

As a parallel test here, you might test F9 and such with a DECterm terminal. DEFINE/KEY can be used to capture F9. Capturing CTRL/P might require a little more work.

And do ensure Oracle Forms 4.5 is supported on DECwindows 1.5.

[Andre Menard]

I am not going to get any help from Oracle, Forms 4.5 is no longer supported on OpenVMS...I did test the function keys from a Forms 4.5 character cell application, (not the same form), and the function keys worked OK...

[Hoff]

Ah. Misdirected requests usually have an unstated trigger. Now I know the trigger.

ECO DECwindows and the graphics drivers and OpenVMS itself to current. If that doesn't work here, you're left with the obvious choices. Downgrade, replace, migrate, upgrade, re-code, etc.

If it's your code involved here within the application, check for a bug in it. There have been latent bugs within OpenVMS itself that have surfaced -- a salient example lurked unnoticed for a quarter-century before it finally become visible. Application and LP bugs can also easily lurk.

[Andre Menard]

Can I down grade Motif back to 1.2-6 on OpenVMS 8.2?

[Hoff]

From the OpenVMS FAQ "OpenVMS Alpha V7.3-2 only supports DECwindows Motif V1.3 and later. If you require DECwindows V1.2-6 or earlier, then you are limited to operations on OpenVMS Alpha V7.3-1 and earlier releases."

There's a discussion of keymapping and such over in the FAQ, as well.

Before resorting to more serious effort, I'd see if this was Oracle Forms, or if this was the Application, something in DECwindows or the keymapping, or OpenVMS, or something else. Apply ECO kits to current, and debug this locally.

Oracle has classically had specific version and upgrade requirements, and this assists them in reducing the scale of the associated testing matrix. Conversely, this policy also means you need upgrade more regularly. Counter-conversely, performing regular upgrades also mean you don't smash into older (and fixed) bugs.

There are inevitable support costs and payments, just not an overt payment to Oracle in this particular case. Staying on older releases is not free, and eventually becomes expensive. (And DECwindows Motif V1.5 and OpenVMS Alpha V8.2 are themselves older releases.)

I know. Not the answers you want.

[Andre Menard]

Thanks..like you said not the answers I wanted...I am up to the latest ECO's for motif, and bit need to check for the OpenVMS ones from the last month...I will check out the FAQ's

[Volker Halle]

Andre,

was there ever a solution or workaround for this problem ?

One of our customers reported similar symptoms after upgrading from OpenVMS Alpha V7.3 MOTIF V1.2-6 to OpenVMS Alpha V7.3-2 MOTIF V1.3-1. They are also running an application based on Oracle FORMS V4.5 and now the function keys do not work anymore.

Volker.

[Andre Menard]

No, there was no real solution. I had to create a toolbar with the equivalent keys on it. I am still hoping that something better will come up.

Andre

[Greg Lang]

Hi Andre,
I don't have an answer to your problem but I am interested in your environment. I am currently running 2, AlphaServer ES40s (1 test, 1 prod) with OpenVMS 7.3-2 with DWMotif V1.3-1 and Oracle Client 7.3.4 with Oracle Forms 4.5. Developers are the only persons who use the X Window GUI running Developer 2000. In production our runtime environment is running the character based forms with VT220 telnet sessions. Did I understand you correctly that you were able to run the character based forms with VMS 8.2 and Oracle 8i? Is that currently your production environment? I would very much like to upgrade my OpenVMS and Oracle Client as far as I can and still be able to run the character based forms. We also run an old SQR report writer V4.3.4 that will also still have to function; I don't know if you have any experience with that. FYI, our database is 9i soon to be 10g on a 64-bit linux server. I was also curious if you have a migration plan for your application to get to something web based or something to get current? Any light you can shed I would appreciate. Thanks, Greg

[Andre Menard]

Greg,

Our production system is running OpenVMS V7.3-1 and Oracle 8i.

Our test system is OpenVMS V8.3 and Oracle 8i. The character cell application is a 3rd party application using Oracle Forms 4.5. We tested this application successfully on the OpenVMS 8.3 system.

Our in-house application uses the Forms 4.5 gui. I put a row of buttons along the top of each form to provide access to the missing function keys.

I am not familiar with the SQR report writer.

The character cell application is being migrated by the provider to Windows.
We don't have plans for the GUI application yet.

[Greg Lang]

Thanks! So upgrading to OpenVMS 8.2 or 8.3 is definitely possible. As far as Oracle what release of 8i do you have? Does your database reside on the same VMS server so it is 8i as well? Or are you just running Oracle Client on VMS?

Thanks Again, Greg

[Andre Menard]

Greg,

We are using 8.1.7.4.0.

for the GUI and Character cell applications, everything is run from OpenVMS.

Andre

[Greg Lang]

Thanks!!