PDF output from Apex

Carl Backstrom has a very interesting blog on APEX + Cocoon = PDF.

Upgrading Oracle XE to Apex 3.0

Upgrading Oracle XE to Apex 3.0 has a couple of tricks to it, so here's how.

1. Download the software, and unzip it.
2. Edit the ..\apex\coreins.sql script
3. Run the installation/upgrade as usual
4. Upload the images using the correct version of apex_epg_config.sql.
5. Upgrade the owa packages in the ..\apex\owa directory.

Edit the ..\apex\coreins.sql script

On line 573 you need to set the XE variable to 1 for XE installation: Rem Rem Set XE variable to '1' for XE installation, '0' for non-XE installation Rem define XE = '1'

Run the installation/upgrade as usual

For a local install: e.g. sqlplus "sys/syspass as sysdba" @apexins password SYSAUX SYSAUX TEMP /i/

Upload the images

XE uses the embedded PL/SQL gateway so you need to run the apex_epg_config.sql script to upload images into the XDB repository. Note: documentation references apex_epg_config11.sql - this is for Oracle 11g only!!! Login to sqlplus as sys, and run the script passing the path to the apex directory you unzipped e.g. sql> @apex_epg_config.sql c:\temp

Update the owa packages

See the ..\apex\owa\readme.txt for details.

That's all there is to it. The most important thing to remember is don't just read the documentation, read and understand the scripts as well. It's easy to forget to document something, not that I've ever done that ... ;)