Custom form/table

[Max76]

Hi all, this is my first post here and I hope you can give me some advice.

We'd like to add a new custom form into OTM to manage a couple of simple information contained in a new custom table.
Suppose we don't want to ask Oracle for a customization and instead try to build the form by ourselves.
How would you do that? Is it possible to have the jsp and the relative classes deployed with the rest of the application?
I understand it's a pretty big question, but we'd like to know what the OTM community thinks is the best way.

Thanks in advance,
Max

[chrisplough]

Re: Custom form/table

Max,

I've seen clients do this in the past and would recommend against it, unless absolutely necessary. It is possible to deploy custom JSPs and servlets into the existing Tomcat instance, but the risks/issues are:

• It isn't supported by Oracle and may cause issues supporting other App functionality (such as web server performance, etc).
• If you want to hook into the OTM security, it will require decompiling existing OTM code (not recommended)
• Any patch to OTM may wipe out your changes and/or require updates to your custom code.

Another way to tackle this is to have your own web server that runs your custom code (i.e. another Apache/Tomcat instance - or whatever you prefer). A couple OTM clients have done this with good success -- allowing them to have custom screens and reduce the impact upon the core OTM installation.

Also, as for the custom tables, ensure these are under a separate schema (i.e. completely different DB user) to ensure they don't conflict with OTM or cause issues with patches/upgrades.

--Chris

[Max76]

Re: Custom form/table

Chris, thanks for the prompt reply.

what if I want to use my custom data structure with OTM screen sets/layout manager? are there any technical restictions?

and if it is feasible, where can I find some documentation?

regards,
Max

[chrisplough]

Re: Custom form/table

Max,

I'm not aware of any way to integrate a custom schema in with the OTM screens utilizing screen sets and data managers. The only ways I'm aware to accomplish this are to create a custom screen framework that interfaces with OTM (we've done this and utilize the framework for specific client needs), or to develop your own JSPs and Servlets that extend OTM functionality (as noted above - not recommended).

--Chris

[Max76]

Re: Custom form/table

I understand. Thanks again Chris!