1 APEX_UTIL

CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_PAGE_CACHE Function

This function returns the date and time a specified application page was cached either for the user issuing the call, or for all users if the page was not set to be cached by user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_PAGE_CACHE (
    p_application  IN    NUMBER,
    p_page         IN    NUMBER)
RETURN DATE;

Parameters

Table 1-1 describes the parameters available in the CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_PAGE_CACHE procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_PAGE_CACHE function to retrieve the cache date and time for page 9 of the currently executing application. If page 9 has been cached, the cache date and time is output using the HTP package. The page could have been cached either by the user issuing the call, or for all users if the page was not to be cached by the user.

DECLARE
    l_cache_date DATE DEFAULT NULL;
BEGIN
    l_cache_date := APEX_UTIL.CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_PAGE_CACHE(
                        p_application => :APP_ID,
                        p_page => 9);
    IF l_cache_date IS NOT NULL THEN
        HTP.P('Cached on ' || TO_CHAR(l_cache_date, 'DD-MON-YY HH24:MI:SS'));
    END IF;
END;

CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_REGION_CACHE Function

This function returns the date and time a specified region was cached either for the user issuing the call, or for all users if the page was not set to be cached by user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_REGION_CACHE (
    p_application  IN    NUMBER,
    p_page         IN    NUMBER,
    p_region_name  IN    VARCHAR2)
RETURN DATE;

Parameters

Table 1-2 describes the parameters available in the CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_REGION_CACHE function.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_REGION_CACHE function to retrieve the cache date and time for the region named Cached Region on page 13 of the currently executing application. If the region has been cached, the cache date and time is output using the HTP package. The region could have been cached either by the user issuing the call, or for all users if the page was not to be cached by user.

DECLARE
    l_cache_date DATE DEFAULT NULL;
BEGIN
    l_cache_date := APEX_UTIL.CACHE_GET_DATE_OF_REGION_CACHE(
        p_application => :APP_ID,
        p_page => 13,
        p_region_name => 'Cached Region');
    IF l_cache_date IS NOT NULL THEN
        HTP.P('Cached on ' || TO_CHAR(l_cache_date, 'DD-MON-YY HH24:MI:SS'));
    END IF;
END;

CACHE_PURGE_BY_APPLICATION Procedure

This procedure purges all cached pages and regions for a given application.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CACHE_PURGE_BY_APPLICATION (
    p_application  IN  NUMBER);

Parameters

Table 1-3 describes the parameters available in the CACHE_PURGE_BY_APPLICATION procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CACHE_PURGE_BY_APPLICATION procedure to purge all the cached pages and regions for the application currently executing.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CACHE_PURGE_BY_APPLICATION(p_application => :APP_ID);
END;

CACHE_PURGE_BY_PAGE Procedure

This procedure purges the cache for a given application and page. If the page itself is not cached but contains one or more cached regions, then the cache for these will also be purged.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CACHE_PURGE_BY_PAGE (
    p_application  IN    NUMBER,
    p_page         IN    NUMBER,
    p_user_name    IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL);

Parameters

Table 1-4 describes the parameters available in the CACHE_PURGE_BY_PAGE procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CACHE_PURGE_BY_PAGE procedure to purge the cache for page 9 of the application currently executing. Additionally, if the p_user_name parameter is supplied, this procedure would be further restricted by a specific users cache (only relevant if the cache is set to be by user).

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CACHE_PURGE_BY_PAGE(
        p_application => :APP_ID,
        p_page => 9);
END;

CACHE_PURGE_STALE Procedure

This procedure deletes all cached pages and regions for a specified application that have passed the defined active time period. When you cache a page or region, you specify an active time period (or Cache Timeout). Once that period has passed, the cache will no longer be used, thus removing those unusable pages or regions from the cache.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CACHE_PURGE_STALE (
    p_application  IN    NUMBER);

Parameters

Table 1-5 describes the parameters available in the CACHE_PURGE_STALE procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CACHE_PURGE_STALE procedure to purge all the stale pages and regions in the application currently executing.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CACHE_PURGE_STALE(p_application => :APP_ID);
END;

CHANGE_CURRENT_USER_PW Procedure

This procedure changes the password of the currently authenticated user, assuming Application Express user accounts are in use.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CHANGE_CURRENT_USER_PW(
    p_new_password IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-6 describes the parameters available in the CHANGE_CURRENT_USER_PW procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CHANGE_CURRENT_USER_PW procedure to change the password for the user who is currently authenticated, assuming Application Express accounts are in use.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CHANGE_CURRENT_USER_PW ('secret99');
END;

CHANGE_PASSWORD_ON_FIRST_USE Function

Enables a developer to check whether this property is enabled or disabled for an end user account. This function returns true if the account password must be changed upon first use (after successful authentication) after the password is initially set and after it is changed on the Administration Service, Edit User page. This function returns false if the account does not have this property.

This function may be run in a page request context by any authenticated user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CHANGE_PASSWORD_ON_FIRST_USE (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BOOLEAN;

Parameters

Table 1-7 describes the parameters available in the CHANGE_PASSWORD_ON_FIRST_USE function.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CHANGE_PASSWORD_ON_FIRST_USE function. Use this function to check if the password of an Application Express user account (workspace administrator, developer, or end user) in the current workspace must be changed by the user the first time it is used.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name FROM wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        IF APEX_UTIL.CHANGE_PASSWORD_ON_FIRST_USE(p_user_name => c1.user_name) THEN
            htp.p('User:'||c1.user_name||' requires password to be changed the first time it is used.');
        END IF;
    END LOOP;
END;

CLEAR_APP_CACHE Procedure

This procedure removes session state for a given application for the current session.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CLEAR_APP_CACHE (
    p_app_id    IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL);

Parameters

Table 1-8 describes the parameters available in the CLEAR_APP_CACHE procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CLEAR_APP_CACHE procedure to clear all the current sessions state for the application with an ID of 100.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CLEAR_APP_CACHE('100');
END;

CLEAR_PAGE_CACHE Procedure

This procedure removes session state for a given page for the current session.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CLEAR_PAGE_CACHE (
    p_page IN NUMBER DEFAULT NULL);

Parameters

Table 1-9 describes the parameters available in the CLEAR_PAGE_CACHE procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CLEAR_PAGE_CACHE procedure to clear the current session s state for the page with an ID of 10.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CLEAR_PAGE_CACHE('10');
END;

CLEAR_USER_CACHE Procedure

This procedure removes session state and application system preferences for the current user's session. Run this procedure if you reuse session IDs and want to run applications without the benefit of existing session state.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CLEAR_USER_CACHE;

Parameters

None.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CLEAR_USER_CACHE procedure to clear all session state and application system preferences for the current user's session.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CLEAR_USER_CACHE;
END;

COUNT_CLICK Procedure

This procedure counts clicks from an application built in Application Builder to an external site. You can also use the shorthand version, procedure Z, in place of APEX_UTIL.COUNT_CLICK.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.COUNT_CLICK (
    p_url         IN    VARCHAR2,
    p_cat         IN    VARCHAR2,
    p_id          IN    VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_user        IN    VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_workspace   IN    VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL);

Parameters

Table 1-10 describes the parameters available in the COUNT_CLICK procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the COUNT_CLICK procedure to log how many user's click on the http://yahoo.com link specified. Note that once this information is logged, you can view it via the APEX_WORKSPACE_CLICKS view and in the reports on this view available to workspace and site administrators.

DECLARE
    l_url VARCHAR2(255);
    l_cat VARCHAR2(30);
    l_workspace_id VARCHAR2(30);
BEGIN
    l_url := 'http://yahoo.com';
    l_cat := 'yahoo';
    l_workspace_id := TO_CHAR(APEX_UTIL.FIND_SECURITY_GROUP_ID('MY_WORKSPACE'));
 
    HTP.P('<a href=APEX_UTIL.COUNT_CLICK?p_url=' || l_url || '&p_cat=' || l_cat || '&p_workspace=' || l_workspace_id || '>Click</a>');
END;

CREATE_USER Procedure

This procedure creates a new account record in the Application Express user account table. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CREATE_USER(
    p_user_id                       IN      NUMBER      DEFAULT NULL,
    p_user_name                     IN      VARCHAR2,
    p_first_name                    IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_last_name                     IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_description                   IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_email_address                 IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_web_password                  IN      VARCHAR2,
    p_web_password_format           IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT 'CLEAR_TEXT',
    p_group_ids                     IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_developer_privs               IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_default_schema                IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_allow_access_to_schemas       IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_account_expiry                IN      DATE        DEFAULT TRUNC(SYSDATE),
    p_account_locked                IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT 'N',
    p_failed_access_attempts        IN      NUMBER      DEFAULT 0,
    p_change_password_on_first_use  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT 'Y',
    p_first_password_use_occurred   IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT 'N',
    p_attribute_01                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_02                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_03                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_04                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_05                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_06                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_07                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_08                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_09                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_attribute_10                  IN      VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL);

Parameters

Table 1-11 describes the parameters available in the CREATE_USER procedure.

Example 1

The following simple example creates an 'End User' called 'NEWUSER1' with a password of 'secret99'. Note an 'End User' can only authenticate to developed applications.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CREATE_USER(
        p_user_name    => 'NEWUSER1',
        p_web_password => 'secret99');
END;

Example 2

The following example creates a 'Workspace Administrator' called 'NEWUSER2'. Where the user 'NEWUSER2':

• Has full workspace administration and developer privilege (p_developer_privs parameter set to 'ADMIN:CREATE:DATA_LOADER:EDIT:HELP:MONITOR:SQL').

• Has access to 2 schemas, both their browsing default 'MY_SCHEMA' (p_default_schema parameter set to 'MY_SCHEMA') and also 'MY_SCHEMA2' (p_allow_access_to_schemas parameter set to 'MY_SCHEMA2').

• Does not have to change their password when they first login (p_change_password_on_first_use parameter set to 'N').

• Has their phone number stored in the first additional attribute (p_attribute_01 parameter set to '123 456 7890').

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CREATE_USER(
        p_user_name                     => 'NEWUSER2',
        p_first_name                    => 'FRANK',
        p_last_name                     => 'SMITH',
        p_description                   => 'Description...',
        p_email_address                 => 'frank@smith.com',
        p_web_password                  => 'password',
        p_developer_privs               => 'ADMIN:CREATE:DATA_LOADER:EDIT:HELP:MONITOR:SQL',
        p_default_schema                => 'MY_SCHEMA',
        p_allow_access_to_schemas       => 'MY_SCHEMA2',
        p_change_password_on_first_use  => 'N',
        p_attribute_01                  => '123 456 7890');
END;

CREATE_USER_GROUP Procedure

Assuming you are using Application Express authentication, this procedure creates a user group. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CREATE_USER_GROUP(
    p_id                       IN                   NUMBER,
    p_group_name               IN                   VARCHAR2,
    p_security_group_id        IN                   NUMBER,
    p_group_desc               IN                   VARCHAR2);

Parameter

Table 1-12 describes the parameters available in the CREATE_USER_GROUP procedure.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CREATE_USER_GROUP procedure to create a new group called 'Managers' with a description of 'text'. Pass null for the p_id parameter to allow the database trigger to assign the new primary key value. Pass null for the p_security_group_id parameter to default to the current workspace ID.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.CREATE_USER_GROUP (
        p_id                => null,         -- trigger will assign PK
        p_group_name        => 'Managers',
        p_security_group_id => null,         -- defaults to current workspace ID
        p_group_desc        => 'text');
END;

CURRENT_USER_IN_GROUP Function

This function returns a Boolean result based on whether or not the current user is a member of the specified group. You can use the group name or group ID to identify the group.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.CURRENT_USER_IN_GROUP(
    p_group_name    IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BOOLEAN;

APEX_UTIL.CURRENT_USER_IN_GROUP(
    p_group_id    IN NUMBER)
RETURN BOOLEAN;

Parameters

Table 1-13 describes the parameters available in the CURRENT_USER_IN_GROUP function.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the CURRENT_USER_IN_GROUP function to check if the user currently authenticated belongs to the group 'Managers'.

DECLARE 
    VAL BOOLEAN;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.CURRENT_USER_IN_GROUP(p_group_name=>'Managers');
END;

DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT Procedure Signature 1

This procedure initiates the download of a print document using XML based report data (as a BLOB) and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_file_name           IN VARCHAR,
    p_content_disposition IN VARCHAR,
    p_report_data         IN BLOB,
    p_report_layout       IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default null);

Parameters

Table 1-14 describes the parameters available in the DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT procedure for Signature 1.

DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT Procedure Signature 2

This procedure initiates the download of a print document using pre-defined report query and RTF and XSL-FO based report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_file_name           IN VARCHAR,
    p_content_disposition IN VARCHAR,
    p_application_id      IN NUMBER,
    p_report_query_name   IN VARCHAR2,
    p_report_layout       IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default null);

Parameters

Table 1-15 describes the parameters available in the DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT function.

Example for Signature 2

The following example shows how to use the DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT using Signature 2 (Pre-defined report query and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout.). In this example, the data for the report is taken from a Report Query called 'ReportQueryAndXSL' stored in the current application's Shared Components > Report Queries. The report layout is taken from a value stored in a page item (P1_XSL).

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
        p_file_name           => 'mydocument',
        p_content_disposition => 'attachment',
        p_application_id      => :APP_ID,
        p_report_query_name   => 'ReportQueryAndXSL',
        p_report_layout       => :P1_XSL,
        p_report_layout_type  => 'xsl-fo',
        p_document_format     => 'pdf');
END;

DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT Procedure Signature 3

This procedure initiates the download of a print document using pre-defined report query and pre-defined report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_file_name           IN VARCHAR,
    p_content_disposition IN VARCHAR,
    p_application_id      IN NUMBER,
    p_report_query_name   IN VARCHAR2,
    p_report_layout_name  IN VARCHAR2,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default null);

Parameters

Table 1-16 describes the parameters available in the DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT procedure for Signature 3.

Example for Signature 3

The following example shows how to use the DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT using Signature 3 (Pre-defined report query and pre-defined report layout). In this example, the data for the report is taken from a Report Query called 'ReportQuery' stored in the current application's Shared Components > Report Queries. The report layout is taken from a Report Layout called 'ReportLayout' stored in the current application's Shared Components > Report Layouts. Note that if you wish to provision dynamic layouts, instead of specifying 'ReportLayout' for the p_report_layout_name parameter, you could reference a page item that allowed the user to select one of multiple saved Report Layouts. This example also provides a way for the user to specify how they wish to receive the document (as an attachment or inline), through passing the value of P1_CONTENT_DISP to the p_content_disposition parameter. P1_CONTENT_DISP is a page item of type 'Select List' with the following List of Values Definition:

STATIC2:In Browser;inline,Save / Open in separate Window;attachment

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
        p_file_name           => 'myreport123',
        p_content_disposition => :P1_CONTENT_DISP,
        p_application_id      => :APP_ID,
        p_report_query_name   => 'ReportQuery',
        p_report_layout_name  => 'ReportLayout',
        p_report_layout_type  => 'rtf',
        p_document_format     => 'pdf');
END;

DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT Procedure Signature 4

This procedure initiates the download of a print document using XML based report data (as a CLOB) and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_file_name           IN VARCHAR,
    p_content_disposition IN VARCHAR,
    p_report_data         IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout       IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default null);

Parameters

Table 1-16 describes the parameters available in the DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT procedure for Signature 4.

Example for Signature 4

The following example shows how to use the DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT using Signature 4 (XML based report data (as a CLOB) and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout). In this example both the report data (XML) and report layout (XSL-FO) are taken from values stored in page items.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.DOWNLOAD_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
        p_file_name           => 'mydocument',
        p_content_disposition => 'attachment',
        p_report_data         => :P1_XML,
        p_report_layout       => :P1_XSL,
        p_report_layout_type  => 'xsl-fo',
        p_document_format     => 'pdf');
END;

EDIT_USER Procedure

This procedure enables a user account record to be altered. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.EDIT_USER (
    p_user_id                      IN                   NUMBER,
    p_user_name                    IN                   VARCHAR2,
    p_first_name                   IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_last_name                    IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_web_password                 IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_new_password                 IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_email_address                IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_start_date                   IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_end_date                     IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_employee_id                  IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_allow_access_to_schemas      IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_person_type                  IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_default_schema               IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_group_ids                    IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_developer_roles              IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_description                  IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT NULL,
    p_account_expiry               IN                   DATE        DEFAULT NULL,
    p_account_locked               IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT 'N',
    p_failed_access_attempts       IN                   NUMBER      DEFAULT 0,
    p_change_password_on_first_use IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT 'Y',
    p_first_password_use_occurred  IN                   VARCHAR2    DEFAULT 'N');

Parameters

Table 1-18 describes the parameters available in the EDIT_USER procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the EDIT_USER procedure to update a user account. This example shows how you can use the EDIT_USER procedure to change the user 'FRANK' from a user with just developer privilege to a user with workspace administrator and developer privilege. Firstly, the FETCH_USER procedure is called to assign account details for the user 'FRANK' to local variables. These variables are then used in the call to EDIT_USER to preserve the details of the account, with the exception of the value for the p_developer_roles parameter, which is set to 'ADMIN:CREATE:DATA_LOADER:EDIT:HELP:MONITOR:SQL'.

DECLARE
    l_user_id                       NUMBER;
    l_workspace                     VARCHAR2(255);
    l_user_name                     VARCHAR2(100);
    l_first_name                    VARCHAR2(255);
    l_last_name                     VARCHAR2(255);
    l_web_password                  VARCHAR2(255);
    l_email_address                 VARCHAR2(240);
    l_start_date                    DATE;
    l_end_date                      DATE;
    l_employee_id                   NUMBER(15,0);
    l_allow_access_to_schemas       VARCHAR2(4000);
    l_person_type                   VARCHAR2(1);
    l_default_schema                VARCHAR2(30);
    l_groups                        VARCHAR2(1000);
    l_developer_role                VARCHAR2(60);
    l_description                   VARCHAR2(240);
    l_account_expiry                DATE;
    l_account_locked                VARCHAR2(1);
    l_failed_access_attempts        NUMBER;
    l_change_password_on_first_use  VARCHAR2(1);
    l_first_password_use_occurred   VARCHAR2(1);
BEGIN
    l_user_id := APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ID('FRANK');

APEX_UTIL.FETCH_USER(
    p_user_id                       => l_user_id,
    p_workspace                     => l_workspace,
    p_user_name                     => l_user_name,
    p_first_name                    => l_first_name,
    p_last_name                     => l_last_name,
    p_web_password                  => l_web_password,
    p_email_address                 => l_email_address,
    p_start_date                    => l_start_date,
    p_end_date                      => l_end_date,
    p_employee_id                   => l_employee_id,
    p_allow_access_to_schemas       => l_allow_access_to_schemas,
    p_person_type                   => l_person_type,
    p_default_schema                => l_default_schema,
    p_groups                        => l_groups,
    p_developer_role                => l_developer_role,
    p_description                   => l_description,
    p_account_expiry                => l_account_expiry,
    p_account_locked                => l_account_locked,
    p_failed_access_attempts        => l_failed_access_attempts,
    p_change_password_on_first_use  => l_change_password_on_first_use,
    p_first_password_use_occurred   => l_first_password_use_occurred);
APEX_UTIL.EDIT_USER (
    p_user_id                       => l_user_id,
    p_user_name                     => l_user_name,
    p_first_name                    => l_first_name,
    p_last_name                     => l_last_name,
    p_web_password                  => l_web_password,
    p_new_password                  => l_web_password,
    p_email_address                 => l_email_address,
    p_start_date                    => l_start_date,
    p_end_date                      => l_end_date,
    p_employee_id                   => l_employee_id,
    p_allow_access_to_schemas       => l_allow_access_to_schemas,
    p_person_type                   => l_person_type,
    p_default_schema                => l_default_schema,
    p_group_ids                     => l_groups,
    p_developer_roles               => 'ADMIN:CREATE:DATA_LOADER:EDIT:HELP:MONITOR:SQL',
    p_description                   => l_description,
    p_account_expiry                => l_account_expiry,
    p_account_locked                => l_account_locked,
    p_failed_access_attempts        => l_failed_access_attempts,
    p_change_password_on_first_use  => l_change_password_on_first_use,
    p_first_password_use_occurred   => l_first_password_use_occurred);
END;

END_USER_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT Function

Returns the number of days remaining before a end user account password expires. This function may be run in a page request context by any authenticated user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.END_USER_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Table 1-19 describes the parameters available in the END_USER_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the END_USER_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT function. Use this function to determine the number of days remaining before an Application Express end user account in the current workspace will expire.

DECLARE
    l_days_left NUMBER;
BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name from wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        l_days_left := APEX_UTIL.END_USER_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT(p_user_name => c1.user_name);
        htp.p('End User Account:'||c1.user_name||' will expire in '||l_days_left||' days.');
    END LOOP;
END;

EXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT Procedure

Expires the login account for use as a workspace end user. Must be run by an authenticated workspace administrator in a page request context.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.EXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2
    );

Parameters

Table 1-21 describes the parameters available in the EXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the EXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT procedure. Use this procedure to expire an Oracle Application Express account (workspace administrator, developer, or end user) in the current workspace. This action specifically expires the account with respect to its use by end users to authenticate to developed applications, but it may also expire the account with respect to its use by developers or administrators to log in to a workspace.

Note that this procedure must be run by a user having administration privileges in the current workspace.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (select user_name from wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        APEX_UTIL.EXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT(p_user_name => c1.user_name);
        htp.p('End User Account:'||c1.user_name||' is now expired.');    
    END LOOP;
END;    

EXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT Procedure

Expires developer or workspace administrator login accounts. Must be run by an authenticated workspace administrator in a page request context.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.EXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2
    );

Parameters

Table 1-21 describes the parameters available in the EXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the EXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT procedure. Use this procedure to expire an Application Express account (workspace administrator, developer, or end user) in the current workspace. This action specifically expires the account with respect to its use by developers or administrators to log in to a workspace, but it may also expire the account with respect to its use by end users to authenticate to developed applications.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name FROM wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        APEX_UTIL.EXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT(p_user_name => c1.user_name);
        htp.p('Workspace Account:'||c1.user_name||' is now expired.');  
    END LOOP;
END;

EXPORT_USERS Procedure

When called from a page, this procedure produces an export file of the current workspace definition, workspace users, and workspace groups. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privilege in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.EXPORT_USERS(
    p_export_format IN VARCHAR2 DEFAULT 'UNIX');

Parameters

Table 1-22 describes the parameters available in the EXPORT_USERS procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the EXPORT_USERS procedure. Call this procedure from a page to produce an export file containing the current workspace definition, list of workspace users and list of workspace groups. The file will be formatted with rows delimited by line feeds.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.EXPORT_USERS;
END;

FETCH_APP_ITEM Function

This function fetches session state for the current or specified application in the current or specified session.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.FETCH_APP_ITEM(
    p_item    IN VARCHAR2,
    p_app     IN NUMBER DEFAULT NULL,
    p_session IN NUMBER DEFAULT NULL)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-23 describes the parameters available in the FETCH_APP_ITEM function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the FETCH_APP_ITEM function to obtain the value of the application item 'F300_NAME' in application 300. As no value is passed for p_session, this defaults to the current session state value.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(30);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.FETCH_APP_ITEM(
        p_item => 'F300_NAME',
        p_app => 300);
END;

FETCH_USER Procedure Signature 1

This procedure fetches a user account record. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace. Three overloaded versions of this procedure exist, each with a distinct set of allowed parameters or signatures.

Syntax for Signature 1

APEX_UTIL.FETCH_USER (
    p_user_id                       IN                    NUMBER,
    p_workspace                     OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_user_name                     OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_first_name                    OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_last_name                     OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_web_password                  OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_email_address                 OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_start_date                    OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_end_date                      OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_employee_id                   OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_allow_access_to_schemas       OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_person_type                   OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_default_schema                OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_groups                        OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_developer_role                OUT                   VARCHAR2,
    p_description                   OUT                   VARCHAR2 );

Parameters for Signature 1

Table 1-24 describes the parameters available in the FETCH_USER procedure for signature 1.

Example for Signature 1

The following example shows how to use the FETCH_USER procedure with Signature 1. This procedure is passed the ID of the currently authenticated user for the only IN parameter p_user_id. The code then stores all the other OUT parameter values in local variables.

DECLARE
    l_workspace                 VARCHAR2(255);
    l_user_name                 VARCHAR2(100);
    l_first_name                VARCHAR2(255);
    l_last_name                 VARCHAR2(255);
    l_web_password              VARCHAR2(255);
    l_email_address             VARCHAR2(240);
    l_start_date                DATE;
    l_end_date                  DATE;
    l_employee_id               NUMBER(15,0);
    l_allow_access_to_schemas   VARCHAR2(4000);
    l_person_type               VARCHAR2(1);
    l_default_schema            VARCHAR2(30);
    l_groups                    VARCHAR2(1000);
    l_developer_role            VARCHAR2(60);
    l_description               VARCHAR2(240);
BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.FETCH_USER(
        p_user_id                   => APEX_UTIL.GET_CURRENT_USER_ID,
        p_workspace                 => l_workspace,
        p_user_name                 => l_user_name,
        p_first_name                => l_first_name,
        p_last_name                 => l_last_name,
        p_web_password              => l_web_password,
        p_email_address             => l_email_address,
        p_start_date                => l_start_date,
        p_end_date                  => l_end_date,
        p_employee_id               => l_employee_id,
        p_allow_access_to_schemas   => l_allow_access_to_schemas,
        p_person_type               => l_person_type,
        p_default_schema            => l_default_schema,
        p_groups                    => l_groups,
        p_developer_role            => l_developer_role,
        p_description               => l_description);
END;

FETCH_USER Procedure Signature 2

This procedure fetches a user account record. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace. Three overloaded versions of this procedure exist, each with a distinct set of allowed parameters or signatures.

Syntax for Signature 2

APEX_UTIL.FETCH_USER (
    p_user_id                     IN                 NUMBER,
    p_user_name                   OUT                VARCHAR2,
    p_first_name                  OUT                VARCHAR2,
    p_last_name                   OUT                VARCHAR2,
    p_email_address               OUT                VARCHAR2,
    p_groups                      OUT                VARCHAR2,
    p_developer_role              OUT                VARCHAR2,
    p_description                 OUT                VARCHAR2 );

Parameters for Signature 2

Table 1-25 describes the parameters available in the FETCH_USER procedure for signature 2.

Example for Signature 2

The following example shows how to use the FETCH_USER procedure with Signature 2. This procedure is passed the ID of the currently authenticated user for the only IN parameter p_user_id. The code then stores all the other OUT parameter values in local variables.

DECLARE
    l_user_name         VARCHAR2(100);
    l_first_name        VARCHAR2(255);
    l_last_name         VARCHAR2(255);
    l_email_address     VARCHAR2(240);
    l_groups            VARCHAR2(1000);
    l_developer_role    VARCHAR2(60);
    l_description       VARCHAR2(240);
BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.FETCH_USER(
        p_user_id           => APEX_UTIL.GET_CURRENT_USER_ID,
        p_user_name         => l_user_name,
        p_first_name        => l_first_name,
        p_last_name         => l_last_name,
        p_email_address     => l_email_address,
        p_groups            => l_groups,
        p_developer_role    => l_developer_role,
        p_description       => l_description);
END;

FETCH_USER Procedure Signature 3

This procedure fetches a user account record. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace. Three overloaded versions of this procedure exist, each with a distinct set of allowed parameters or signatures.

Syntax for Signature 3

APEX_UTIL.FETCH_USER (
    p_user_id                           IN                   NUMBER,
    p_workspace                         OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_user_name                         OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_first_name                        OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_last_name                         OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_web_password                      OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_email_address                     OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_start_date                        OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_end_date                          OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_employee_id                       OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_allow_access_to_schemas           OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_person_type                       OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_default_schema                    OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_groups                            OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_developer_role                    OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_description                       OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_account_expiry                    OUT                  DATE,
    p_account_locked                    OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_failed_access_attempts            OUT                  NUMBER,
    p_change_password_on_first_use      OUT                  VARCHAR2,
    p_first_password_use_occurred       OUT                  VARCHAR2 );

Parameters for Signature 3

Table 1-26 describes the parameters available in the FETCH_USER procedure.

Example for Signature 3

The following example shows how to use the FETCH_USER procedure with Signature 3. This procedure is passed the ID of the currently authenticated user for the only IN parameter p_user_id. The code then stores all the other OUT parameter values in local variables.

DECLARE
    l_workspace                     VARCHAR2(255);
    l_user_name                     VARCHAR2(100);
    l_first_name                    VARCHAR2(255);
    l_last_name                     VARCHAR2(255);
    l_web_password                  VARCHAR2(255);
    l_email_address                 VARCHAR2(240);
    l_start_date                    DATE;
    l_end_date                      DATE;
    l_employee_id                   NUMBER(15,0);
    l_allow_access_to_schemas       VARCHAR2(4000);
    l_person_type                   VARCHAR2(1);
    l_default_schema                VARCHAR2(30);
    l_groups                        VARCHAR2(1000);
    l_developer_role                VARCHAR2(60);
    l_description                   VARCHAR2(240);
    l_account_expiry                DATE;
    l_account_locked                VARCHAR2(1);
    l_failed_access_attempts        NUMBER;
    l_change_password_on_first_use  VARCHAR2(1);
    l_first_password_use_occurred   VARCHAR2(1);
BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.FETCH_USER(
        p_user_id                       => APEX_UTIL.GET_CURRENT_USER_ID,
        p_workspace                     => l_workspace,
        p_user_name                     => l_user_name,
        p_first_name                    => l_first_name,
        p_last_name                     => l_last_name,
        p_web_password                  => l_web_password,
        p_email_address                 => l_email_address,
        p_start_date                    => l_start_date,
        p_end_date                      => l_end_date,
        p_employee_id                   => l_employee_id,
        p_allow_access_to_schemas       => l_allow_access_to_schemas,
        p_person_type                   => l_person_type,
        p_default_schema                => l_default_schema,
        p_groups                        => l_groups,
        p_developer_role                => l_developer_role,
        p_description                   => l_description,
        p_account_expiry                => l_account_expiry,
        p_account_locked                => l_account_locked,
        p_failed_access_attempts        => l_failed_access_attempts,
        p_change_password_on_first_use  => l_change_password_on_first_use,
        p_first_password_use_occurred   => l_first_password_use_occurred);
END;

FIND_SECURITY_GROUP_ID Function

This function returns the numeric security group ID of the named workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.FIND_SECURITY_GROUP_ID(
    p_workspace    IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Table 1-27 describes the parameters available in the FIND_SECURITY_GROUP_ID function.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the FIND_SECURITY_GROUP_ID function to return the security group ID for the workspace called 'DEMOS'.

DECLARE
    VAL NUMBER;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.FIND_SECURITY_GROUP_ID (p_workspace=>'DEMOS');
END;

FIND_WORKSPACE Function

This function returns the workspace name associated with a security group ID.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.FIND_WORKSPACE(
    p_security_group_id    IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-28 describes the parameters available in the FIND_WORKSPACE function.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the FIND_WORKSPACE function to return the workspace name for the workspace with a security group ID of 20.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.FIND_WORKSPACE (p_security_group_id =>'20');
END;

GET_ACCOUNT_LOCKED_STATUS Function

Returns TRUE if the account is locked and FALSE if the account is unlocked. Must be run by an authenticated workspace administrator in a page request context.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_ACCOUNT_LOCKED_STATUS (
     p_user_name IN VARCHAR2
     ) RETURN BOOLEAN;

Parameters

Table 1-29 describes the parameters available in the GET_ACCOUNT_LOCKED_STATUS function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_ACCOUNT_LOCKED_STATUS function. Use this function to check if an Application Express user account (workspace administrator, developer, or end user) in the current workspace is locked.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name FROM wwv_flow_users) loop
        IF APEX_UTIL.GET_ACCOUNT_LOCKED_STATUS(p_user_name => c1.user_name) THEN
            HTP.P('User Account:'||c1.user_name||' is locked.'); 
        END IF;   
    END LOOP;
END;

GET_ATTRIBUTE Function

This function returns the value of one of the attribute values (1 through 10) of a named user in the Application Express accounts table. Please note these are only accessible via the APIs.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_ATTRIBUTE(
    p_username                IN VARCHAR2,
    p_attribute_number        IN NUMBER)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-30 describes the parameters available in the GET_ATTRIBUTE function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_ATTTIBUTE function to return the value for the 1st attribute for the user 'FRANK'.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(4000);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_ATTRIBUTE (
        p_username => 'FRANK',
        p_attribute_number => 1);
END;

GET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT Function

Use this function to retrieve the authentication result of the current session. Any authenticated user can call this function in a page request context.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

None.

Example

The following example demonstrates how to use the post-authentication process of an application's authentication scheme to retrieve the authentication result code set during authentication.

APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_STATE('MY_AUTH_STATUS','Authentication result:'||APEX_UTIL.GET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT);

GET_BLOB_FILE_SRC Function

As an alternative to using the built-in methods of providing a download link, you can use the APEX_UTIL.GET_BLOB_FILE_SRC function. One advantage of this approach, is the ability to more specifically format the display of the image (with height and width tags). Please note that this approach is only valid if called from a valid Oracle Application Express session. Also, this method requires that the parameters that describe the BLOB to be listed as the format of a valid item within the application. That item is then referenced by the function.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_BLOB_FILE_SRC (
    p_item_name           IN VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_v1                  IN VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_v2                  IN VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_content_disposition IN VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-31 describes the parameters available in GET_BLOB_FILE_SRC function.

Example

As a PLSQL Function Body:

RETURN '<img src="'||APEX_UTIL.GET_BLOB_FILE_SRC('P2_ATTACHMENT',:P2_EMPNO)||'" />';

As a Region Source of type SQL:

SELECT ID, NAME,CASE WHEN NVL(dbms_lob.getlength(document),0) = 0
    THEN NULL 
    ELSE CASE WHEN attach_mimetype like 'image%'
    THEN '<img src="'||apex_util.get_blob_file_src('P4_DOCUMENT',id)||'" />' 
    ELSE 
    '<a href="'||apex_util.get_blob_file_src('P4_DOCUMENT',id)||'">Download</a>'
    end 
    END new_img
    FROM TEST_WITH_BLOB

The previous example illustrates how to display the BLOB within the report, if it can be displayed, and provide a download link, if it cannot be displayed.

GET_CURRENT_USER_ID Function

This function returns the numeric user ID of the current user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_CURRENT_USER_ID
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

None.

Example

This following example shows how to use the GET_CURRENT_USER_ID function. It returns the numeric user ID of the current user into a local variable.

DECLARE
    VAL NUMBER;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_CURRENT_USER_ID;
END;

GET_DEFAULT_SCHEMA Function

This function returns the default schema name associated with the current user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_DEFAULT_SCHEMA
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

None.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_DEFAULT_SCHEMA function. It returns the default schema name associated with the current user into a local variable.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(30);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_DEFAULT_SCHEMA;
END;

GET_EMAIL Function

This function returns the email address associated with the named user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_EMAIL(
   p_username IN VARCHAR2);
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-32 describes the parameters available in GET_EMAIL function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_EMAIL function to return the email address of the user 'FRANK'.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(240);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_EMAIL(p_username => 'FRANK');
END;

GET_FILE Procedure

This procedure downloads files from the Oracle Application Express file repository. Please note if you are invoking this procedure during page processing, you must ensure that no page branch will be invoked under the same condition, as it will interfere with the file retrieval. This means that branches with any of the following conditions should not be set to fire:

• Branches with a 'When Button Pressed' attribute equal to the button that invokes the procedure.

• Branches with conditional logic defined that would succeed during page processing when the procedure is being invoked.

• As unconditional.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_FILE (
    p_file_id    IN   VARCHAR2,
    p_inline     IN   VARCHAR2 DEFAULT 'NO');

Parameters

Table 1-33 describes the parameters available in GET_FILE procedure.

DECLARE
    l_file_id NUMBER;
BEGIN
    SELECT id
        INTO l_file_id
        FROM APEX_APPLICATION_FILES
        WHERE filename = 'myxml';
        --
        APEX_UTIL.GET_FILE(
            p_file_id   => l_file_id, 
            p_inline    => 'YES');  
END;

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_FILE function to return the file identified by the ID 8675309. This will be displayed inline in the browser.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.GET_FILE(
        p_file_id   => '8675309',
        p_inline    => 'YES');
END;

GET_FILE_ID Function

This function obtains the primary key of a file in the Oracle Application Express file repository.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_FILE_ID (
    p_name    IN   VARCHAR2)
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Table 1-34 describes the parameters available in GET_FILE_ID function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_FILE_ID function to retrieve the database ID of the file with a filename of 'F125.sql'.

DECLARE
    l_name VARCHAR2(255);
    l_file_id NUMBER;
BEGIN
    SELECT name
        INTO l_name
        FROM APEX_APPLICATION_FILES
        WHERE filename = 'F125.sql';
        --
        l_file_id := APEX_UTIL.GET_FILE_ID(p_name => l_name);
END;

GET_FIRST_NAME Function

This function returns the FIRST_NAME field stored in the named user account record.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_FIRST_NAME
    p_username IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-35 describes the parameters available in GET_FIRST_NAME function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_FIRST_NAME function to return the FIRST_NAME of the user 'FRANK'.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_FIRST_NAME(p_username => 'FRANK');
END;

GET_GROUPS_USER_BELONGS_TO Function

This function returns a comma then a space separated list of group names to which the named user is a member.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_GROUPS_USER_BELONGS_TO(
   p_username IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-36 describes the parameters available in GET_GROUPS_USER_BELONGS_TO function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_GROUPS_USER_BELONGS_TO to return the list of groups to which the user 'FRANK' is a member.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(32765);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_GROUPS_USER_BELONGS_TO(p_username => 'FRANK');
END;

GET_GROUP_ID Function

This function returns the numeric ID of a named group in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_GROUP_ID(
    p_group_name IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-37 describes the parameters available in GET_GROUP_ID function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_GROUP_ID function to return the ID for the group named 'Managers'.

DECLARE
    VAL NUMBER;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_GROUP_ID(p_group_name => 'Managers');
END;

GET_GROUP_NAME Function

This function returns the name of a group identified by a numeric ID.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_GROUP_NAME(
    p_group_id IN NUMBER)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-38 describes the parameters available in GET_GROUP_NAME function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_GROUP_NAME function to return the name of the group with the ID 8922003.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_GROUP_NAME(p_group_id => 8922003);
END;

GET_LAST_NAME Function

This function returns the LAST_NAME field stored in the named user account record.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_LAST_NAME(
    p_username IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-39 describes the parameters available in GET_LAST_NAME function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the function to return the LAST_NAME for the user 'FRANK'.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_LAST_NAME(p_username => 'FRANK');
END;

GET_NUMERIC_SESSION_STATE Function

This function returns a numeric value for a numeric item. You can use this function in Oracle Application Express applications wherever you can use PL/SQL or SQL. You can also use the shorthand, function NV, in place of APEX_UTIL.GET_NUMERIC_SESSION_STATE.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_NUMERIC_SESSION_STATE (
    p_item     IN VARCHAR2) 
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Table 1-40 describes the parameters available in GET_NUMERIC_SESSION_STATE function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the function to return the numeric value stored in session state for the item 'my_item'.

DECLARE
    l_item_value    NUMBER;
BEGIN
    l_item_value := APEX_UTIL.GET_NUMERIC_SESSION_STATE('my_item');
END;

GET_PREFERENCE Function

This function retrieves the value of a previously saved preference for a given user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_PREFERENCE (
    p_preference  IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_user        IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT V('USER')) 
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-41 describes the parameters available in the GET_PREFERENCE function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_PREFERENCE function to return the value for the currently authenticated user's preference named 'default_view'.

DECLARE
    l_default_view    VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
    l_default_view := APEX_UTIL.GET_PREFERENCE(      
        p_preference => 'default_view',
        p_user       => :APP_USER);
END;

GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT Function Signature 1

This function returns a document as BLOB using XML based report data and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_report_data         IN BLOB,
    p_report_layout       IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default NULL)
RETURN BLOB;

Parameters

Table 1-42 describes the parameters available in the GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT function.

For a GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT example see "GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT Function Signature 4".

GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT Function Signature 2

This function returns a document as BLOB using pre-defined report query and pre-defined report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_application_id      IN NUMBER,
    p_report_query_name   IN VARCHAR2,
    p_report_layout_name  IN VARCHAR2 default null,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default null)
RETURN BLOB;

Parameters

Table 1-43 describes the parameters available in the GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT function.

For a GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT example see "GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT Function Signature 4".

GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT Function Signature 3

This function returns a document as BLOB using a pre-defined report query and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_application_id      IN NUMBER,
    p_report_query_name   IN VARCHAR2,
    p_report_layout       IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default null)
RETURN BLOB;

Parameters

Table 1-44 describes the parameters available in the GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT function.

For a GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT example see "GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT Function Signature 4".

GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT Function Signature 4

This function returns a document as BLOB using XML based report data and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
    p_report_data         IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout       IN CLOB,
    p_report_layout_type  IN VARCHAR2 default 'xsl-fo',
    p_document_format     IN VARCHAR2 default 'pdf',
    p_print_server        IN VARCHAR2 default NULL)
RETURN BLOB;

Parameters

Table 1-45 describes the parameters available in the GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT function. for Signature 4

Example for Signature 4

The following example shows how to use the GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT using Signature 4 (Document returns as a BLOB using XML based report data and RTF or XSL-FO based report layout). In this example, GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT is used in conjunction with APEX_MAIL.SEND and APEX_MAIL.ADD_ATTACHMENT to send an email with an attachment of the file returned by GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT. Both the report data and layout are taken from values stored in page items (P1_XML and P1_XSL).

DECLARE
    l_id number;
    l_document BLOB;
BEGIN
    l_document := APEX_UTIL.GET_PRINT_DOCUMENT (
        p_report_data         => :P1_XML,
        p_report_layout       => :P1_XSL,
        p_report_layout_type  => 'xsl-fo',
        p_document_format     => 'pdf');
 
   l_id := APEX_MAIL.SEND(
       p_to        => :P35_MAIL_TO,
       p_from      => 'noreplies@oracle.com',
       p_subj      => 'sending PDF via print API',
       p_body      => 'Please review the attachment.',
       p_body_html => 'Please review the attachment');
 
   APEX_MAIL.ADD_ATTACHMENT (
       p_mail_id    => l_id,
       p_attachment => l_document,
       p_filename   => 'mydocument.pdf',
       p_mime_type  => 'application/pdf');
END;

GET_SESSION_STATE Function

This function returns the value for an item. You can use this function in your Oracle Application Express applications wherever you can use PL/SQL or SQL. You can also use the shorthand, function V, in place of APEX_UTIL.GET_SESSION_STATE.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_SESSION_STATE (
    p_item    IN   VARCHAR2) 
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-46 describes the parameters available in GET_SESSION_STATE function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_SESSION_STATE function to return the value stored in session state for the item 'my_item'.

DECLARE
    l_item_value  VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
    l_item_value := APEX_UTIL.GET_SESSION_STATE('my_item');
END;

GET_USER_ID Function

This function returns the numeric ID of a named user in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ID(
    p_username   IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Table 1-47 describes the parameters available in GET_USER_ID function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_USER_ID function to return the ID for the user named 'FRANK'.

DECLARE
    VAL NUMBER;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ID(p_username => 'FRANK');
END;

GET_USER_ROLES Function

This function returns the DEVELOPER_ROLE field stored in the named user account record. Please note that currently this parameter is named inconsistently between the CREATE_USER, EDIT_USER and FETCH_USER APIs, although they all relate to the DEVELOPER_ROLE field. CREATE_USER uses p_developer_privs, EDIT_USER uses p_developer_roles and FETCH_USER uses p_developer_role.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ROLES(
   p_username IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-48 describes the parameters available in GET_USER_ROLES function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_USER_ROLES function to return colon separated list of roles stored in the DEVELOPER_ROLE field for the user 'FRANK'.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(4000);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ROLES(p_username=>'FRANK');
END;

GET_USERNAME Function

This function returns the user name of a user account identified by a numeric ID.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.GET_USERNAME(
    p_userid IN NUMBER)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-49 describes the parameters available in GET_USERNAME function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the GET_USERNAME function to return the user name for the user with an ID of 228922003.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(100);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.GET_USERNAME(p_userid => 228922003);
END;

IS_LOGIN_PASSWORD_VALID Function

This function returns a Boolean result based on the validity of the password for a named user account in the current workspace. This function returns true if the password matches and it returns false if the password does not match.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.IS_LOGIN_PASSWORD_VALID(
    p_username IN VARCHAR2,
    p_password IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BOOLEAN;

Parameters

Table 1-50 describes the parameters available in the IS_LOGIN_PASSWORD_VALID function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the IS_LOGIN_PASSWORD_VALID function to check if the user 'FRANK' has the password 'tiger'. TRUE will be returned if this is a valid password for 'FRANK', FALSE if not.

DECLARE
    VAL BOOLEAN;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.IS_LOGIN_PASSWORD_VALID (
        p_username=>'FRANK',
        p_password=>'tiger');
END;

IS_USERNAME_UNIQUE Function

This function returns a Boolean result based on whether the named user account is unique in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.IS_USERNAME_UNIQUE(
    p_username IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BOOLEAN;

Parameters

Table 1-51 describes the parameters available in IS_USERNAME_UNIQUE function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the IS_USERNAME_UNIQUE function. If the user 'FRANK' already exists in the current workspace, FALSE will be returned, otherwise TRUE is returned.

DECLARE
    VAL BOOLEAN;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.IS_USERNAME_UNIQUE(
        p_username=>'FRANK');
END;

KEYVAL_NUM Function

This function gets the value of the package variable (wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_num) set by APEX_UTIL.SAVEKEY_NUM.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.KEYVAL_NUM
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

None

Example

The following example shows how to use the KEYVAL_NUM function to return the current value of the package variable wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_num.

DECLARE
    VAL NUMBER;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.KEYVAL_NUM;
END;

KEYVAL_VC2 Function

This function gets the value of the package variable (wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_vc2) set by APEX_UTIL.SAVEKEY_VC2.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.KEYVAL_VC2;

Parameters

None.

Example

The following example shows how to use the KEYVAL_VC2 function to return the current value of the package variable wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_vc2.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(4000);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.KEYVAL_VC2;
END;

LOCK_ACCOUNT Procedure

Sets a user account status to locked. Must be run by an authenticated workspace administrator in the context of a page request.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.LOCK_ACCOUNT (
     p_user_name IN VARCHAR2); 

Parameters

Table 1-52 describes the parameters available in the LOCK_ACCOUNT procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the LOCK_ACCOUNT procedure. Use this procedure to lock an Application Express account (workspace administrator, developer, or end user) in the current workspace. This action locks the account for use by administrators, developers, and end users.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name from wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        APEX_UTIL.LOCK_ACCOUNT(p_user_name => c1.user_name);
        htp.p('End User Account:'||c1.user_name||' is now locked.');    
    END LOOP;
END;

PASSWORD_FIRST_USE_OCCURRED Function

Returns true if the account's password has changed since the account was created, an Oracle Application Express administrator performs a password reset operation that results in a new password being emailed to the account holder, or a user has initiated password reset operation. This function returns false if the account's password has not been changed since either of the events just described.

This function may be run in a page request context by any authenticated user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.PASSWORD_FIRST_USE_OCCURRED (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BOOLEAN;

Parameters

Table 1-53 describes the parameters available in the PASSWORD_FIRST_USE_OCCURRED procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the PASSWORD_FIRST_USE_OCCURRED function. Use this function to check if the password for an Application Express user account (workspace administrator, developer, or end user) in the current workspace has been changed by the user the first time the user logged in after the password was initially set during account creation, or was changed by one of the password reset operations described above.This is meaningful only with accounts for which the CHANGE_PASSWORD_ON_FIRST_USE attribute is set to Yes.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name from wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        IF APEX_UTIL.PASSWORD_FIRST_USE_OCCURRED(p_user_name => c1.user_name) THEN
            htp.p('User:'||c1.user_name||' has logged in and updated the password.');
        END IF;
    END LOOP;
END;    

PREPARE_URL Function

The PREPARE_URL function serves two purposes:

1. To return an f?p URL with the Session State Protection checksum argument (&cs=) if one is required.

2. To return an f?p URL with the session ID component replaced with zero (0) if the zero session ID feature is in use and other criteria are met.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.PREPARE_URL (
    p_url           IN VARCHAR2,
    p_url_charset   IN VARCHAR2 default null,
    p_checksum_type IN VARCHAR2 default null)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-54 describes the parameters available in the PREPARE_URL function.

Example 1

The following example shows how to use the PREPARE_URL function to return a URL with a valid 'SESSION' level checksum argument. This URL sets the value of P1_ITEM page item to xyz.

DECLARE
    l_url varchar2(2000);
    l_app number := v('APP_ID');
    l_session number := v('APP_SESSION');
BEGIN
    l_url := APEX_UTIL.PREPARE_URL(
        p_url => 'f?p=' || l_app || ':1:'||l_session||'::NO::P1_ITEM:xyz',
        p_checksum_type => 'SESSION');
END;

Example 2

The following example shows how to use the PREPARE_URL function to return a URL with a zero session ID. In a PL/SQL Dynamic Content region that generates f?p URLs (anchors), call PREPARE_URL to ensure that the session ID will set to zero when the zero session ID feature is in use, when the user is a public user (not authenticated), and when the target page is a public page in the current application:

htp.p(APEX_UTIL.PREPARE_URL(p_url => 'f?p=' || :APP_ID || ':10:'|| :APP_SESSION
||'::NO::P10_ITEM:ABC');

When using PREPARE_URL for this purpose, the p_url_charset and p_checksum_type arguments can be omitted. However, it is permissible to use them when both the Session State Protection and Zero Session ID features are applicable.

PUBLIC_CHECK_AUTHORIZATION Function

Given the name of a security scheme, this function determines if the current user passes the security check.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.PUBLIC_CHECK_AUTHORIZATION (
    p_security_scheme    IN    VARCHAR2) 
RETURN BOOLEAN;

Parameters

Table 1-55 describes the parameters available in PUBLIC_CHECK_AUTHORIZATION function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the PUBLIC_CHECK_AUTHORIZATION function to check if the current user passes the check defined in the my_auth_scheme authorization scheme.

DECLARE
    l_check_security  BOOLEAN;
BEGIN
    l_check_security := APEX_UTIL.PUBLIC_CHECK_AUTHORIZATION('my_auth_scheme');
END;

PURGE_REGIONS_BY_APP Procedure

Deletes all cached regions for an application.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.PURGE_REGIONS_BY_APP (
    p_application IN NUMBER);

Parameters

Table 1-56 describes the parameters available in PURGE_REGIONS_BY_APP.

Example

The following example show how to use APEX_UTIL.PURGE_REGIONS_BY_APP to delete all cached regions for application #123.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTILITIES.PURGE_REGIONS_BY_APP(p_application=>123);
END;

PURGE_REGIONS_BY_NAME Procedure

Deletes all cached values for a region identified by the application ID, page number and region name.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.PURGE_REGIONS_BY_NAME (
     p_application IN NUMBER,
     p_page        IN NUMBER,
     p_region_name IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-57 describes the parameters available in PURGE_REGIONS_BY_NAME.

Example

The following example shows how to use the PURGE_REGIONS_BY_NAME procedure to delete all the cached values for the region 'my_cached_region' on page 1 of the current application.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.PURGE_REGIONS_BY_NAME(
        p_application => :APP_ID,
        p_page => 1,
        p_region_name => 'my_cached_region');
END;

PURGE_REGIONS_BY_PAGE Procedure

Deletes all cached regions by application and page.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.PURGE_REGIONS_BY_PAGE (
     p_application IN NUMBER,
     p_page     IN NUMBER);

Parameters

Table 1-58 describes the parameters available in PURGE_REGIONS_BY_PAGE.

Example

The following example shows how to use the PURGE_REGIONS_BY_PAGE procedure to delete all the cached values for regions on page 1 of the current application.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.PURGE_REGIONS_BY_PAGE(
        p_application => :APP_ID,
        p_page => 1);
END;

REMOVE_PREFERENCE Procedure

This procedure removes the preference for the supplied user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.REMOVE_PREFERENCE(
    p_preference    IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_user          IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT V('USER'));

Parameters

Table 1-59 describes the parameters available in the REMOVE_PREFERENCE procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the REMOVE_PREFERENCE procedure to remove the preference default_view for the currently authenticated user.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.REMOVE_PREFERENCE(
        p_preference => 'default_view',
        p_user       => :APP_USER);    
END;

REMOVE_SORT_PREFERENCES Procedure

This procedure removes the user's column heading sorting preference value.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.REMOVE_SORT_PREFERENCES (
    p_user  IN   VARCHAR2 DEFAULT V('USER'));

Parameters

Table 1-60 describes the parameters available in REMOVE_SORT_PREFERENCES function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the REMOVE_SORT_PREFERENCES procedure to remove the currently authenticated user's column heading sorting preferences.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.REMOVE_SORT_PREFERENCES(:APP_USER);
END;

REMOVE_USER Procedure

This procedure removes the user account identified by the primary key or a user name. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privilege in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.REMOVE_USER(
    p_user_id   IN NUMBER,
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-61 describes the parameters available in the REMOVE_USER procedure.

Example

The following examples show how to use the REMOVE_USER procedure to remove a user account. Firstly, by the primary key (using the p_user_id parameter) and secondly by user name (using the p_user_name parameter).

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.REMOVE_USER(p_user_id=> 99997);
END;

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.REMOVE_USER(p_user_name => 'FRANK');
END;

RESET_AUTHORIZATIONS Procedure

To increase performance, Oracle Application Express caches the results of authorization schemes after they have been evaluated. You can use this procedure to undo caching, requiring each authorization scheme be revalidated when it is next encountered during page show or accept processing. You can use this procedure if you want users to have the ability to change their responsibilities (their authorization profile) within your application.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.RESET_AUTHORIZATIONS; 

Parameters

None.

Example

The following example shows how to use the RESET_AUTHORIZATIONS procedure to clear the authorization scheme cache.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.RESET_AUTHORIZATIONS;
END;

RESET_PW Procedure

This procedure resets the password for a named user and emails it in a message to the email address located for the named account in the current workspace. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privilege in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.RESET_PW(
    p_user IN VARCHAR2,
    p_msg  IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-62 describes the parameters available in the RESET_PW procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the RESET_PW procedure to reset the password for the user 'FRANK'.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.RESET_PW(
        p_user => 'FRANK',
        p_msg => 'Contact help desk at 555-1212 with questions');
END;

SAVEKEY_NUM Function

This function sets a package variable (wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_num) so that it can be retrieved using the function KEYVAL_NUM.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SAVEKEY_NUM(
    p_val IN NUMBER)
RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Table 1-63 describes the parameters available in the SAVEKEY_NUM procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SAVEKEY_NUM function to set the wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_num package variable to the value of 10.

DECLARE
    VAL NUMBER;
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.SAVEKEY_NUM(p_val => 10);
END;

SAVEKEY_VC2 Function

This function sets a package variable (wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_vc2) so that it can be retrieved using the function KEYVAL_VC2.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SAVEKEY_VC2(
    p_val IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-64 describes the parameters available in the SAVEKEY_VC2 function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SAVEKEY_VC2 function to set the wwv_flow_utilities.g_val_vc2 package variable to the value of 'XXX'.

DECLARE
    VAL VARCHAR2(4000);
BEGIN
    VAL := APEX_UTIL.SAVEKEY_VC2(p_val => 'XXX');
END;

SET_ATTRIBUTE Procedure

This procedure sets the value of one of the attribute values (1 through 10) of a user in the Application Express accounts table.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_ATTRIBUTE( 
    p_userid           IN NUMBER, 
    p_attribute_number IN NUMBER,
    p_attribute_value  IN VARCHAR2); 

Parameters

Table 1-65 describes the parameters available in the SET_ATTRIBUTE procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SET_ATTRIBUTE procedure to set the number 1 attribute for user 'FRANK' with the value 'foo'.

DECLARE  
    VAL VARCHAR2(4000);
BEGIN 
    APEX_UTIL.SET_ATTRIBUTE ( 
        p_userid => apex_util.get_user_id(p_username => 'FRANK'), 
        p_attribute_number => 1, 
        p_attribute_value => 'foo'); 
END; 

SET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT Procedure

This procedure can be called from an application's custom authentication function (that is, credentials verification function). The status passed to this procedure is logged in the Login Access Log.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT(
    p_code IN NUMBER);

Parameters

Table 1-21 describes the parameters available in the SET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT procedure.

Example

One way to use this procedure is to include it in the application authentication scheme. This example demonstrates how text and numeric status values can be registered for logging. In this example, no credentials verification is performed, it just demonstrates how text and numeric status values can be registered for logging.Note that the status set using this procedure is visible in the apex_user_access_log view and in the reports on this view available to workspace and site administrators.

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION MY_AUTH(
    p_username IN VARCHAR2,
    p_password IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BOOLEAN
IS
BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.SET_CUSTOM_AUTH_STATUS(p_status=>'User:'||p_username||' is back.');
    IF UPPER(p_username) = 'GOOD' THEN
        APEX_UTIL.SET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT(24567);
        RETURN TRUE;
    ELSE
        APEX_UTIL.SET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT(-666);
        RETURN FALSE;
    END IF;
END;

SET_CUSTOM_AUTH_STATUS Procedure

This procedure can be called from an application's custom authentication function (that is, credentials verification function). The status passed to this procedure is logged in the Login Access Log.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_CUSTOM_AUTH_STATUS(
    p_status  IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-67 describes the parameters available in the SET_CUSTOM_AUTH_STATUS procedure.

Example

One way to use the SET_CUSTOM_AUTH_STATUS procedure is to include it in the application authentication scheme. This example demonstrates how text and numeric status values can be registered for logging. Note that no credentials verification is performed. The status set using this procedure is visible in the apex_user_access_log view and in the reports on this view available to workspace and site administrators.

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION MY_AUTH(
    p_username IN VARCHAR2, 
    p_password IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN BOOLEAN
IS
BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.SET_CUSTOM_AUTH_STATUS(p_status=>'User:'||p_username||' is back.');
    IF UPPER(p_username) = 'GOOD' THEN
        APEX_UTIL.SET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT(24567);
        RETURN TRUE;
    ELSE
        APEX_UTIL.SET_AUTHENTICATION_RESULT(-666);
        RETURN FALSE;
    END IF;
END;

SET_EMAIL Procedure

This procedure updates a user account with a new email address. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_EMAIL(
    p_userid IN NUMBER,
    p_email  IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-68 describes the parameters available in the SET_EMAIL procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SET_EMAIL procedure to set the value of EMAIL to 'frank.scott@somewhere.com' for the user 'FRANK'.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.SET_EMAIL(
        p_userid  => APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ID('FRANK'),
        p_email   => 'frank.scott@somewhere.com');
END;

SET_FIRST_NAME Procedure

This procedure updates a user account with a new FIRST_NAME value. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_FIRST_NAME(
    p_userid      IN NUMBER,
    p_first_name  IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-69 describes the parameters available in the SET_FIRST_NAME procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SET_FIRST_NAME procedure to set the value of FIRST_NAME to 'FRANK' for the user 'FRANK'.

BEGIN     
    APEX_UTIL.SET_FIRST_NAME(
        p_userid       => APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ID('FRANK'),
        p_first_name   => 'FRANK');
END;

SET_LAST_NAME Procedure

This procedure updates a user account with a new LAST_NAME value. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_LAST_NAME(
    p_userid      IN NUMBER,
    p_last_name   IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-70 describes the parameters available in the SET_LAST_NAME procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SET_LAST_NAME procedure to set the value of LAST_NAME to 'SMITH' for the user 'FRANK'.

BEGIN     
    APEX_UTIL.SET_LAST_NAME(
        p_userid       => APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ID('FRANK'),
        p_last_name   => 'SMITH');
END;

SET_PREFERENCE Procedure

This procedure sets a preference that will persist beyond the user's current session.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_PREFERENCE (
    p_preference   IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_value        IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_user         IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL);

Parameters

Table 1-71 describes the parameters available in the SET_PREFERENCE procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SET_PREFERENCE procedure to set a preference called 'default_view' to the value 'WEEKLY' that will persist beyond session for the currently authenticated user.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.SET_PREFERENCE(        
        p_preference => 'default_view',
        p_value      => 'WEEKLY',      
        p_user       => :APP_USER); 
END;

SET_SESSION_LIFETIME_SECONDS Procedure

This procedure sets the current application's Maximum Session Length in Seconds value for the current session, overriding the corresponding application attribute. This allows developers to dynamically shorten or lengthen the session life based on criteria determined after the user authenticates.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_LIFETIME_SECONDS (
    p_seconds  IN    NUMEBER,
    p_scope    IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT 'SESSION');

Parameters

Table 1-72 describes the parameters available in the SET_SESSION_LIFETIME_SECONDS procedure.

Example 1

The following example shows how to use the SET_SESSION_LIFETIME_SECONDS procedure to set the current application's Maximum Session Length in Seconds attribute to 7200 seconds (two hours). This API call will have no effect if the application's Maximum Session Length in Seconds attribute was not set by the developer to a non-zero value in the application definition.By allowing the p_scope input parameter to use the default value of 'SESSION', the following example would actually apply to all applications using the current session. This would be the most common use case when multiple Application Express applications use a common authentication scheme and are designed to operate as a suite in a common session.

BEGIN
   APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_LIFETIME_SECONDS(p_seconds => 7200);
END;

Example 2

The following example shows how to use the SET_SESSION_LIFETIME_SECONDS procedure to set the current application's Maximum Session Length in Seconds attribute to 3600 seconds (one hour). This API call will have no effect if the application's Maximum Session Length in Seconds attribute was not set by the developer to a non-zero value in the application definition.By overriding the p_scope input parameter's default value and setting it to 'APPLICATION', the following example would actually apply to only to the current application using the current session even if other applications are using the same session.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_LIFETIME_SECONDS(p_seconds => 3600, 
    p_scope => 'APPLICATION');
END;

SET_SESSION_MAX_IDLE_SECONDS Procedure

Sets the current application's Maximum Session Idle Time in Seconds value for the current session, overriding the corresponding application attribute. This allows developers to dynamically shorten or lengthen the maximum idle time allowed between page requests based on criteria determined after the user authenticates.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_MAX_IDLE_SECONDS (
    p_seconds  IN    NUMEBER,
    p_scope    IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT 'SESSION');

Parameters

Table 1-73 describes the parameters available in the SET_SESSION_MAX_IDLE_SECONDS procedure.

Example 1

The following example shows how to use the SET_SESSION_MAX_IDLE_SECONDS procedure to set the current application's Maximum Session Idle Time in Seconds attribute to 1200 seconds (twenty minutes). This API call will have no effect if the application's Maximum Session Idle Time in Seconds attribute was not set by the developer to a non-zero value in the application definition.By allowing the p_scope input parameter to use the default value of 'SESSION', the following example would actually apply to all applications using the current session. This would be the most common use case when multiple Application Express applications use a common authentication scheme and are designed to operate as a suite in a common session.

BEGIN
   APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_MAX_IDLE_SECONDS(p_seconds => 1200);
END;

Example 2

The following example shows how to use the SET_SESSION_MAX_IDLE_SECONDS procedure to set the current application's Maximum Session Idle Time in Seconds attribute to 600 seconds (ten minutes). This API call will have no effect if the application's Maximum Session Idle Time in Seconds attribute was not set by the developer to a non-zero value in the application definition.By overriding the p_scope input parameter's default value and setting it to 'APPLICATION', the following example would actually apply to only to the current application using the current session even if other applications are using the same session.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_MAX_IDLE_SECONDS(p_seconds => 600, 
    p_scope => 'APPLICATION');
END;

SET_SESSION_STATE Procedure

This procedure sets session state for a current Oracle Application Express session.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_STATE (
    p_name     IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    p_value    IN    VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL);

Parameters

Table 1-74 describes the parameters available in the SET_SESSION_STATE procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SET_SESSION_STATE procedure to set the value of the item 'my_item' to 'myvalue' in the current session.

BEGIN
    APEX_UTIL.SET_SESSION_STATE('my_item','myvalue');
END;

SET_USERNAME Procedure

This procedure updates a user account with a new USER_NAME value. To execute this procedure, the current user must have administrative privileges in the workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.SET_USERNAME(
    p_userid   IN NUMBER,
    p_username IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-75 describes the parameters available in the SET_USERNAME procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the SET_USERNAME procedure to set the value of USERNAME to 'USER-XRAY' for the user 'FRANK'.

BEGIN     
    APEX_UTIL.SET_USERNAME(
        p_userid     => APEX_UTIL.GET_USER_ID('FRANK'),
        P_username   => 'USER-XRAY');
END;

STRONG_PASSWORD_CHECK Procedure

This procedure returns Boolean OUT values based on whether or not a proposed password meets the password strength requirements as defined by the Oracle Application Express site administrator.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.STRONG_PASSWORD_CHECK(
    p_username                    IN  VARCHAR2,
    p_password                    IN  VARCHAR2,
    p_old_password                IN  VARCHAR2,
    p_workspace_name              IN  VARCHAR2,
    p_use_strong_rules            IN  BOOLEAN,
    p_min_length_err              OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_new_differs_by_err          OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_one_alpha_err               OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_one_numeric_err             OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_one_punctuation_err         OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_one_upper_err               OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_one_lower_err               OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_not_like_username_err       OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_not_like_workspace_name_err OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_not_like_words_err          OUT BOOLEAN,
    p_not_reusable_err            OUT BOOLEAN);

Parameters

Table 1-76 describes the parameters available in the STRONG_PASSWORD_CHECK procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the STRONG_PASSWORD_CHECK procedure. It checks the new password 'foo' for the user 'SOMEBODY' meets all the password strength requirements defined by the Oracle Application Express site administrator. If any of the checks fail (the associated OUT parameter returns TRUE), then the example outputs a relevant message. For example, if the Oracle Application Express site administrator has defined that passwords must have at least one numeric character and the password 'foo' was checked, then the p_one_numeric_err OUT parameter would return TRUE and the message 'Password must contain at least one numeric character' would be output.

DECLARE
    l_username                    varchar2(30);
    l_password                    varchar2(30);
    l_old_password                varchar2(30);
    l_workspace_name              varchar2(30);
    l_min_length_err              boolean;
    l_new_differs_by_err          boolean;
    l_one_alpha_err               boolean;
    l_one_numeric_err             boolean;
    l_one_punctuation_err         boolean;
    l_one_upper_err               boolean;
    l_one_lower_err               boolean;
    l_not_like_username_err       boolean;
    l_not_like_workspace_name_err boolean;
    l_not_like_words_err          boolean;
    l_not_reusable_err            boolean;
    l_password_history_days       pls_integer;
BEGIN
    l_username := 'SOMEBODY';
    l_password := 'foo';
    l_old_password := 'foo';
    l_workspace_name := 'XYX_WS';
    l_password_history_days := 
        apex_instance_admin.get_parameter ('PASSWORD_HISTORY_DAYS');
 
    APEX_UTIL.STRONG_PASSWORD_CHECK(
        p_username                    => l_username,
        p_password                    => l_password,
        p_old_password                => l_old_password,
        p_workspace_name              => l_workspace_name,
        p_use_strong_rules            => false,
        p_min_length_err              => l_min_length_err,
        p_new_differs_by_err          => l_new_differs_by_err,
        p_one_alpha_err               => l_one_alpha_err,
        p_one_numeric_err             => l_one_numeric_err,
        p_one_punctuation_err         => l_one_punctuation_err,
        p_one_upper_err               => l_one_upper_err,
        p_one_lower_err               => l_one_lower_err,
        p_not_like_username_err       => l_not_like_username_err,
        p_not_like_workspace_name_err => l_not_like_workspace_name_err,
        p_not_like_words_err          => l_not_like_words_err,
        p_not_reusable_err            => l_not_reusable_err);

    IF l_min_length_err THEN
        htp.p('Password is too short');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_new_differs_by_err THEN
        htp.p('Password is too similar to the old password');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_one_alpha_err THEN
        htp.p('Password must contain at least one alphabetic character');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_one_numeric_err THEN
        htp.p('Password  must contain at least one numeric character');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_one_punctuation_err THEN
        htp.p('Password  must contain at least one punctuation character');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_one_upper_err THEN
        htp.p('Password must contain at least one upper-case character');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_one_lower_err THEN
        htp.p('Password must contain at least one lower-case character');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_not_like_username_err THEN
        htp.p('Password may not contain the username');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_not_like_workspace_name_err THEN
        htp.p('Password may not contain the workspace name');
    END IF;
 
    IF l_not_like_words_err THEN
        htp.p('Password contains one or more prohibited common words');
    END IF;

    IF l_not_reusable_err THEN
        htp.p('Password cannot be used because it has been used for the account within the last '||l_password_history_days||' days.');
    END IF;
END;

STRONG_PASSWORD_VALIDATION Function

This function returns formatted HTML in a VARCHAR2 result based on whether or not a proposed password meets the password strength requirements as defined by the Oracle Application Express site administrator.

Syntax

FUNCTION STRONG_PASSWORD_VALIDATION(
    p_username                    IN  VARCHAR2,
    p_password                    IN  VARCHAR2,
    P_OLD_PASSWORD                IN  VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
    P_WORKSPACE_NAME              IN  VARCHAR2)
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-77 describes the parameters available in the STRONG_PASSWORD_VALIDATION function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the STRONG_PASSWORD_VALIDATION procedure. It checks the new password 'foo' for the user 'SOMEBODY' meets all the password strength requirements defined by the Oracle Application Express site administrator. If any of the checks fail, then the example outputs formatted HTML showing details of where the new password fails to meet requirements.

DECLARE
      l_username                    varchar2(30);
      l_password                    varchar2(30);
      l_old_password                varchar2(30);
      l_workspace_name              varchar2(30);
BEGIN
    l_username := 'SOMEBODY';
    l_password := 'foo';
    l_old_password := 'foo';
    l_workspace_name := 'XYX_WS';

    HTP.P(APEX_UTIL.STRONG_PASSWORD_VALIDATION(
        p_username                    => l_username,
        p_password                    => l_password,
        p_old_password                => l_old_password,
        p_workspace_name              => l_workspace_name));
END;

STRING_TO_TABLE Function

Given a string, this function returns a PL/SQL array of type APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2. This array is a VARCHAR2(32767) table.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.STRING_TO_TABLE (
    p_string       IN VARCHAR2,
    p_separator    IN VARCHAR2 DEFAULT ':') 
    RETURN APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2;

Parameters

Table 1-78 describes the parameters available in the STRING_TO_TABLE function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the STRING_TO_TABLE function. The function is passed the string 'One:Two:Three' in the p_string parameter and it returns a PL/SQL array of type APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2 containing 3 elements, the element at position 1 contains the value 'One', position 2 contains the value 'Two' and position 3 contains the value 'Three'. This is then output using the HTP.P function call.

DECLARE
    l_vc_arr2    APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2;
BEGIN
    l_vc_arr2 := APEX_UTIL.STRING_TO_TABLE('One:Two:Three');
    FOR z IN 1..l_vc_arr2.count LOOP
        htp.p(l_vc_arr2(z));
    END LOOP;
END;

TABLE_TO_STRING Function

Given a a PL/SQL table of type APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2, this function returns a delimited string separated by the supplied separator, or by the default separator, a colon (:).

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.TABLE_TO_STRING (
    p_table       IN     APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2,
    p_string      IN     VARCHAR2 DEFAULT ':') 
RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-79 describes the parameters available in the TABLE_TO_STRING function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the TABLE_TO_STRING function. The example first calls STRING_TO_TABLE which is passed the string 'One:Two:Three' in the p_string parameter, and returns a PL/SQL array of type APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2 containing 3 elements, the element at position 1 contains the value 'One', position 2 contains the value 'Two' and position 3 contains the value 'Three'. This array is then passed in to the TABLE_TO_STRING function in the p_string parameter, which then returns back the original string 'One:Two:Three'.

DECLARE
    l_string     VARCHAR2(255);
    l_vc_arr2    APEX_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2;
BEGIN
    l_vc_arr2 := APEX_UTIL.STRING_TO_TABLE('One:Two:Three');
    l_string := APEX_UTIL.TABLE_TO_STRING(l_vc_arr2);
END;

UNEXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT Procedure

Makes expired end users accounts and the associated passwords usable, enabling a end user to log in to developed applications.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.UNEXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-80 describes the parameters available in the UNEXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the UNEXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT procedure. Use this procedure to renew (unexpire) an Application Express end user account in the current workspace. This action specifically renews the account for use by end users to authenticate to developed applications and may also renew the account for use by developers or administrators to log in to a workspace.

This procedure must be run by a user having administration privileges in the current workspace.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name from wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        APEX_UTIL.UNEXPIRE_END_USER_ACCOUNT(p_user_name => c1.user_name);
        htp.p('End User Account:'||c1.user_name||' is now valid.');   
    END LOOP;
END;   

UNEXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT Procedure

Unexpires developer and workspace administrator accounts and the associated passwords, enabling the developer or administrator to log in to a workspace.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.UNEXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2);

Parameters

Table 1-81 describes the parameters available in the UNEXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the UNEXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT procedure. Use this procedure to renew (unexpire) an Application Express workspace administrator account in the current workspace. This action specifically renews the account for use by developers or administrators to login to a workspace and may also renew the account with respect to its use by end users to authenticate to developed applications.

This procedure must be run by a user having administration privileges in the current workspace.

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (select user_name from wwv_flow_users) loop
        APEX_UTIL.UNEXPIRE_WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT(p_user_name => c1.user_name);
        htp.p('Workspace Account:'||c1.user_name||' is now valid.'); 
    END LOOP;
END;   

UNLOCK_ACCOUNT Procedure

Sets a user account status to unlocked. Must be run by an authenticated workspace administrator in a page request context.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.UNLOCK_ACCOUNT (
     p_user_name IN VARCHAR2); 

Parameters

Table 1-82 describes the parameters available in the UNLOCK_ACCOUNT procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the UNLOCK_ACCOUNT procedure. Use this procedure to unlock an Application Express account in the current workspace. This action unlocks the account for use by administrators, developers, and end users.This procedure must be run by a user who has administration privileges in the current workspace

BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name from wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        APEX_UTIL.UNLOCK_ACCOUNT(p_user_name => c1.user_name);
        htp.p('End User Account:'||c1.user_name||' is now unlocked.');    
    END LOOP;
END;

URL_ENCODE Function

The following special characters are encoded as follows:

 Special       After 
Characters    Encoding
    %          %25
    +          %2B
  space         +
    .          %2E
    *          %2A
    ?          %3F
    \          %5C
    /          %2F
    >          %3E
    <          %3C
    }          %7B
    {          %7D
    ~          %7E
    [          %5B
    ]          %5D
    '          %60
    ;          %3B
    ?          %3F
    @          %40
    &          %26
    #          %23
    |          %7C
    î          %5E
    :          %3A
    =          %3D
    $          %24

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.URL_ENCODE (
    p_url   IN    VARCHAR2) 
    RETURN VARCHAR2;

Parameters

Table 1-83 describes the parameters available in the URL_ENCODE function.

Example

The following example shows how to use the URL_ENCODE function.

DECLARE
    l_url  VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
    l_url := APEX_UTIL.URL_ENCODE('http://www.myurl.com?id=1&cat=foo');
END;

In this example, the following URL:

http://www.myurl.com?id=1&cat=foo

Would be returned as:

http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyurl%2Ecom%3Fid%3D1%26cat%3Dfoo

WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT Function

Returns the number of days remaining before the developer or workspace administrator account password expires. This function may be run in a page request context by any authenticated user.

Syntax

APEX_UTIL.WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT (
    p_user_name IN VARCHAR2)
    RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Table 1-84 describes the parameters available in the WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT procedure.

Example

The following example shows how to use the WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT function. It can be used in to find the number of days remaining before an Application Express administrator or developer account in the current workspace expires.

DECLARE
    l_days_left NUMBER;
BEGIN
    FOR c1 IN (SELECT user_name from wwv_flow_users) LOOP
        l_days_left := APEX_UTIL.WORKSPACE_ACCOUNT_DAYS_LEFT(p_user_name => 
c1.user_name)
        htp.p('Workspace Account:'||c1.user_name||' will expire in '||l_days_left||' days.');    
    END LOOP;
END;