APEX4: button starting pl/sql in a report

Question

Hello
I'm on Apex 4.0 on 11g.
I have a report, in which I have to put a button on each line in the report (or a link) that starts a pl/sql procedure (with various parameters) and then refreshes the page (since the pl/sql affects the contents).
What is the best way to do this?
Best regards
Mette

Answer 1

1. Have the button call a javascript doSubmit();. Depending on what you are doing in the page, you can pass a specific request value to isolate this action from others in your page. (e.g.: doSubmit('REPORT_BUTTONCLICK');).
2. Have your PL/SQL as a process firing after submit.
3. Branch back to the same page.
Now if there are parameters for the PL/SQL that are dependent or different on your report rows' values, then do the same but with a twist (assume you have three parameters that come from the report rows and get passed to PL/SQL):
1. Create a javascript function in your page HTML header (e.g.: myFunction(p1, p2, p3, pRequest))
2. Create as many hidden page items as you have for parameters needed (e.g.: P100_P1, P100_P2, P100_P3).
3. Set the page items in your function.
4. At the end of the function, do a "doSubmit(pRequest);".
5. Call the function from the button on the row (onclick=myFunction('#rpt_col1#','#rpt_col2#','#rpt_col3#','REPORT_BUTTONCLICK');)
6. Have your PL/SQL use P100_P1, P100_P2, and P100_P3.
7. Branch back to your page. Probably clearing the page cache (or at least clearing cache for the three parameter items) is a good idea in the branch.