Calling Windows File Open Dialog from Forms

Question

Has anyone used the File Open Dialog of MS-Windows from within
forms? How do you invoke it and how do you pass arguements (in
and out) to communicate with it?

Answer 1

GET_FILE_NAME built-in
Description
Displays the standard open file dialog box where the user can
select an existing file or specify a new file.
Syntax
FUNCTION GET_FILE_NAME
(directory_name VARCHAR2,
file_name VARCHAR2,
file_filter VARCHAR2,
message VARCHAR2,
dialog_type NUMBER,
select_file BOOLEAN;
Built-in Type unrestricted function
Returns VARCHAR2
Enter Query Mode yes
Parameters
directory_name     
Specifies the name of the directory containing the file you want
to open. The default value is NULL. If directory_name is NULL,
subsequent invocations of the dialog may open the last directory
visited.
file_name     
Specifies the name of the file you want to open. The default
value is NULL.
file_filter     
Specifies that only particular files be shown. The default
value is NULL. File filters take on different forms, and
currently are ignored on the motif and character mode
platforms. On Windows, they take the form of Write Files
(*.WRI)|*.WRI| defaulting to All Files (*.*)|*.*| if NULL.
On the Macintosh the attribute currently accepts a string such
as Text.
message     
Specifies the type of file that is being selected. The default
value is NULL.
dialog_type     
Specifies the intended dialog to OPEN_FILE or SAVE_FILE. The
default value is OPEN_FILE.
select_file     
Specifies whether the user is selecting files or directories.
The default value is TRUE. If dialog_type is set to SAVE_FILE,
select_file is internally set to TRUE.
** Built-in: GET_FILE_NAME
** Example: Can get an image of type TIFF.
DECLARE
filename VARCHAR2(256)
BEGIN
filename := GET_FILE_NAME(File_Filter=> 'TIFF Files (*.tif)
|*.tif|');
READ_IMAGE_FILE(filename, 'TIFF', 'block5.imagefld);
END;