Different ways to referencing Session State variables

Hi,
According to APEX documentation there's 4 different ways to reference session state variables: http://download-west.oracle.com/docs/cd/B32472_01/doc/appdev.300/b32471/concept.htm#BEICHBBG
In an inline PL/SQL statement, what's the difference when using the different methods? I remember reading something that the bind and static text have a size restrictions. What's the difference between the V() and NV() functions?
Thank you.
Martin

Martin,
In PL/SQL, the preferable method is to use bind variable notation, e.g., :P1_ITEM. In HTML contexts, you must use &ITEM. notation. In stored procedures, you can use v or nv, the latter function being identical to the former with the additional characteristic that it raises an exception if the retrieved value is non-numeric.
Scott

Similar Messages

Session state variables across multiple ApEx applications

We have a suite of loosely integrate ApEx applications that all share a common authentication scheme. When you first log in we attempt to load a series of session state variables with temporary data to streamline various logging and authentication related activities for the life of the session.
However, these session variables seem to disappear when you move from one application to another, so they are not truly tied to just the "session" which carries over across all applications, but the application from which the session state is set.
What is the suggested way, keeping in mind that the data being held may have security related context, to preserve values during a session, but regardless of which ApEx application you are in.
The method we are using to share the authentication is using a common "Cookie Name" from a common subscribed authentication scheme as suggested elsewhere on this site and seems to work very well outside of this specific issue.
Thanks in advance,
Barney

Apologies for the delay getting back on this.
My use of the word "disappear" was probably misleading. They were not visible from the second application. When setting "Session State" I was under the impression that it was setting it for the authenticated session, not for the specific application. (I am referring to the: apex_util.set/get_session_state).
Your solution will work fine, as long as I know which application the user last authenticated against. However, it could be one of over 30 (and growing) different applications which would require me writing a program to go through every "p_flow" to try and find a valid value every time I need to reference the field.
It would be really beneficial if you could store true Session variables which stay alive for the life of the authenticated session and is available to anything authenticated against that session id. This would streamline alot of cross-application program development.
The "get/set_session_state" is a misleading as it is not a Session value, but an Application value. The Session exists across multiple applications, while this procedure does not.
Thanks,
Barney

Referencing session state across DBLinks

I have a central security package that all applications access to provide item-level authorisation.
Recent extensions to the security model require additional information from the application, held in Application Items.
For various legacy reasons I want to avoid having to add additional parameters to the security functions called so I reference the application items via the V() function. This works perfectly on local applications (within the same database) but V() returns null values if the application is accessing the security function via a DB link.
So, is there any way to access session state from a PL/SQL package of an application that is not running on the same database?
Regards
Richard

Richard
Something along these lines might work. Say the remote package is named 'sec var'. At the remote db create 'sec_vas' as follows. create or replace package sec_vars is
var1 varchar2(100);   // new items needed by auth fn
var2 varchar2(100);
procedure setval (var1 in varchar2,var2 in varchar2); //sets var1/var2 with values from session state
function getval (var in varchar2) return varchar2;   // the local 'v' fn
function doAuth() return boolean;
end;
create or replace package body sec_vars is
procedure setval (var1 in varchar2,var2 in varchar2) is
begin
sec_vars.var1:='Variable 1';
sec_vars.var2 := 'variable 2';
end;
function getval (var in varchar2) return varchar2 is
begin
if upper(var)='VAR1' then
   return sec_vars.var1;
elsif upper(var)='VAR2' then
    return sec_vars.var2;
else
    return null;
end if;
end;
function doAuth() return boolean is
begin
select count(*) from emp where ename=sec_vars.get_val('VAR1'');
return true;
end;
end;And in the Apex db we do something like create synonym sec_vars for sec_vars@remote_db;
// an auth process
begin
sec_vars.setval ('Variable 1','variable 2'); // set required session item values
sec_vars.do_auth();
end;varad

Query referencing session state not consistently returning data

Hi,
I have a form that summarizes expense data by category for employees, per fiscal year, fiscal period, and project.
Clicking on a button next to a particular category takes the user to a new page that should display the detail of those expenses, based on expense_code.
The expense_code is passed via URL to the second page, and the query region for the detail has the following source:
select exp_code, JRNL_ID_NO, DESCRIPTION, REFERENCE, CUR_PER_TRAN, CUM_YTD
from fgspec_ac where exp_code between :P118_EXPENSE_CODE_FROM and :P118_EXPENSE_CODE_TO and project=:P114_PROJECT and fis_year=:P114_FIS_YEAR and fis_period=:P114_FIS_PERIOD
:P118_EXPENSE_CODE_FROM and :P118_EXPENSE_CODE_TO are passed via URL, and the :P114_% fields reference data on the initial form.
The problem is that when I click on the button to bring up the detail for the first time, the query returns no rows. If I return to the original form and click on the button a second time, the query the displays the required data. This behavior is consistent, regardless of expense category, fiscal period, etc. The first time I try to access detail, no records returned, but the second time, it works.
I have used the 'SESSION' link to debug and view the session state in each case, and the results are IDENTICAL whether the query returns data or not. That is, all 5 variables contain the exact same data.
Do you know what I might be doing wrong?
Thanks,
Michelle

Hi guys,
Thanks very much for your replies. In fact, I have tried both methods. Yes, I am navigating from page 114 to 118, and passing values to page 118 from page 114 (ie: P114_PROJECT passes to P118_PROJECT, etc...). In my query, I have tried referencing both, with the same results.
When checking values in session state (by using the 'SESSION' link), values from page 114 are available in both cases (when the query returns rows and when it does not). It is very strange behavior.
I have been developing with HTMLDB for over a year now, and never seen anything like it!!! I will try loading this on HTMLDB.oracle.com, and see if it replicates, and if so, maybe you can have a look...............
Thanks!
Michelle

Passing Session State Variables to SQL query

Hi,
I am using 3 pages in my application build by APEX 3.1.2. Login Page, Report Page and Form Page.
I am using LDAP authentication for Login Page and I want the user session information to be feeded to the filter query
being used to display data on Report Page. Is there any way to do that. I know
there is one variable %LDAP_USER% which is using the userid given on login
page. But I dont know how to use APEX session variables to filter query. Need
assistance on that stuff.
Thanks,
Gaurav

Hi Gaurav,
Session "variables" (global items, application items and page items) can be accessed using v('ITEM_NAME') (for strings) or nv('ITEM_NAME') (for numbers) within sql queries/procedures/triggers etc.
If you look at the Substitution Strings section here: http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E10513_01/doc/appdev.310/e10499/index.htm#S you'll find more information about this and a list of items that you can use that are set by Apex itself.
Andy

URL Not Changing Session State Variables Specified

I am trying to change a variable on a target page with a URL, however, the variable never changes. The variable is set to 8. I send the following URL which should change it to 0 but it does not change.
We just recently upgraded to 1.6
Why is this not working. It still works on pages I designed prior to the upgrade, but I can't get it to work since the upgrade.

I am trying to change a variable on a target page with a URL, however, the variable never changes. The variable is set to 8. I send the following URL which should change it to 0 but it does not change.
We just recently upgraded to 1.6
Why is this not working. It still works on pages I designed prior to the upgrade, but I can't get it to work since the upgrade.

Session state in websheets?

Hi guys,
I fear that it is not possible, just wanted to make sure.
I haven't found a way to maintain session state. For example to include a combo box to store a selection in it (e.g. a Project identifier).
Also, it looks like we cannot reference any internal variables like &APP_USER., &APP_ID., &APP_SESSION., etc. either. Am I wrong or is this a true limitation?
Thanks,
Dietmar.

You are on the right track to use caching for shared state. Where caching gets confusing and temporal (as you have seen by different
articles on different dates) is that what used to be called Azure caching is now called Windows
Azure Shared Caching. In October 2012, Windows
Azure Caching was released (as per the article you found) and is role (instance-based as opposed to shared) caching. Use the
'Caching' and not 'Shared Caching' as shared caching does not perform that well, is expensive, and generally replaced by (non-shared) caching. If you need it, shared caching is still available in the old Silverlight portal, which you get to by selecting 'Previous
portal' on the drop-down menu on your name. Other features, such as reporting services, are currently only available in the 'previous portal'.

Application Items/Session State Values and Page Branching

I have users coming into a specific page in my application, passing in a value on the url that sets the value of an application item, where a validation routine occurs. If their session validates, I want to send them to one page, if it does not, I want to send them to a login error page.
During validation, I am setting the values of several application items so that these values can be saved and used throughout their session. The values appear to be setting correctly. I am concerned that setting the application items may not be limiting these values to a particular session. So, I have also tried setting the setting session state variables with code like:
apex_util.set_session_state ('F203_REQ', vReqID);
I found it curious though when I ran this page, not trying to branch so I could check session state, these values showed up as being application items and I saw nothing under session variables.
The problem I am having is that once validated I don't know how to branch to these other pages. I have tried adding some javascript in the header to force a page submit so that I could use a branch setup on the page. However, when it comes time to evaluate the branches (it's using one of the application item values I set earlier), I'm getting an error that no branch has been provided. Further research suggests the application item values are being cleared on the page submit.
So, (1) I either need to know how to preserve those values on submit so the page branch works or (2) I need to branch to the new page without using a page submit and instead doing that in a some code (assuming submit is clearing application item values). I have not been able to find an example of how to do this in code. If there is a way to do this in code, will the application item or session state variable values be retained? I will need these values to be available to the user throughout their session.
Thanks for the help,
Steve

Steve,
I am concerned that setting the application items may not be limiting these values to a particular session.They are set in the current session only.
It is hard to know what you are doing exactly without seeing it. If you set up an example on apex.oracle.com we could could address one specific question at at time.
Scott

Setting session state post-authentication

Hi all,
This application uses DATABASE ACCOUNT authentication, and has a post-authentication process that sets a few application items using code such as
apex_util.set_session_state('F_MY_ITEM', v_my_value);These items are used to secure certain tab options within the application.
The post-authentication PL/SQL works fine, I can't see anything wrong the the logic. I've debugged it and I know the values are being set. I'm checking the value of session state straight after using v('F_MY_ITEM'), along with checking my session ID matches up - everything seems ok there.
The issue is that when I log in, the session state is not set for those items - even though the post-auth process is called with no errors raised. Apex debug states
... Session State: Save "MY_ITEM" - saving same value "Y"If I log out, then log in (without closing browser tab), the values are now set as expected (visual confirmation using conditionally displayed tabs, and of course checking session state from developer toolbar)
Notably, Debug states something slightly different
... Session State: Save item "MY_ITEM" newValue="Y" escape_on_input="Y"There are a few other differences with the debug output, this this seems the most pertinent.
The only difference I've been able to track down is if I'm logged into the application builder in the same browser.
If I attempt to log in with a freshly opened browser, navigate directly to application URL, the behaviour works as expected. Tabs appear as if items are set.
Could the fact I'm authenticated in the application builder be messing with session state behaviour?
This is with Apex 4.0.2.00.07; agnostic to browser (IE/FF/Chrome); 11gr2
Cheers,
Scott

I did consider this because I experienced the same thing with page processes.
However, in this case my post-auth function is within a package and I don't use bind variables.
I was essentially doing this in my package:
apex_util.set_session_state('F_MY_ITEM', 'Y');
my_log_proc(v('F_MY_ITEM'));And seeing Y in the debug log, yet once on my home page, viewing session state I see F_MY_ITEM as empty - unless in the scenario I described.
It's not a showstopper since the users won't be logged in to the application builder, but it would be nice to know the cause.

Session state consistency - how does APEX keep session state across pages

I would like to know how the APEX develper tool keeps session state from being overwritten across mutiltple pages in the same Session. Because this is difficult to explain I'll use an example from withing the APEX dev tool
For Example:
1. I navigate to the page (4150) thet allows me to edit my Page 880 [Window 1]
2. I now do a Cntrl^N to Open a New Window in the same session (this opens on the same Page 880 in the new window) [Window 2].
3. In Window 1, I click an item to update ie I want to put a comment on the Unconditional Branch so click this to go to the Update page. I see the F4000_P4313_ID is passed in the URL (ie the context, UID of the Branch).
4. In Window 2, I change the page to 881 - ie this is overwriting my Session State variables for page 880 with page 881.
5. I click an item in Page 881 to update ie I want to put a comment on the Unconditional Branch so click this to go to the Update page. I see the F4000_P4313_ID is passed in the URL (ie the context, teh UID of the Branch).
6. In Window 1 (the Page 880), I add a comment to the Branch and 'Apply' changes. On returning to the Page the context has changed from 880 to 881 (as expected as Window 2 had overwritten the session state). Slightly confusing for the user as they did go from Page 880 not 881 but ok
What intrigues me is how the Edit Branch page applied the update to the correct branch [good !]. Why weren't the Branch Session state variables (ie the Branch for Page 880) overwritten with the Branch Session state variables for the Branch from Page 881 ?
Both navigations go to the same Page passing the UID of the branch, hence I would of thought the last navigation is the one that would be persisting (ie from Page 881 Window) ?
Any tips on preventing users updating the wrong record because of the Session State being overwritten would be most welcome.
Look forward to hearing from you.

Let me take a shot at explaining this.
Session state is stored in Oracle database tables. When a APEX page is rendered, those tables are read and the HTML is sent to the browser. When that page is submitted, all the HTML form inputs on the page are saved back into session state over-writing any existing values for that session
So, in your example, since Page 4313 has the hidden page item (the "GUID" of the branch), it doesn't matter if any other window has the same page open with some other GUID. Each page is a self-contained "unit" which has all the information necessary to properly process that page when it is submitted.
Think of it this way...in your example, when you have windows 1 and 2 open (window 2 was opened after window 1), go back to Window 1 and click the browser's Reload/Refresh button. Instead of refreshing the same page (branch 9000000), you will find that it will load branch 8000000! This is because session state is read from the database and when Window 2 was rendered, it has set F4000_P4313_ID in session state to 8000000.
Hope this helps.

How to update session state from form field values without submitting page?

Hi,
I am new to Oracle APEX. I am using Oracle Apex 4.2 on Oracle 11g release 2. The problem is that when I am entering data on a form, when I enter a value in one field and move to the next field, how can I use the value of first field in the validation procedure of next field? I know that when we enter data in fields, the session state is not updated with these values until we submit the page... right... but I have seen that if there is a control of List box type, then Apex gives an option "Action When List changes" where we can choose option to update corresponding session state field with the value of list box item, without submitting the page.
Now my questions is why this option is only available for List box items? why not for other item types like Text box, Check box,... ? can someone please help me with this?
(the issue with update of session state depending on page submitting, is that we need a complete network round trip from client to server in order for it. However if we can update session state variables without submitting page, then we can avoid this network traffic).
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Create a dynamic action on change and run a PL/SQL process there with the following code:
BEGIN
NULL;
END;Page items to submit > your item.
This will set the session state without submitting the form.
Further examples here:
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p=31517:229
Denes Kubicek
http://deneskubicek.blogspot.com/
http://www.apress.com/9781430235125
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p=31517:1
http://www.amazon.de/Oracle-APEX-XE-Praxis/dp/3826655494
-------------------------------------------------------------------

How to reference session state in a list entry label

You can use &<item>. to reference session state values which can then be used in titles and item labels but it seems it does not work in the label for a list entry (i.e. to build a menu). Is there a workaround?
thanks in advance
PaulP

OK I just realized that referencing session state doesn't work for lists used by Enkitec's NavBar plugin solution. It does reference the &<ITEM>. correctly for normal APEX lists. Anyone know how to reference session state when using Enkitec's NavBar plugin solution?
PaulP

Jsf session scope variables

Hi All,
How to set a variable which should be available throughout the session, I dont want to use session scoped managed beans for this.
Using the following method is not working
FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getRequestMap().put("variableName","value");is there any other way to set session scoped variables ?

Got it working
FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getSessionMap().put("variableName","value");This will make the variable session scoped
Regards,
Sai Krishna

Session state of page item different from one region to another region

hi,
on one particular page I have two regions. A page item (LOV pop-up) is set in the first region. I leave this region with a button and jump back with a branch to the same page. The page item has now the selected value (as is shown by session state window). So far so good.
The second region (SQL query type) uses this page item. However, for some reason the page item is NULL in that second region.
Can anyone explain this behavior ?
ron

thanks Joel,
I did already what you suggested. The title in region 2 is evaluated to the same value as in region 1.
The SQL query (that actually runned with identical syntax before) is:
select bla from blatable where bla = :P920_RU
this generates:
report error:
ORA-12801: error signaled in parallel query server P000
ORA-01741: illegal zero-length identifier
So apperently the bind variable is evaluted to (or cached as) NULL.
I noticed something strange in the session window. There are several page items in the application. All of them are listed in the 'Session State' region. The page item that makes problems is the only one that is also listed in the 'Page Items' region. It is even listed when I start the session window from another page. Weird.
any other ideas ?
Actually, how could you possibly clear session state between rendering two regions ?
Ron

What are different ways to pass variables in a c# program?

What are different ways to pass variables in a c# program?
I was wondering if :
var numbers = textBox1.Text.Split('
.Select(int.Parse).ToArray();
var min = numbers.Min();
var max = numbers.Max();
textBox2.Text = string.Format("min:
{0} max: {1}", min, max);
and
private
int[] numbers =
new
int[10];
were considered passing variables and I am also interested in learning new ways.

Hi Billst3r,
Your examples would be considered creating variables or "instantiating" them, which basically means creating them in memory. To pass variables, here is a brief example.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace ConsoleApplication1
class Program
static void Main(string[] args)
// Declaring variables
int num1 = 1;
int num2 = 5;
// Pass created variables to private method
int answer1 = ComputeSum(num1, num2);
// Print results
Console.WriteLine(answer1);
Console.ReadLine();
private static int ComputeSum(int param1, int param2)
// Return sum of 2 provided parameters
return (param1 + param2);
Best of luck.

Different ways to referencing Session State variables

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