Help with Dynamic Form Input

Question

Hello,
I'd like to generate a form with a PL/SQL script.
Basically I'd like to ask the user to rank a set of items.
I have two tables one, ITEMS [ID (Primary Key), NAME (VARCHAR2)] and one PREFERENCES [ID (Primary Key), ITEM_ID (Foreign Key),PREFERENCE (Number), USERNAME (VARCHAR2)]
From what I understand Collections and APEX_ITEM would be useful here.
What should I do next?
Should I read all of the ITEMS ( there will only be 7-13) into a collection and then use APEX_ITEM to generate rows in the form?
Should I first create rows in Preferences, containing only the ITEM_ID and the USERNAME, and then use multiple row update in APEX_ITEM to generate a tabular form to update the rows?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Sam

Answer 1

I would like one form on one page for creating multiple rows. A tabular form would be fine.
the page would look like
Item 1 , Choose a Preference (LOV)
Item 2, Choose a Preference (LOV)
Item n, choose a Preference (LOV)
I know that this could probably be done more easily one row at a time, but I am concerned about making it easy for the end user.
A tabular form could be appropriate, however it seems like most of your example tabular forms, have already generated records. (ie http://htmldb.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=31517:170:4031429456413649::NO ).
Would it make sense to prepare the form by inserting values into the table just before displaying the form.
something like (in psudocode)
select ID from ITEMS into l_items;
INSERT INTO PREFERENCES (ITEM_ID)
VALUES (l_items)
I have a trigger on Preferences that inserts v('APP_USER') into the USERNAME column.
If I did this the form could display
select     "ITEMS"."NAME" as "NAME",
     "PREFERENCES"."PREFERENCE" as "PREFERENCE"
from     "ITEMS" "ITEMS",
     "PREFERENCES" "PREFERENCES"
where "PREFERENCES"."ITEM_ID"="ITEMS"."ID"
NAME would be displayed as TEXT
PREFERENCE would be an LOV
USERNAME would be hidden
Thanks for your help.
-Sam