Print Button Derived From a Select List Is Not Working

Question

Hello,
I followed the instructions "Creating a PDF Report from Derived Output Format" http://www.oracle.com/technology/obe/apex/apex31nf/apex31rpt.htm#t2
Steps
In order to derive the output format, you need to create an item that contains the list of formats to select from. Perform the following steps:
1. Under Items, click the Create icon.
2. Click Select List.
3. Make sure Select List is selected for Select List Control Type and click Next.
4. Change the Name to P<#>OUTPUTLIST and click Next.
5. You need to specify the list of output types for the report and the bottom of the page. Select the Create or edit static List of Values
6. Enter the following values and click Apply.
Display Value Return Value
PDF PDF
Word RTF
Excel XLS
HTML HTM
XML XML
7. Select No for Display Null Option and Click Next.
8. Change the Label to Output Format and click Next.
9. Enter PDF for the Default and click Create Item.
10. Now that the list of output formats is created, you need to change the Output Format when the Print link is selected. Under Regions, select the Print link.
11. Under Printing, select Derive from Item for Output Format and select the item you just created P<#>OUTPUTLIST for Item and click Apply Changes.
12. Click Run Page.
13. When the report is displayed, select Excel from the list of Output Formats. Note: In Oracle Application Express 3.1, the XML format was added
14. At the bottom of the report, select the Print link.
15. A window appears asking you which program you want to open the Excel file with. Click OK (or Open depending on what browser you have) . Excel is open and the report is displayed. Close the Excel window.
16. You can also create a button to produce the report based on the output format rather than clicking the Print link at the bottom of the report. Click Edit Page.
17. Under Buttons, click the Create icon.
18. Accept the default and click Next
19. Select Create a button displayed among this region's items and click Next
20. Enter P<#>_Print for the Button Name, enter Print for the Label and Request and select HTML Button for Button Style. Then click Create Button
21. The region printing link contains the id of the region. Since you want to invoke the print from a button instead of the link you need to create a branch and specify the FLOW_XMLP_OUTPUT_R### parameter in the Request field for the Action so the application knows what to do when the Print button is pressed. Under Regions, select the Print link.
22. Ctrl-C the FLOW_XMLP_OUTPUT_R### section of the Print URL field. Since you are going to invoke the print from the button, you can remove the Print in the Label Link field and click Apply Changes.
23. Under Branches, select the Create icon.
24. Accept the default and click Next
25. Enter the current page for the Page and paste the FLOW_XMLP_OUTPUT_R### parameter that you copied into the Request field and click Next.
26. Select P<#>_PRINT for When Button Pressed and click Create Branch
27. Click Run Page
28. Select XML for the Output Format and click Print.
If I use the link at the bottom of the report region when I set the print options on the print tab of a report, it will print out in both pdf and rtf formats. I get an error with the Excel format. The print button isn't even working. When I select the button, nothing happens.
Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

Hello Andy,
I ended up putting in a ticket with Metalink. It is a known bug it seems. This is what the rep said:
UPDATE
=======
These bugs are fixed in the next ApEx patch 3.1.2. Patch 3.1.2 is expected (tentatively) in 2 weeks at the
earliest.
The bug fixes for these bugs have been backported to 3.1.1 and the one-off patches (patch 7202883 & 7156139) can be downloaded from metalink. One-of
f patches do not undergo the normal full regression testing, as is done for the
full APEX 3.1.2 patch set.
Once 7202883 and 7156139 were applied, I was able to download in all formats.
Kelly