This forum needs a FAQ

Question

In my opinion, we desperately need a Frequently Asked Questions sticky thread that we can point people to. People post the same questions, day after day, week after week.... At the top of my list would be:
Installation Issues: "Help, I just installed APEX and when I go to the URL it..."
- Returns a 404
- shows a bunch of broken images
Upgrade issues: Same as install for the most part.
I can get to APEX from localhost, but not anywhere else on the network
Tabular form issues: "I'm new to APEX and I have a tabular form and I want to...
- Validate it
- Validate it as a tab from field to field
- Have a popup that returns values to 23 fields instead of just 1
- Base one select list on another
- Update multiple tables
- Go back to Forms, the web scares me
File upload...
- I want to put the file in my own table
- I want to access files on the client PC (no you don't)
Role Priv issues
- My query works in TOAD but not in APEX?
Primary Key issues:
- Why won't APEX let me edit my primary keys?
- I have a composite pk based on 11 columns, but it doesn't work with APEX? Also, I'd like to be able to edit all of them... in a tabular form... with dependent select lists... ;)
- Why do I need a trigger and a sequence
- What's a primary key
AJAX / JavaScript issues:
- dependent select lists
- auto-complete
- custom popups
- I don't know Java (which is the same as JavaScript, right?) and I want a custom popup with auto-complete, dependent select lists, and return values to 19 fields.
Web Issues: How do I ...
- Change the look and feel of my application
- Highlight certain values in a different color
- Make the font bigger
- Make the column wider / narrower
- Display 129 columns on an 800x600 screen without scrolling
- Access files on the users computer (yes, it's a repeat)
PDF / Excel Issues
OK, I know there were a few rants buried in there, but seriously, can we consolidate this stuff? Maybe a page on wiki.oracle.com that we either pull from or point to so the community can populate it? Some of these questions are so repetitive, I'm about ready to filter the forum through yahoo pipes so I don't even see them anymore. No matter what we do, I think the top sticky thread should be a FAQ.
Tyler Muth
http://tylermuth.wordpress.com
[Applied Oracle Security: Developing Secure Database and Middleware Environments|http://sn.im/aos.book]

Answer 1

as one of the new addicts.... I figured I'd offer my 2 cents on the subject
When I'm first learning, I find FAQ overwhelming. I don't have the vocabulary at that point in time to even know what I'm trying to learn, and the FAQ-list is so long that it's as just as intimidating as the source documentation itself. Having a category for AJAX is fine, if I had an inkling that what I need is related to AJAX.
Later, once I'm getting my bearings, I go back and read (and re-read) the FAQ, past threads, and the documentation. And the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, and I'm able to post less.
So, I think having a FAQ would be good, but what I think it would be more helpful to have a two sub-forums.
One for newcomers, and one for folks who have their apex-legs.
So there is a place to ask the elementary questions, over and over. And, those of you who are experienced can decide whether or not you're in the mood to address the same questions repeatedly, or if you'd prefer to spend your time with the more complex questions.
Marion
Edited by: Marion in NY on Nov 11, 2009 10:28 AM
Edited by: Marion in NY on Nov 11, 2009 10:28 AM