Web Previewer not working in 9iDS

Question

I'm trying to get a generated forms module to run automatically in the web previewer after I generate it. In the Forms Generator Options dialog under the Run tab I have "Run as a Web Form" and "Run Form Automatically" boxes checked. JInitiator 1.3.1.9 is installed and I believe running - the JInitiator Control Panel dialog has the "Enable JInitiator" box checked (does this need to be running?). I have also started up OC4J.
When I generate the module I get the dialog at the end stating that generation is complete but the form does not come up in Web Previewer. Furthermore, "Run the form in Web preview mode" is not in the list of the "List Actions" box in the message window.
Any ideas?
I'm using Designer 9i release 2 (v. 9.0.2.9).

Answer 1

I think Note 198384.1 How To Run Generated Forms via Designer 9i
is what you are looking for.
"Checked for relevance on 19-Feb-2009"
goal: How To Run Generated Forms via Designer 9i/10g
fact: Oracle Designer 9.0/10g
fact: Design Editor
fact: Forms Generator
fact: Reports Generator
fix:
When a form module is created and generated in Designer, one of the actions
available in the Build Action list is to test run the module.
However, in the 9iDS Release 2 product set, the ability to run a Form via a
Client - Server GUI interface has been removed. Instead, forms can only be
run on a Forms Service via a web browser, whether the form is being run from
Designer or from within Forms Builder.
If a Forms Service has not been setup, or is not available to the development
system, then a "reduced version" is available via software installed as part
of 9iDS Release 2 - this comprises of the Jinitiator and OC4J listener. Steps
for settings these up from a 9iDS Release 2 install and running them on the
local, client PC, are given in Note 198297.1.
To enable the Build Action "Run Form from web server" in the Design
Editor, the following additional steps need to be taken :-
1. Forms Generator Options.
Ensure that the following File Destinations are explicitly set; it is
suggested that the same directory be used :-
Forms Options tab -> Destination of Generated Files
Menu Options tab -> Destination of Generated Files
Compile -> Form Executable From Binary -> Destination
Compile -> Menu Executable From Binary -> Destination
Run -> Web Browser : Ensure this is set to a valid web browser installed
in the local PC.
If the Web Browser setting is not entered, then the "Run Form ..." action
will not be added to the Build Action list.
In addition, the following option can be checked :-
Run -> Run Form Automatically
This will cause the form to be run automatically at the end of generation,
via the Forms Service and browser.
2. Preference Settings.
The preference settings group "Web Deployment" holds the preferences that
are used to determine what Forms Service to use when attempting to run the
form from Designer.
WEBPTH (Server form location path) = The local file path where the FMB
and FMX files have been generated to. This is the File Destination set
above in the Generator Options.
WEBURL (Server base URL) = The base URL of the Forms Service.
If a "standard" Forms Service is being used, then this URL will be provided
by the administrator of the Forms Service. However, if the "reduced version"
mentioned above is being used on the client PC, the text for this value is
constructed like so :-
"http://<Local PC Name>.<Domain>:8888/forms90/f90servlet"
where <Local PC Name> is the Full Computer Name of this PC, as defined in
the
Network Identification tab of the Systems applet in the Control Panel
(for Windows 2000)
and <Domain> is the domain which this PC has logged onto, again defined
in
Network Identification tab, for Windows 2000.
Alternatively, if the PC is running stand-alone, then can be omitted.
The rest of the string - the port number of 8888 and the virtual directory
of "/forms90/f90servlet" - are the defaults used by the "reduced version"
of the Forms Service - these are controlled by the values in the file
"cauprefs.ora" in the root directory of the 9iDS Release 2 Oracle home.
These preferences can be set at higher levels than the Module - at the
Container level, or in a preference set. However, note that if the "reduced
version" Forms Service is being used on each client PC, then the WEBURL
details will be specific to each client PC - the preference will therefore
have to be updated depending on which client PC is generating then running
the form.
Comment: where speaking about 9iDS Release 2, it is also applicable for 10g iDS