Oracle APEX Application Development Case Studies
Pharma/Biotech Marketing Firm
In 2023 Skillbuilders APEX expert Garry Lawton assisted the customer with the design and implementation of a multi-tenant APEX application using a common code base and data model. The application uses simple but robust user and role management including password security rules and two-factor authentication, all designed and coded by Garry. The project was delivered on-time and on-budget.
Global Medical Company, Time Monitor Application
In 2019 SkillBuilders was asked to help extend the existing functionality and most importantly work on performance optimizations, after the original Monitor Time Tracking Tool application was designed and built in APEX 3.1.2 by a Fortune 500 Global Medical Company support team.
Not only did the SkillBuilders team (Tyson and Lino) delivered on time and budget but also extended the deliverables by migrating the old APEX theme to the latest Universal theme; all APEX PL/SQL code was reviewed, optimized and improved; legacy JavaScript code was re-done using built-in Dynamic Actions making long term applications support simpler and easier.
This dramatically increased application popularity as the UI was modernized and running significantly faster with improvements done on the legacy code.
The great work was appreciated by the Global Medical Company team making Skillbuilders their APEX support partner of choice!
Santa Monica College, MyEdPlan Application
SkillBuilders completely renovated Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Oracle APEX Application known as “MyEdPlan”. This video provides an overview of the application:
MyEdPlan is an internet-facing application that allows students to create their educational plan based on SMC enrollment requirements. It is one of the important applications that SMC students use.
MyEdPlan is built entirely using the latest techniques (Apex, HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap, drag and drop, etc.) and works on the PC and mobile devices.
Due to SkillBuilders extra attention on the user-interface with intuitive operations, the student is now able to create a complex education plan with almost no online nor counselor-based assistance. The system helps the student during the entire process the the creation of their education plan and immediately alerts the student when date/time conflicts occur, non-compatible or non-compliant courses are selected or similar situations occur.
Because of the specific nature of an education plan and the large amount of context information that is needed, using standard design patterns were no longer sufficient. Therefore new UI components were designed and built that are suited for the functions they need to support. Also a completely new color-design was created that suits a modern college as the SMC.
The application is 508 American Disabilities Act compliant, thus the application is not only operable with the mouse, but also operable solely using the keyboard. The application also supports a screen reader.
Stanford University
Since 2011, SkillBuilders development team has been a key asset and extension to Stanford’s Oracle APEX projects. Our personnel provided systems analysis, development and provided a source of ongoing application review and best practices. Projects include Conflict of Interest, SERA, and FASA. In addition to application development, SkillBuilders has also provided on-site instructor-led APEX training to Stanford University developers.
Stanford University School of Medicine
In 2012 and 2013, Skillbuilders provided an Oracle APEX solution (analysis, design and development) for the Stanford School of Medicine, Information Resources & Technology Data Center.
The center runs a server hosting service for non-IRT School of Medicine departmental servers. Prior to SkillBuilders solution, the administration of the information and processes needed to support the full life-cycle of the servers was highly manual employing spreadsheets, email records, wiki notes and help-desk tickets. Skillbuilders Oracle APEX solution consolidated the information into a single repository providing the ability to track all processes from initial customer inquiry, through server and software installation, configuration, human resource planning, warranty, maintenance and service charge allocation.
Brown University Administration
Since 2008, SkillBuilders has trained Brown University developers and Oracle Administrators in new skills vital to the Universities success. This includes Oracle Database performance tuning, new features, RMAN, Enterprise Manager / Grid Control and Grid Infrastructure. For developers SkillBuilders has provided education in Java Programming, Servlets, JSP, XML, Ruby on Rails and more.
Brown University Facilities Management
In 2008, SkillBuilders began the design and development of an Oracle APEX-based Energy Efficiency Management Tracking and Workflow application. This internet-facing APEX application (called “Brown Energy Efficiency”, or “BEE”) allows vendors to input estimated energy savings for planned construction and upgrade projects for university buildings. The data is then used to calculate Greenhouse Gas reduction and Internal Rate of Return for each project. Management is automatically notified when new projects await approval. Approved projects move through various workflow stages, including comparison of actual savings against original projections. Today, “BEE” remains a mission critical application for Engineers, Project Managers and vendors at Brown’s Facilities Management division.
In November of 2008, SkillBuilders was an instrumental partner in the deployment of this APEX application. The technology at the time included Oracle APEX 3.2, Oracle 9i, Oracle Application Server (OAS / iAS), Apache FOP. Since, SkillBuilders remains the sole Univertiry partner for BEE application enhancements and upgrades.
In 2011, Skillbuilders assisted Brown University in developing an Oracle Application Express application to add extensive reporting functionality to its legacy facilities management system. The application leverages APEX’s powerful Interactive Reports, one of the key features of APEX.
SkillBuilders also provides ongoing data center support such as Server Migrations and Database Tuning.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
On-site (Washington, DC) Oracle APEX training for experienced team of developers. Customer testimonial:
“We had a great APEX class with Tyson Jouglet. He was very knowledgeable and provided an informative class that was interesting for the students. We are grateful for his patience with our technical hurdles and appreciate that you had a back-up plan ready to go if needed. Thank you for your very professional services and we will certainly keep you in mind for any future training needs”
North Carolina Department of Labor
In 2012, SkillBuilders provided the Department of Labor in North Carolina state government with a turnkey APEX configuration, i.e. everything they needed to start deploying internal and internet-facing APEX applications. This included database installation and patching, APEX and APEX listener configuration, Java container (Glassfish) installation and configuration and assistance with firewall updates.
SkillBuilders continues to provide Oracle Database, APEX and infrastructure support; patches, upgrades and troubleshooting.
Boehringer Ingelheim
In addition to training BI developers Oracle database, SQL and APEX development, SkillBuilders provides on-going application design reviews, planning and development assistance. This greatly increases adherence to APEX best practices.
SkillBuilders also integrated Oracle BI Publisher with BI APEX applications.
Waters
When Waters Corp software customers needed a tool to manage ASM disks, non-ASM disk, RMAN backups, imports/exports, monitor and send alerts, manage database users (e.g. password management), SkillBuilders developed an integrated Oracle APEX solution. The “Waters Database Manager”, or WDM, also provides other general management functions such as job scheduling and reporting.
GE Capital
GE Capital calls on SkillBuilders for highly reviewed Oracle APEX and UNIX training. For example, one UNIX course taught to 15 GE Capital technicians by expert Mick Hosegood scored an average of 4.85 (out of 5). One student commented,
“I thought the instructor was excellent. Mick Hosegood did a very good job. The course content and materials were also well done!”
North Carolina Dept of Labor | Raleigh, NC
SkillBuilders prepared the NC DOL Windows-based server environment for APEX development in preparation for an APEX pilot project. This included
Installation of Oracle Database EE 11.2.0.3, prepped for APEX
Installation / Upgrade to APEX 4.1
Installation and Configuration of GlassFish/APEX-Listener
Apache configuration including url rewrites and proxy server config
Large University | U.S.
SkillBuilders provided APEX developers who were key contributors in the design and development of Stanford’s new Conflict of Interest/Disclosure APEX applications. These complex applications were mandated by the Public Health Service and had a very short time for delivery. During development, and in addition to design and development, the SkillBuilders team provided technical assistance and APEX knowledge transfer to University developers new to APEX. Phase 1 of this project completed UAT and went LIVE on time.
Brown University Facilities Management | Providence, RI
Facilities Management Energy Efficiency Management (BEE)
SkillBuilders designed and developed an APEX-based Energy Efficiency Management system that allows vendors to input estimated energy savings for planned construction and upgrade projects for university buildings. The data is used to calculate Greenhouse Gas reduction and Internal Rate of Return for each project. Management is automatically notified when new projects await approval. Approved projects move through various workflow stages, including comparison of actual savings against original projections.
Facilities Management Reportal
Skillbuilders assisted Brown University in developing an Oracle Application Express (APEX) application to add extensive reporting functionality to its legacy facilities management system. The application leverages APEX’s powerful Interactive Reports, one of the key features of APEX.
Large U.S.-Based Pharmaceutical
Work Package Management Application Development
Skillbuilders helped Boehringer-Ingelheim to add clarity to the planning and control of its chemical compound testing. This was achieved by replacing multiple, complicated spreadsheets with one, easy to use, Oracle APEX application, combining data entry,reporting and visualization.
Training, Mentoring and Code Reviews
After training in-house programming staff on APEX basics, we provide ongoing application reviews and assist with the planning and development of new APEX applications. This also helps keep in-house staff up to speed on the latest APEX features and ensures the customer’s applications are built using APEX best practices.
BAE Systems | Manchester, New Hampshire.
BAE Systems, the world’s second largest defense, security and aerospace company, engaged us to streamline part of their purchasing process. As the lead Oracle Application Express (APEX) resource, Dan leveraged his knowledge of APEX, Oracle, and related web based technologies to help design and build a custom user interface on BAE’s existing Oracle EBS back end. Dan was an integral part of a team effort that took the project from behind to ahead of schedule while total staff was decreased. The project was completed on time and above expectations – a finished product which included additional deliverables.
Hudson Advisors | Dallas, Texas.
SkillBuilders developed a custom single sign-on solution allowing seamless navigation and integration between the customer’s Oracle E-Business applications and custom APEX applications. We also re-configured APEX to better integrate with Oracle EBS, allowing simplified application maintenance and more streamlined VPD policies. This significantly improved the performance of the integrated APEX application.