What is ADFdi?

ADFdi, or Application Development Framework Desktop Integration, is an integral component of Oracle's Application Development Framework designed to facilitate a seamless user experience. This tool plays a pivotal role in the loading of moderate amounts of data into Oracle Cloud, streamlining the process for users.

Renowned for its user-friendly interface, ADFdi surpasses the ease of use found in traditional File-Based Data Integration (FBdi) systems. It enhances productivity by offering online data validation through lists of values, allowing users to efficiently add and modify data directly within Oracle Cloud.

Accessibility is a key feature of ADFdi, as it is conveniently accessed via the Oracle Cloud user interface. The ADFdi add-in, which needs to be downloaded only once, ensures compatibility with any ADFdi download spreadsheets available from Oracle, providing a consistent and reliable service for data management tasks.

In terms of technical compatibility, ADFdi supports specific Java data types including both primitive types such as boolean, double, float, int, long, and short, and object types from various Java packages like java.lang, java.math, java.sql, java.util, and oracle.jbo.domain. It is important for developers to note that usage of non-supported data types can lead to runtime errors in ADFDI projects, necessitating a thorough understanding of data type definitions.

ADF Desktop Integration Add-in for Excel Tutorial

Introduction to ADFDI Plugins

The ADF Desktop Integration add-in for Excel is designed for business users who require the ability to integrate Fusion web applications with Excel workbooks on a Windows platform. This integration facilitates the use of Excel as an interface for business applications, enabling a more efficient workflow.

Installation Options

There are two types of installers available for the ADF Desktop Integration add-in: the Current User installer and the All Users installer. The Current User installer is specific to the current user’s Windows profile, whereas the All Users installer places the add-in in the Program Files folder, making it accessible to anyone using the Windows machine. Elevated privileges are required for installation, ensuring secure deployment.

Enabling Integration Features

Once installed, the ADF Desktop Integration add-in offers designer tools to develop integrated Excel workbooks. These tools are not enabled by default and can be activated using the DESIGNER property during installation. Business users can easily upgrade the add-in through the installer or by running an updated integrated Excel workbook.

ADF Desktop Integration Access

The add-in is available to all users on the Windows machine without the need for separate installations for each user profile. The installer for the add-in can be acquired from the web server where the ADF Desktop Integration-enabled Fusion web application is hosted. Integration can be implicitly or explicitly enabled, with the implicit method through adding an integrated Excel workbook being the preferred approach due to JDeveloper automating necessary configuration changes.

Common Use Cases

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  Use case 1: Securely integrating Excel workbooks with Fusion web applications for data transfer while maintaining session integrity and user authentication
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  Use case 2: Enabling interactive features within Excel workbooks, such as action sets and ribbon tab configuration, to invoke Oracle ADF functionality and enhance end-user experience
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  Use case 3: Facilitating the creation and management of ADF databound search forms within Excel, allowing end-users to perform search operations and interact with data from Fusion web applications
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  Use case 4: Implementing dependent lists of values in Excel, where selections in one list dynamically affect the options in another, for better data integrity and user input efficiency
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  Use case 5: Providing robust testing and validation tools for Excel workbooks integrated with Fusion web applications, ensuring accurate functionality before deployment

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install the ADFDI plugin for all users on a Windows machine?

To install the ADFDI plugin for all users, you need to run the all users installer with elevated privileges. This installer will place the plugin in the Program Files folder, making it available to all users on the machine.

Can I enable the designer tools during the installation of the ADFDI plugin?

Yes, designer tools can be enabled during the installation by using the public property 'DESIGNER' when running the installer from the command line with msiexec.

Where can I download the ADFDI plugin installer?

The ADFDI plugin installer can be downloaded from a Fusion web application that is enabled with ADF Desktop Integration.

How do I upgrade the ADFDI plugin?

The ADFDI plugin can be upgraded by running the installer again or by logging into the Fusion web application from an integrated Excel workbook.

What are the benefits of using the ADFDI plugin over FBdi?

The ADFDI plugin is more user-friendly than FBdi, offers online data validation using lists of values, allows users to add and modify data, and requires only a one-time download for use with ADFdi download spreadsheets provided by Oracle.