What is VBCS?

VBCS, or Visual Builder, is a low-code, browser-based software tool that facilitates the creation and deployment of web and progressive web applications. It is designed to streamline application development by allowing users to drag and drop components, thus enabling the creation of applications with minimal coding. VBCS is particularly adept at creating unified applications that can consume services from multiple sources, including the ability to interact with Oracle SaaS data sources. It also offers the capability to create new data objects to store application data.

As a service, Oracle Visual Builder is a cloud-based development Platform as a Service (PaaS) that provides a hosted environment for application development infrastructure. This service simplifies the processes of developing, collaborating on, and deploying applications within the Oracle Cloud. VBCS is available as part of Oracle Integration and serves as an ideal platform for configuring and extending Oracle Cloud Applications.

In terms of data, VBCS supports a variety of data types, including primitive variables like String, Number, Boolean, and Any, as well as structured variables such as Object and Array. It allows the use of built-in variables to access application metadata, such as the current page's ID and title. Furthermore, VBCS enables the definition of custom data types, including InstanceFactory types derived from JavaScript and TypeScript classes, which are used with variables to define the structure of the stored data. Visual Builder's support for arrays and automatic generation of JSON representations of types further enhances its data-handling capabilities.

VBCS Plugins for Excel

The Oracle Visual Builder Add-in for Excel, available from Oracle.com, is a powerful tool for Microsoft Excel users. It requires Excel to function and is designed to enable the editing of business data sourced from REST services. To utilize this add-in, the REST service must be accessible from the add-in and contain business data that is editable within Excel.

Integration with REST Services

The Oracle Visual Builder Add-in for Excel integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Excel, allowing for the retrieval, analysis, and editing of data from compatible REST services. Once the add-in is installed, a dedicated Oracle Visual Builder ribbon tab appears in Excel. This tab includes buttons that allow users to configure a worksheet to integrate with a REST service, facilitating the download of data into a user-created data table. After editing the data in Excel, users can upload their changes back to the REST service.

Requirements for Creating VBCS Plugins

Creating VBCS plugins for Excel necessitates several prerequisites. The add-in requires JavaScript and is dependent on the Visual Builder Add-in for Excel, specifically Version 3.4.0. The REST service used must support the OpenAPI format and be accessible from the add-in. To complete the setup, the add-in must be installed in Excel. These requirements ensure that the add-in functions correctly and that users can edit their business data from REST services efficiently.

Common Use Cases

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  The VBCS Excel plugin allows CRUD operations in Excel via a REST API.
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  The plugin enables the IT team to maintain static list values initially, and then allows business users to add or remove values post-deployment.
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  It can be used to restrict end-user operations to prevent delete, update, and create actions on lookups.
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  The plugin allows for layout customization, such as hiding optional fields.
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  The plugin can be used to update a common lookup, and by extension, any data in Oracle SaaS applications where a REST API is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download the VBCS plugin for Excel?

To download the VBCS plugin, log in with an Oracle Single Sign On account on the Oracle Software Delivery Cloud. Select your platform, accept the license agreement, and then you can download the add-in.

How can I validate that fields in the VBCS Excel Plugin Templates have only 4 characters?

Customers requiring validation for fields to have only 4 characters should ensure that the custom code for validation is correctly implemented. Since there have been errors in attempts to include this validation, it is recommended to check the code for compatibility with the plugin version 3.8.0.27331.

What features does the Excel VBCS plugin offer?

The Excel VBCS plugin integrates Excel spreadsheets with REST services, allowing users to download, analyze, edit, and upload business data. It adds a new ribbon tab in Excel for configuring worksheet integration with a REST service and managing data tables.

Is there a demo available for the VBCS plugin for Excel?

Yes, there is a recorded demo available for the VBCS Excel plugin which can help users understand how to utilize the add-in effectively.

How do I integrate my Excel spreadsheet with a REST service using the VBCS plugin?

To integrate your Excel spreadsheet with a REST service, install the VBCS plugin which adds a new ribbon tab in Excel. Use the buttons provided on the ribbon tab to configure your worksheet with the REST service and create a data table to hold and manage downloaded data.