How Do I Use the Content Block Component in Oracle APEX

The Content Block component in Oracle APEX is a versatile layout region that allows developers to organize content in structured, visually appealing blocks. It is commonly used to create modern, responsive page designs with sections such as feature highlights, service descriptions, marketing content, or dashboards. The Content Block provides a flexible container to hold text, images, buttons, or other components while maintaining a consistent and clean design without custom coding.

How to Use the Content Block Component in Oracle APEX

Using the Content Block component is straightforward and declarative. Here is a detailed explanation of how to use it effectively:

1. Add a Content Block Region

   • Open your Oracle APEX application in the App Builder.

   • Navigate to the page where you want to add content blocks.

   • Click + Add Region and select Content Block from the available region types.

   • Give the region a meaningful name that reflects its purpose, such as "Feature Highlights" or "Service Overview."

2. Configure the Content Block

   • Within the Content Block region, you can add static content or nested regions such as HTML, text, buttons, or images.

   • Use the Region Display Selector or region positioning to arrange multiple content blocks on the page.

   • You can define headers, footers, and body content for each block.

   • Customize the layout by choosing from different templates or styles that come with APEX themes.

3. Add Content Inside Content Blocks

   • Add text or HTML using the Static Content region type nested inside the Content Block.

   • Use images or media by uploading files to Static Application Files and referencing them inside the block.

   • Incorporate interactive components such as buttons or links.

   • Leverage CSS classes for further styling if needed.

4. Use Multiple Content Blocks for Layout

   • Combine multiple Content Blocks to create columns, rows, or grids.

   • Set appropriate region display properties to control spacing and alignment.

   • Use APEX’s Grid Layout system to ensure responsiveness on different devices.

5. Responsive Design and Customization

   • Content Blocks support responsive behavior by default.

   • Adjust padding, margins, and background colors using region template options or custom CSS.

   • Add conditional display logic to show or hide content blocks dynamically based on user roles or data.

Examples

Example 1: Marketing Page Feature Section

• A Content Block with three columns, each highlighting a product feature with an icon, title, and description.

Example 2: Dashboard Summary

• Multiple Content Blocks arranged in a grid layout, each displaying a KPI or chart summary.

Example 3: Service Overview

• A large Content Block with a background image, heading, and call-to-action button.

Best Practices

• Use clear and concise headings for each content block to improve readability.

• Limit the amount of content per block to keep the page clean and user-friendly.

• Leverage APEX templates and CSS classes to maintain design consistency.

• Test your layout on multiple devices to ensure responsiveness.

• Use region display selectors to allow users to collapse or expand content blocks if needed.

• Keep content blocks modular to make maintenance and updates easier.

Available Options

• Add Body Padding

• Show region Icon

Example:

Region Title	Body style	Header	Heading Font
Large	Default	Visible- Default	Default
Medium	Shadow Background	Hidden	Alternative
Small	Light Background	Hidden but Accessible

Heading level	Item Spacing	Item Size	Item Width	Label Assignment	Label Position
Default	Default	Default	Default	Right	Inline - default
H1	Standard	Large	Stretch Form Fields	Left	Show Form Label Above
H2	Slim	X- Large
H3	None
H4
H5
H6

Sort Order Alignment	Top Margin	Bottom Margin	Left Margin	Right Margin
Default	Default	Default	Default	Default
Center	None	None	None	None
End	Small	Small	Small	Small
	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
	Large	Large	Large	Large

Oracle APEX Documentation

For more information on using Content Blocks and layout management in Oracle APEX, visit:
https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/apex
Search for "Content Block Region" and "Page Layout" to explore detailed guides and examples.

Conclusion

The Content Block component in Oracle APEX provides an easy, flexible way to organize and display content in well-structured sections. Its built-in responsiveness and support for various nested components make it an ideal choice for modern web applications requiring clean, modular layouts. By using Content Blocks effectively, you can create engaging pages that are visually appealing, easy to maintain, and user-friendly across all devices.