HOW DO I USE DISPLAY-BASED ITEMS IN ORACLE APEX

 In Oracle APEX, Display-Based Items are items that are used to display information to the user, rather than accepting user input. These items are typically used for presenting data or static content on a page without allowing the user to modify it. While they don’t require user input, they can dynamically display content based on certain conditions or database values.

Display-based items can be used to show read-only data, system-generated content, or status indicators, and they are often used to enhance the presentation of an APEX application by making data easier to read and understand.

Types of Display-Based Items

1. Display Only Items:
• Display Only items are the most basic type of display-based item in APEX. These items are used to show data that can’t be modified by the user but can be dynamically populated from the database or other sources.
• Typically, these items are used for displaying information like names, dates, or calculated fields.
• Example Use Case: Displaying a customer’s full name, product price, or a dynamically calculated field like "Total Order Cost".
2. Image:
• The Image item type in APEX allows the application to display an image that is either stored in the database or referenced by a URL.
• Example Use Case: Displaying a profile image or a company logo on the page.
3. Progress Bar:
• The Progress Bar item type can be used to show the progress of a certain process, such as a file upload or a task being completed. The progress can be dynamically updated based on the application's state or through JavaScript.
• Example Use Case: Showing the progress of a long-running process like data import or report generation.
4. Chart:
• The Chart item type is used to display visual representations of data, such as bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, etc.
• A chart item is typically used to display aggregated or summary data in a graphical format, making it easier for users to understand trends or comparisons.
• Example Use Case: Displaying sales trends, customer demographics, or performance metrics.
5. Text:
• The Text item type is used for displaying static text or HTML content on the page. It can be used to show simple messages, descriptions, or formatted text.
• Example Use Case: Displaying a description of a product, a welcome message, or an instruction on how to fill out a form.
6. Link:
• A Link item in APEX allows you to display a clickable link that can redirect users to another page or URL. This item is commonly used for navigation or to provide external links.
• Example Use Case: A "Go to Homepage" link or a "View More Details" link to navigate to a related page.
7. Spacer:
• The Spacer item is used for adding empty space between other items on the page. It’s not directly visible to users but is useful for creating visual separation between sections of the page.
• Example Use Case: Adding space between a title and a chart, or between two groups of form fields.

Key Properties of Display-Based Items

1. Source:
• Display-based items can have their values populated dynamically from the database or another source, such as a computed value, session state, or a fixed value.
• This can be controlled through the Source property of the item, which allows you to specify where the data will come from (e.g., a SQL query, a PL/SQL function, or a static value).
2. Visible:
• The Visible property determines whether the display-based item is shown or hidden on the page. You can use dynamic actions, conditions, or page logic to control the visibility of these items based on user input, session variables, or other conditions.
3. Read-Only:
• By default, display-based items are read-only because they are not meant to accept input from users. However, you can configure certain display items to allow editing if needed (though this is not typical for pure display items).
4. Format:
• Many display-based items, such as Text and Display Only, allow you to format the content using HTML, CSS, or APEX's formatting options. This helps make the displayed data more readable or visually appealing.
5. Style:
• You can apply custom CSS styles to display-based items to control the font, color, alignment, and other aspects of their presentation. For example, you can use CSS to make a Text item bold, change the background color, or add padding around an Image item.

Benefits of Display-Based Items

1. Presentation of Data:
• Display-based items help present data in a more user-friendly manner, allowing the user to easily view important information without needing to edit it. This is useful for read-only displays, summaries, or calculations.
2. Improved User Experience:
• By separating the data entry elements from the read-only display elements, you can make your APEX applications easier to navigate. Displaying information in a structured and visually appealing manner helps users focus on the data without distractions.
3. Dynamic Content:
• Display-based items can be dynamically updated to reflect changes in the database or application logic. For instance, you can show progress, status updates, or change the content based on user selections or interactions.
4. Visual Enhancements:
• Items like Charts, Progress Bars, and Images enhance the visual appeal of your APEX application, making it more engaging for users.
5. Conditional Display:
• You can control the visibility of display-based items using conditions and dynamic actions. This is particularly useful when displaying data only when certain conditions are met, improving the relevance of the displayed information.

Use Cases for Display-Based Items

1. Customer Profile Page:
• On a customer profile page, display-based items can be used to show user details such as the name, email, address, and profile picture. These are displayed in a user-friendly manner without requiring user input.
2. Data Summary:
• Use display-based items to show a summary of key metrics or aggregated data. For example, showing the total sales for a period or the number of items in inventory on a dashboard.
3. Status Indicators:
• Display-based items such as progress bars or color-coded status indicators can be used to represent the progress of a long-running process, such as file uploads or report generation.
4. Instructions or Information:
• Displaying instructions or information to users, such as "Please review your selections before submitting" or "This is a read-only field."
5. Report and Dashboard Visualizations:
• Use charts or progress bars to visualize data in reports or dashboards. This allows users to interpret large datasets more easily by providing a visual representation.

Display-Based Items in Oracle APEX are essential components that allow you to present data in a read-only, visually appealing way. They are not meant to receive user input, but instead, to display important information, system statuses, or visual elements like charts and images. These items help enhance user experience by presenting data in a dynamic, structured format that can be tailored to the specific needs of the application, whether through images, progress bars, or static text.

By using display-based items strategically, developers can create more engaging and intuitive applications, with clear, concise presentations of critical data and status indicators.