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Using f?p Syntax to Link Pages

You can create links between pages in your application using the following syntax:

f?p=App:Page:Session:Request:Debug:ClearCache:itemNames:itemValues:PrinterFriendly

Table: f?p Syntax Arguments describes the arguments you can pass when using f?p syntax.

f?p Syntax Arguments

Syntax Description

App

Indicates an application ID or alphanumeric alias.

Page

Indicates a page number or alphanumeric alias.

Session

Identifies a session ID. You can reference a session ID to create hypertext links to other pages that maintain the same session state by passing the session number. You can reference the session ID using the syntax:

  • Short substitution string: &SESSION.

  • PL/SQL: V('SESSION')

  • Bind variable: :APP_SESSION

Request

Sets the value of REQUEST. Each application button sets the value of REQUEST to the name of the button. This enables accept processing to reference the name of the button when a user clicks it. You can reference REQUEST using the syntax:

  • Substitution string: &REQUEST.

  • PL/SQL: V('REQUEST')

  • Bind variable: :REQUEST

Debug

Displays application processing details. Valid values for the DEBUG flag are YES or NO. Setting this flag to YES displays details about application processing. You can reference the Debug flag using the following syntax:

  • Short substitution string: &DEBUG.

  • PL/SQL: V('DEBUG')

  • Bind variable: :DEBUG

See Also: "Debugging an Application"

ClearCache

Clears the cache. This sets the value of items to null.

To clear cached items on a single page, specify the numeric page number. To clear cached items on multiple pages, use a comma-separated list of page numbers. Clearing a page's cache also resets any stateful processes on the page. Individual or comma-separated values can also include collection names to be reset or the keyword RP, which resets region pagination on the requested page. The keyword APP clears cache for all pages and all application-level items in the current application and removes sort preferences for the current user. The keyword SESSION achieves the same result as the APP keyword, but clears items associated with all applications that have been used in the current session.

See Also: "Clearing Session State"

itemNames

Comma-delimited list of item names used to set session state with a URL.

itemValues

List of item values used to set session state within a URL. Item values cannot include colons, but can contain commas if enclosed with backslashes. To pass a comma in an item value, enclose the characters with backslashes. For example:

\123,45\

PrinterFriendly

Determines if the page is being rendered in printer friendly mode. If PrinterFriendly is set to Yes, then the page is rendered in printer friendly mode. The value of PrinterFriendly can be used in rendering conditions to remove elements such as regions from the page to optimize printed output. You can reference the printer friendly preference by using the following syntax:

V('PRINTER_FRIENDLY')

When referenced, the Application Express engine will not display tabs or navigation bars, and all items will be displayed as text and not as form elements.


Although it is important to understand how f?p syntax works, you rarely have to construct this syntax yourself. Application Builder includes many wizards that automatically create these references for you. The following sections describe specific instances that utilize f?p syntax to link pages.