SEAMLESS INTEGRATION WITH ORACLE E-BUSINESS SUITE USING ORACLE APEX

In today’s dynamic enterprise landscape, organizations need ERP platforms that don’t just support operations—they must enable innovation. Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) is a proven ERP backbone, but with business demands constantly evolving, extending its functionality is essential.

Enter Oracle APEX, the low-code powerhouse that 4i leverages to build rapid, secure, and future-proof extensions to Oracle EBS. This blog unpacks a real-world use case from 4i: integrating a custom APEX application with Oracle EBS R12.2 to manage user email address updates—seamlessly, securely, and efficiently.

Why Seamless Integration Matters

At 4i, we believe true integration is invisible to the end user but transformative for the business. APEX brings that vision to life by offering:

• Consistent UI/UX: APEX apps feel native to EBS.
• Data Integrity: Updates go through EBS’s supported APIs, not direct table changes.
• Upgrade Safety: Logic lives outside core EBS, simplifying future patches.
• Rapid Delivery: APEX enables 4i to build, iterate, and deploy quickly without compromising security or performance.

Step-by-Step: Building a Secure Email Update App with APEX + EBS

Step 1: Environment Prerequisites

Ensure your environment is ready:

• Oracle EBS Release 12.2.7+
• Oracle Database 19c+
• APEX 24.1+
• ORDS 24.3+
• A separate WebLogic Server (not tied to the EBS instance)

Step 2: Install & Configure APEX

At 4i, clean architecture starts with clear separation. We recommend:

Download APEX 24.1 from apex.oracle.com and install it in the EBS database.

Set up ORDS on a separate server to handle requests securely.

Create a workspace (EBS_APEX) and custom schema (XX_APEX) for APEX development.

Step 3: Access EBS Data Securely

Create a view in the APPS schema to expose user data:

CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW xx_apex_ebs_user (

user_id, user_name, email_address

) AS

SELECT user_id, user_name, email_address

FROM fnd_user;

GRANT READ ON xx_apex_ebs_user TO XX_APEX;

This ensures APEX only reads data via controlled interfaces.

Step 4: Update Data via APIs

Direct updates aren’t allowed, so create a PL/SQL package in APPS:

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY xx_apex_sample_apis AS

PROCEDURE apex_update_email (

p_username IN VARCHAR2,

p_owner IN VARCHAR2,

p_email_address IN VARCHAR2

) IS

BEGIN

fnd_user_pkg.updateuser(

x_user_name => p_username,

x_owner => p_owner,

x_email_address => p_email_address

);

END apex_update_email;

END xx_apex_sample_apis;

Grant execute privileges to XX_APEX.

Step 5: Build the APEX Application

1. In APEX Application Builder, create an app named “APEX EBS Demo.”
2. Add a form page based on xx_apex_ebs_user to update email addresses.
3. Replace the default DML process with a custom process calling the API:

apps.xx_apex_sample_apis.apex_update_email(

p_username => :APP_USER,

p_owner => :APP_USER,

p_email_address => :P2_EMAIL_ADDRESS

);

Step 6: Integrate with EBS

1. Set the FND: APEX URL profile to https://<hostname>:<port>/ords.
2. Define EBS functions (e.g., XX_APEX_UPDATEEMAIL_NR) pointing to the APEX page.
3. Create a menu and responsibility (e.g., XX_APEX_RESP) to expose the app in EBS.

Step 7: Test the Application

Log in to EBS as a user with the new responsibility, navigate to the menu, and update an email address. The APEX app should appear embedded or in a new window, depending on your layout choice.

Visualizing the Integration

The “Update Email – Without Responsibility” page in APEX displays user details and allows secure email updates without EBS responsibility context. The “Update Email – Using Responsibility” page adds responsibility details, ensuring role-based access control, while the EBS home page provides seamless navigation to these APEX apps.

Risks & Remedies – 4i’s Safeguards

Risk	Potential Issue	4i’s Recommended Remedy
Overexposure of APPS schema	Security risk	Always use XX_APEX with minimum required privileges
Online patching overwrites changes	Functional disruption	Apply updates in patch edition and manage APEX imports accordingly
Redirect blocks in newer EBS versions	App fails to open	Configure Allowed Redirects in EBS profiles per Oracle guidelines

Conclusion: Why 4i Leads in EBS + APEX Integration

By leveraging Oracle APEX and EBS public APIs, 4i empowers enterprises to build secure, scalable, and seamlessly integrated solutions. Whether it’s a small tool like an email updater or a complete workflow dashboard, our approach ensures:

• Security by design
• Architecture aligned with Oracle best practices
• Rapid development without compromising stability

Looking to extend your Oracle EBS with the power of APEX?
Let 4i help you architect it right—every time.

About the Author

Christob Melban S is a Technical Consultant specializing in Oracle APEX, with a strong focus on delivering scalable, enterprise-grade solutions.