How to Use FIND_FORM and GO_FORM in Oracle Forms

In multi-form Oracle Forms applications, developers often need to manage navigation between different forms that are already open. Instead of repeatedly reopening forms, Oracle provides built-ins like FIND_FORM and GO_FORM. These built-ins allow you to check whether a form is active and switch focus to it when required.

This tutorial explains how to use FIND_FORM and GO_FORM, their syntax, examples, and best practices.

FIND_FORM in Oracle Forms

The FIND_FORM built-in is used to check whether a specific form is currently open. It returns the form ID if the form is active, otherwise it returns NULL. This is useful when you need to determine whether a form is loaded before performing an action such as navigating or closing it.

Key Points

• Returns the unique form ID of the specified form.
• Returns NULL if the form is not open.
• Useful for conditional checks before navigation.

Syntax

form_id := FIND_FORM(form_name);

Example

DECLARE
   v_form_id FORM_MODULE;
BEGIN
   v_form_id := FIND_FORM('EMPLOYEE_FORM');
   IF v_form_id IS NOT NULL THEN
      MESSAGE('Employee form is already open.');
   ELSE
      OPEN_FORM('EMPLOYEE_FORM');
   END IF;
END;

In this example, the code checks if EMPLOYEE_FORM is already open. If not, it opens the form.

GO_FORM in Oracle Forms

The GO_FORM built-in is used to navigate to a form that is already open. It transfers control to the specified form, bringing it to the foreground for the user to work on.

Key Points

• Switches focus to an open form.
• Requires that the target form is already open.
• If the form is not open, it will raise an error.

Syntax

GO_FORM(form_name);

Example

BEGIN
   GO_FORM('DEPARTMENT_FORM');
END;

This command switches focus to the DEPARTMENT_FORM if it is already open.

Using FIND_FORM and GO_FORM Together

The most common use case is to combine FIND_FORM and GO_FORM. This allows you to check whether a form is open and, if so, transfer focus to it. If it is not open, you can decide whether to open it.

Example: Safe Navigation Between Forms

DECLARE
   v_form_id FORM_MODULE;
BEGIN
   v_form_id := FIND_FORM('DEPARTMENT_FORM');
   IF v_form_id IS NOT NULL THEN
      GO_FORM('DEPARTMENT_FORM');
   ELSE
      OPEN_FORM('DEPARTMENT_FORM');
   END IF;
END;

Here, the code first checks if DEPARTMENT_FORM is open. If it is, the user is taken directly to it using GO_FORM. If not, it is opened with OPEN_FORM.

Practical Scenarios

Scenario 1: Preventing Duplicate Form Instances

If you do not want users to open multiple instances of the same form:

IF FIND_FORM('EMPLOYEE_FORM') IS NULL THEN
   OPEN_FORM('EMPLOYEE_FORM');
ELSE
   GO_FORM('EMPLOYEE_FORM');
END IF;

Scenario 2: Switching Between Dashboard Forms

In a multi-form dashboard application, you might have different modules (e.g., Employees, Departments, Payroll). Using GO_FORM ensures that the user switches smoothly without reopening forms unnecessarily.

Best Practices

1. Always use FIND_FORM before GO_FORM – This avoids runtime errors if the form is not open.
2. Avoid unnecessary OPEN_FORM calls – Use FIND_FORM to check if the form is already loaded.
3. Use GO_FORM for better user experience – It allows fast switching between forms without reloading.
4. Close unused forms – If too many forms remain open, it can consume memory resources.
5. Combine with navigation logic – Often, these built-ins are used inside menu items to manage navigation efficiently.

Conclusion

The FIND_FORM and GO_FORM built-ins in Oracle Forms are essential for managing navigation in multi-form applications. While FIND_FORM helps you determine whether a form is already open, GO_FORM allows you to switch focus to that form without reopening it. Using them together improves performance, prevents duplicate forms, and creates a smoother user experience. By following best practices, you can design forms that are both efficient and user-friendly.