Oracle APEX Graphs: Visualize Your Data with Ease

Oracle APEX (Application Express) is a fantastic low-code development platform for creating web applications with Oracle databases. One of its powerful features is the ability to create visually appealing and informative graphs directly within your applications. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of Oracle APEX graphs, exploring what they are and why you should consider using them.

What are Oracle APEX Graphs?

Oracle APEX Graphs are built using Oracle JET (JavaScript Extension Toolkit) data visualization components. They offer a variety of chart types to suit your data presentation needs, including:

• Bar Charts: Perfect for comparing values across categories.
• Line Charts: Ideal for showcasing trends over time.
• Pie Charts: Excellent for displaying proportions or parts of a whole.
• Scatter Charts: These are useful for visualizing the relationship between two variables.
• Combination Charts: This allows you to combine multiple chart types for sophisticated visualization.
• And more!

Why Use Oracle APEX Graphs

Here’s why Oracle APEX graphs are a great addition to your applications:

• Ease of Use: You can create graphs directly within the APEX development environment with minimal coding. Use SQL queries to define your data source.
• Customization: APEX graphs are highly customizable. You can adjust colors, legends, labels, axis formatting, and more to tailor the visuals to your preferences.
• Interactivity: Users can interact with your graphs by hovering for details, zooming, panning, and sometimes even filtering data directly on the graph.
• Integration: Graphs integrate seamlessly into your APEX applications, enriching data presentation and aiding decision-making.

Getting Started with Oracle APEX Graphs

Here’s a basic outline of how to create a graph in APEX:

1. Create a Chart Region: In your APEX page, add a new region and select the ‘Chart’ region type.
2. Select Chart Type: Choose the desired chart type from the options available.
3. Define Data Source: Specify a SQL query that fetches the data you want to visualize.
4. Map Data: Map columns from your query result set to the appropriate chart elements (e.g., X-axis, Y-axis, series).
5. Customize: Adjust the chart’s appearance, labels, formatting, and other attributes.

Example: Creating a Sales Trend Graph

Let’s imagine you want to visualize your monthly sales trends. Here’s a sample SQL query and the setup process:

SQL

SELECT to_char(order_date, ‘Y-MM’) as month_year, 

       SUM(order_total) as total_sales

FROM orders

GROUP BY to_char(order_date, ‘Y-MM’)

ORDER BY month_year; 

Use code with caution.

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Within your APEX chart region, you’d:

• Select ‘Line Chart’ as the chart type.
• Use the SQL query as your data source.
• Map the month_year column to the X-axis and total_sales to the Y-axis.

Beyond the Basics

Oracle APEX graphs offer much more than this simple introduction. You can delve into advanced features like:

• Multiple Series: Display numerous data sets within a single chart.
• Drill-Downs: Allow users to drill down into specific data points for more details.
• Graph Plug-in: The APEX Graph Visualization plug-in can access network graphs and other specialized chart types.

Transform Your Data With Oracle APEX Graphs

If you’re building applications with Oracle APEX, embrace the power of graphs. They add a new dimension to your data presentations, making complex information easier to understand and enabling better decision-making insights.