2 Configuring mod_plsql

This chapter describes how you can set up and use mod_plsql. It contains the following sections:

Verifying Requirements
Installing Required Packages
Creating a DAD for Your PL/SQL Application

2.1 Verifying Requirements

Before you run mod_plsql, you must satisfy the following requirements:

You must have a SYS user password on the database where you plan to load PL/SQL Web Toolkit packages required by mod_plsql.
The database to which you plan to connect mod_plsql must be up and running.
Oracle HTTP Server mod_plsql ships with OWA package version 9.0.4.0.1. It is recommended that the OWA packages installed in the database are at least version 9.0.4.0.1.

2.2 Installing Required Packages

After installation, if you need to use Oracle HTTP Server mod_plsql with a database that is not shipped with the product, you must manually install additional required packages using the owaload.sql script.

Note:

Even if a full database export is made with the Export utility you still must reinstall mod_plsql in the new target instance by running the OWALOAD.SQL script as SYS. Objects in SYS are not imported with the Import/Export mechanism, and the PL/SQL toolkit has to be installed in SYS.

Navigate to the directory where the owaload.sql file is located. This directory is ORACLE_HOME/Apache/modpsql/owa.
Using SQL*Plus, login to the Oracle database as the SYS user.
You can check the version of the OWA packages currently installed by running the following query:
```
select owa_util.get_version from dual;
```
- If the query succeeds, but shows a version less than 9.0.4.0.1, it is recommended that you install the newer OWA packages.
- If the query fails, you either do not have the OWA packages installed, or are running a very old version of OWA packages, and it is recommended that you install, or upgrade to the new OWA packages.
  
  Note:
  To detect older OWA packages, see "How do I detect and clean up duplicate OWA packages installed in the database?" in Appendix A, "Frequently Asked Questions".

At an SQL prompt, run the following command:

@owaload.sql log_file

Table 2-1 Installing Required Packages Parameters

Elements	Description
owaload.sql	Installs the PL/SQL Web Toolkit packages into the SYS schema. It also creates public synonyms and makes the packages public so that all users in the database have access to them. Therefore, only one installation for each database is needed.
log_file	The installation log file. Make sure that you have write permissions to create the log file

Scan the log file for any errors.

Note:

The owaload script checks the existing version of the OWA packages in the database and installs a new version only if:

No OWA package exists or,
Older OWA packages were detected. If your database already has the latest OWA packages or has a newer version installed, the owaload script does nothing and reports this in the log file.

Do a manual recompile.

Note:
Installing the OWA packages invalidates all dependent objects. These packages automatically recompile on first access, but a manual recompile is recommended after the reinstallation.

After the install, check the version of the OWA packages by running "Select owa_util.get_version from dual;". Confirm that the version shown is 9.0.4.0.1 or later.
Note that public access is now granted to:
- OWA_CUSTOM
- OWA
- HTF
- HTP
- OWA_COOKIE
- OWA_IMAGE
- OWA_OPT_LOCK
- OWA_PATTERN
- OWA_SEC
- OWA_TEXT
- OWA_UTIL
- OWA_CACHE
- WPG_DOCLOAD
Note also that the following public synonyms are created:
- OWA_CUSTOM for OWA_CUSTOM
- OWA_GLOBAL for OWA_CUSTOM
- OWA for OWA
- HTF for HTF
- HTP for HTP
- OWA_COOKIE for OWA_COOKIE
- OWA_IMAGE for OWA_IMAGE
- OWA_OPT_LOCK for OWA_OPT_LOCK
- OWA_PATTERN for OWA_PATTERN
- OWA_SEC for OWA_SEC
- OWA_TEXT for OWA_TEXT
- OWA_UTIL for OWA_UTIL
- OWA_INIT for OWA_CUSTOM
- OWA_CACHE for OWA_CACHE
- WPG_DOCLOAD for WPG_DOCLOAD

2.3 Creating a DAD for Your PL/SQL Application

To access a Web-enabled PL/SQL application, you must first configure a PL/SQL Database Access Descriptor (DAD) for mod_plsql. A DAD is a set of values that specifies how mod_plsql connects to a database server to fulfill an HTTP request. Besides the connection details, a DAD contains important configuration parameters for various operations in the database, and for mod_plsql in general. For detailed instructions, refer to the mod_plsql section in the Oracle HTTP Server Administrator's Guide.