Oracle Apps R11i Forms based on JInitiator cann't be opened directly in windows-7
with all the latest browser's installed.
All most all the browser's now stopped supporting JInitiator in latest versions.
Oracle R12 Forms no more uses JInitiator, it uses Java Plug-ins so that users
only needs to install browser plug-ins but not client software (JInitiator) like in R11i.
If you want to work with any R11i instance on windows-7 machine, you will have to perform 4 steps.
Mozilla Firefox is the right candidate because add-on's can be installed easily.
4 Steps
Step1) Downgrade mozilla Firefox to v3.5.16 and disable auto updates.
Step2) Make sure you install the same version of JInitiator that R11i instance supports.
JInitiator version will be displayed on the pop-up when you open forms for the first time.
Step3) Also make sure you install the version of JRE corresponds to JInitiator version.
For example, if instance supports JInitiator1.3.1.28, you should install JRE1.6.0_07
if instance supports JInitiator1.3.1.18, you should install JRE1.6.0_03
Google should tell you for other JInitiator versions.
Step4) As a final step, you will have to replace few dll's here and there.
(a) COPY %JRE_HOME%\bin\client\jvm.dll to %JINITIATOR_HOME%\bin\hotspot\
(b) COPY %JINITIATOR_HOME%\bin\NP*.dll to %MOZILLA_HOME%\plugins\
Note:
%JINITIATOR_HOME% means C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle\JInitiator 1.3.1.28
%JRE_HOME% means C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.6.0_07
%MOZILLA_HOME% means C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
* Replace the paths accordingly.
Step1 will enable JInitiator to use particular JRE so that JInitiator won't crash.
Step2 will install Mozilla plugin for the required JRE. You can check it from
Mozilla -> Tools -> Add-ons -> Plug-ins, and see for the version of JRE.
Now restart firefox (mandatory) and try opening forms.
In some cases, firefox may crash at this point. Don't lose hope, just try this extra step.
(c) COPY %JRE_HOME%\bin\NP*.dll to %MOZILLA_HOME%\plugins\
Restart firefox (mandatory) again and try opening forms.
