Unlocking the Power of Build Options in Oracle APEX

A Smart Way to Control Feature Visibility

Oracle APEX is full of powerful features that often fly under the radar. One such gem is Build Options — a feature that lets you control which parts of your app are active or visible without having to delete or rewrite anything.

In this article, we’ll break down what Build Options are, how to use them, and why they’re essential if you want to develop apps that are scalable, flexible, and professionally maintained.

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What Are Build Options?

A Build Option in Oracle APEX allows you to conditionally include or exclude specific components in your application — like pages, regions, buttons, processes, etc. — based on a flag that you define.

Each Build Option has:

• Identifier: A unique name used internally.

• Status:

  • Include: The component is active and visible.

  • Exclude: The component is inactive and hidden.

  • Default: Used when new components are linked to the option.

Think of it as a feature switch — you flip it ON (Include) or OFF (Exclude), and everything tied to that switch responds accordingly.

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Why Use Build Options?

Here are some real-world scenarios where Build Options can save the day:

1. Developing Features in Stages (a.k.a. Feature Flags)

Building a new module that’s not quite ready? Tie it to a Build Option and keep it hidden in production until you’re ready.

2. Managing Multiple App Versions

Have a free and a premium version of your app? Use Build Options to control which features appear in each version without maintaining two separate codebases.

3. Testing Beta Features

Want only selected users (like QA or internal staff) to test a feature? Hide it from regular users until it’s stable.

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How to Create a Build Option in Oracle APEX

Setting up a Build Option is easy:

1. Go to your application in Oracle APEX.

2. Navigate to Shared Components > Build Options.

3. Click Create.

4. Fill in the following:

   • Name: e.g., Voice of Customer

   • Identifier: e.g., VOC_MODULE

   • Status: Start with Exclude if you're still developing.

   • Default on Export: Controls behavior when exporting the app.

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How to Use a Build Option

Once created, you can apply the Build Option to any component in your app:

1. Go to the component (like a Region, Button, or Page).

2. Look for the Build Option property.

3. Select your option from the dropdown.

🔸 Result: That component is only rendered or executed when the Build Option is set to Include.

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Real Example: CRM App with Feedback Module

Let’s say you’re building a CRM system in APEX and you’ve started developing a "Voice of Customer" module — a way for users to submit feedback after an interaction.

But it’s not ready for release yet. So, here’s what you do:

• Create a Build Option called Voice of Customer with the identifier VOC_MODULE, status set to Exclude.

• Develop your feedback form as a region on the relevant page.

• Set the region’s Build Option to VOC_MODULE.

Now, the region exists in your app, but no one will see it until you change the Build Option to Include. No need to delete or manually toggle anything.

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Build Option vs Authorization Scheme

They might sound similar, but they serve different purposes. Here's a quick comparison:

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Pro Tips for Working with Build Options

• You can export your application with specific Build Option statuses, allowing different environments (e.g., staging vs production) to behave differently.

• Build Options aren’t dynamic at runtime per user. For that, use conditions or authorization logic.

• You can use Build Options on Pages, Regions, Buttons, Items, Processes — even Navigation Menu entries.

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Final Thoughts

Build Options in Oracle APEX are a simple yet powerful tool to manage feature visibility, development staging, and version control within a single codebase. They help you:

• Hide incomplete features from users

• Enable smooth feature rollouts

• Keep your app clean and production-ready

If you’re building professional-grade apps in APEX, Build Options deserve a spot in your development toolkit.