As IE support is dying, Oracle have released a new way to launch the Java forms called Java Web Start – JWS.
JWS was introduced with R12.2.3 and in R12.1.3 with patches.
Have a look at this Oracle blog.
The low-down is you can enable JWS in 2 ways
- Update the context file
- Update profile options
As changing the context file needs a DBA so it is better just to update the profile options.
The two profile options we need are:
- Enable Java Web Start (code: FND_ENABLE_JAVA_WEB_START)
- ICX: Forms Launcher (code: ICX_FORMS_LAUNCHER)
Default values for legacy mode (URL is for R12.2.9 VISION instance):
- Enable Java Web Start: No
- ICX: Forms Launcher: http://apps.example.com:8000/forms/frmservlet
Value for JWS are:
- Enable Java Web Start: Yes
- ICX: Forms Launcher: http://apps.example.com:8000/forms/frmservlet?config=jws
To update the profile options we have 3 options:
- Use the usual System Profile Options Java form (if you have access to this)
- Use the web based form
- Use a PL/SQL script
Note the profile options can also be set at user level but examples below are for site level only.
Java Form
As responsibility “System Administrator” navigate to: \Profile\System


Web Form
As responsibility “Functional Administrator” navigate to:
\Core Services\Profiles


PL/SQL Script
declare procedure set_site_value(p_profile varchar,p_value varchar) is l_result boolean; begin l_result:=fnd_profile.save( x_name=>p_profile, x_value=>p_value, x_level_name=>'SITE' ); end; function get_site_value(p_profile varchar) return varchar is l_value varchar2(240); l_is_defined boolean; begin fnd_profile.get_specific( name_z=>p_profile, val_z=>l_value, defined_z=>l_is_defined ); return l_value; end; procedure enable_browser is begin set_site_value('FND_ENABLE_JAVA_WEB_START','N'); set_site_value('ICX_FORMS_LAUNCHER','http://apps.example.com:8000/forms/frmservlet'); end; procedure enable_jws is begin set_site_value('FND_ENABLE_JAVA_WEB_START','Y'); set_site_value('ICX_FORMS_LAUNCHER','http://apps.example.com:8000/forms/frmservlet?config=jws'); end; procedure show_current is begin dbms_output.put_line('Current Settings'); dbms_output.put_line('Enable Java Web Start: '||get_site_value('FND_ENABLE_JAVA_WEB_START')); dbms_output.put_line('ICX: Forms Launcher: '||get_site_value('ICX_FORMS_LAUNCHER')); end; begin show_current; enable_jws; commit; show_current; end;