Oracle Application Express 11g - oracle

Question

I am new to Oracle and want to practice SQL.
I downloaded the Application Express Edition 11g for Windows x64. I followed instructions and created a workspace and user.
However when I try to create a table I get an error "ORA-20000: User xxx has no privileges on the schema. Error checking privileges.
However when I go and look at the user in the administration is says that I am the workspace administrator. I also cannot seem to log in as SYSTEM or SYS using the password I created when I installed.
I am very confused.

Answer 1

There are two terms you are dealing with:
a database, which contains tables and data - tables belong to users such as SYS or SYSTEM - you should not use them at all, except for unlocking existing user (HR or SCOTT; whichever it is) in order to use it for practicing
Application Express, which is a tool you use to access the database and create applications which will manage data stored in your tables. Once you log on as admin, you can create workspaces (which are mapped to database users/schemas) and developers (who will create applications). This "admin" user is very different from database owners (sys/system), so you can't log on to Apex using sys as username and its password
As you installed the 11g XE database (which has built-in Apex version 4.x, I think - it is not Apex 11g, it doesn't exist), at the operating system command prompt run SQL*Plus and connect as SYS:
C:\>sqlplus sys#xe as sysdba
SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Sub Lis 6 20:26:19 2018
Copyright (c) 1982, 2014, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Express Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - 64bit Production
SQL>
List users in the database:
SQL> select username, account_status from dba_users order by username;
USERNAME ACCOUNT_STATUS
------------------------------ --------------------------------
ANONYMOUS OPEN
APEX_PUBLIC_USER LOCKED
APEX_040000 LOCKED
APPQOSSYS EXPIRED & LOCKED
CTXSYS EXPIRED & LOCKED
DBSNMP EXPIRED & LOCKED
DIP EXPIRED & LOCKED
FLOWS_FILES LOCKED
HR LOCKED
IMPORTER OPEN
MDSYS EXPIRED & LOCKED
MIKE OPEN
ORACLE_OCM EXPIRED & LOCKED
OUTLN EXPIRED & LOCKED
SCOTT OPEN
SYS OPEN
SYSTEM OPEN
XDB EXPIRED & LOCKED
XS$NULL EXPIRED & LOCKED
19 rows selected.
SQL>
See the HR (human resources) user? It is locked. We'll unlock it and change its password (to "hr") so that you could use it in Apex, as it already contains several tables full of data.
SQL> alter user hr account unlock;
User altered.
SQL> alter user hr identified by hr;
User altered.
SQL>
Connect as HR, just to see what it contains:
SQL> connect hr/hr#xe
Connected.
SQL> select * From tab;
TNAME TABTYPE CLUSTERID
------------------------------ ------- ----------
COUNTRIES TABLE
DEPARTMENTS TABLE
DEPT TABLE
EMPLOYEES TABLE
EMP_DETAILS_VIEW VIEW
INSTRUCTOR TABLE
JOBS TABLE
JOB_HISTORY TABLE
LOCATIONS TABLE
PRODUCT TABLE
REGIONS TABLE
RIGHTS TABLE
TEACHES TABLE
USERS TABLE
14 rows selected.
SQL>
If you want to create your own tables, do it in HR schema. As I said, leave SYS and SYSTEM alone; they are special, you don't use them for everyday purposes. If you do something unusual, you might destroy the database.
OK; now run Apex, connect as admin, navigate to "Manage workspaces" and:
create workspace - follow the wizard. When asked, "re-use existing schema" answer "Yes" and select HR from list of values
manage developers and users - create user. Follow the wizard. As a workspace, select previously created workspace, set the password
Once you're done, logout of admin and logon as newly created user - provide workspace name, username and password - that should let you in. Once you're in Apex - as a developer - you can create your first page (an interactive report might be a good choice).
Good luck!
[EDIT: built-in Apex on 11gXE]
click Start - All programs - Oracle database 11g Express Edition - Get started
a page opens, offering several red buttons; the last of them is "Application Express"; click it
login asks for database user with DBA privileges; enter username = SYS (or SYSTEM) and its password
you're now redirected to "create Apex workspace" page. Items' labels are underlined; it means that they contain help (feel free to click). The first item is "Database user" radio button which offers "Create new" and "Use existing" - you'd choose "Use existing"
for "Database username", choose "HR" from select list. HR is now unlocked, right? If it is expired, make sure you altered it in order to set the password (alter user hr identified by hr)
Application Express username (and password) represents username related to Apex (i.e. not the database user) - you'll use it to log on to Apex
If you want to see which workspaces already exist, connect to the database as SYS (using SQLPlus at the operating system command prompt):
C:\>sqlplus sys#xe as sysdba
SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Ned Lis 7 12:40:34 2018
Copyright (c) 1982, 2014, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Express Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - 64bit Production
SQL> select * from all_users where username like 'APEX%';
USERNAME USER_ID CREATED
------------------------------ ---------- --------
APEX_040000 47 29.05.14
APEX_PUBLIC_USER 45 29.05.14
SQL> -- describe table that contains info about workspaces
SQL> desc apex_040000.apex_workspaces
Name Null? Type
----------------------------------------- -------- ----------------------------
WORKSPACE NOT NULL VARCHAR2(255)
SOURCE_IDENTIFIER VARCHAR2(8)
SCHEMAS NUMBER
LAST_PURGED_SESSION DATE
ALLOW_APP_BUILDING_YN VARCHAR2(1)
ALLOW_SQL_WORKSHOP_YN VARCHAR2(1)
ALLOW_WEBSHEET_DEV_YN VARCHAR2(1)
ALLOW_TEAM_DEVELOPMENT_YN VARCHAR2(1)
ALLOW_TO_BE_PURGED_YN VARCHAR2(1)
SESSIONS NUMBER
APPLICATIONS NUMBER
APPLICATION_PAGES NUMBER
APEX_USERS NUMBER
APEX_DEVELOPERS NUMBER
APEX_WORKSPACE_ADMINISTRATORS NUMBER
FILES NUMBER
SQL_SCRIPTS NUMBER
TRANSLATION_MESSAGES NUMBER
FILE_STORAGE NUMBER
LAST_LOGGED_PAGE_VIEW DATE
PAGE_VIEWS NUMBER
WORKSPACE_ID NOT NULL NUMBER
SQL> col workspace format a10
SQL> select workspace, source_identifier, apex_developers
2 from apex_040000.apex_workspaces;
WORKSPACE SOURCE_I APEX_DEVELOPERS
---------- -------- ---------------
HR HR 1
INTERNAL 0
SQL>
If HR workspace already contains, it means that you've already created it.
In web browser, connect as admin (use address http://127.0.0.1:8080/apex/apex_admin). (Workspace name is "internal"; you don't have to enter it). Username = admin, password = ... huh, not sure. Try SYS password. If you can't connect, you can change that password. Locate file named APXCHPWD.SQL ("Apex change password") on your disk; for example, it'll be in C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\11.2.0\server\apex\apxchpwd.sql directory. In SQLPlus, connected as SYS, execute that file:
SQL> show user
USER is "SYS"
SQL> #C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\11.2.0\server\apex\apxchpwd.sql
Enter a value below for the password for the Application Express ADMIN user.
Enter a password for the ADMIN user []
Session altered.
...changing password for ADMIN
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
Commit complete.
SQL>
Admin will now have password you've just typed, so - back to Apex admin, connect; you'll have to change that password so - do it, and connect again.
You'll now see "Manage Workspaces" button. In there, there are numerous links which do stuff. If you want, you can remove the HR workspace (following the "Remove Workspace" link) and create it back again.
The next step is to create a developer - use "Manage Developers and Users" link. Once you do that, you should be able to log on to Apex as developer, using "HR" as workspace name, developer username and password as credentials.
In order to be able to simultaneously adjust Apex as admin and connect as a developer, open a new connection using a different browser (for example, Chrome for one thing, Internet Explorer for another) - if you use the same browser (but different tabs or even a new browser session entirely), it won't work - new connection will terminate previous one.
I hope that the above will get you started.
Apparently, built-in Apex version is 4.0.2 (quite old one, at least 5-6 years), but will do at the beginning. Upgrade to a more recent version isn't difficult - download it and run SQL file which does everything for you. Just follow the Installation Guide.
I'd also suggest you to read & follow 4.0 Apex User's Guide, so that I wouldn't have to create a tutorial here, on Stack Overflow :)