If one talks about oracle apps patching , usually they talk in terms of Oracle Apps patches i.e. one applied using adpatch but there are lot of other component & correspondingly you patch those component both for new functionality of bugs. Lets understand what these products are & how to apply these patches.
Database Patches : Database patches are applied using utility opatch & these patches update files in DB_TOP .
Forms Patches /Developer 6i Patch: These patches update 806_TOP which is top level directory 8.0.6 under ORA_TOP. Currently latest forms patch set is patchset version 18 i.e. forms server version 27. These patches are applied using shell script. You can also say that these patches are bundeled in Shell Script & you need to execute these shell scripts.
iAS Patches : These patches updates IAS_TOP or IAS_ORACLE_HOME which is top level directory iAS under ORA_TOP. These patches are also bundled together in a shell script & you need to execute shell script after setting environment variable. In post installation steps patch might ask you to relink some executables or some other instructions mentioned in readMe of Patch.
Mystery of Forms Patch Set & Form Server Version: I don't know how it started but Form Server Version = Forms Patchset Version + 9 , so if your form server version is 8.0.6.26 that menas 26 -9 = 17 you are on patchset 17 :-). Check How to find your form server version
Instructions on Applying Forms Patches: Open read me of patch & follow it throughly & don't forget to take backup of system before applying patch (Though unlike apps patch you can revert back forms patches) Here is overview of instrcutions on applying forms patch - Set your ORACLE_HOME to 8.0.6 directory (By defualt ORACLE_HOME on middle tier points to 8.0.6 only) - Unzip the patch to ORACLE_HOMEc on application tier (Not on Database Tier ) - Execute shell script given in patch - Check log files for any error message - Relink Report & Forms
This finishes your patch application on forms & reports server.
Note * Forms & Report together are part of Developer 6i
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thanks atul we all love ur post - senthil hyd