Why do I get this error message " FRM-10142 the HTTP Listener is not running on xxxx at port 8888. Please start the listener or check your runtime preferences,” when I try to run my FORMS?"

You only get this error message if you either install Oracle 9iAS Release 2 or Oracle 9iDS on your windows machine.

Unlike Forms 6i, Forms 9i does not support client-server. A "FMB" run from the Forms Builder is a 'web deployed form.' To do this Forms 9i Builder needs to integrate with some form of HTTP Listener. This is provided by another component of the Oracle 9iDS Release 2 install - the OC4J (Oracle Container For J2EE).

If there is no HTTP Listener started FRM- 10142 occurs Once an OC4J instance has been started it acts as lightweight HTTP Listener enabling the developer to test the forms / reports application modules in a true web (even if only intranet) architecture.

If you install Oracle9iAS Release 2, then you are using the HTTP listener. Make sure that the HTTP server is on and test the listener. To test the HTTP listener, open your browser and type: http://machine_name.your_domain:port where the port number is either 8888 or one of the 777n ports.

If you install Oracle9iDS, then you are not using the HTTP server. You will be using an OC4J instance which will act as a listener. In order to start the OC4J instance (listener) do the following:

Click on Start > Program > Oracle9i Developer Suite > FORMS Developer > Start OC4J Instance or you can find and run the "startinst.bat" file in the Developer 9i home.

Good Luck!