Introduction: Experience Low-Code Power in Your Oracle Cloud Tenancy
In the modern enterprise, agility is everything. Whether you’re building a new workflow, customising Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, or creating extensions for Oracle HCM, Finance, or CX modules, Oracle Visual Builder Studio (VB Studio) offers a low-code platform to deliver results quickly and collaboratively.
This guide walks you through the basics of using VB Studio, including user access roles, project creation, team collaboration, and the difference between customisation modes. Whether you’re a functional admin or a technical developer, this guide will help you use VB Studio effectively within Oracle Cloud.
What Is Oracle Visual Builder Studio (VB Studio)?
Oracle Visual Builder Studio is a browser-based, low-code development environment provided free to all Oracle Fusion Cloud customers. It combines visual application design tools with enterprise-grade DevOps features like Git repositories, Continuous Integration (CI) / Continuous Deployment (CD) pipelines, and issue tracking.
VB Studio enables you to:
- Customise and extend Oracle Fusion Apps (e.g., add pages, fields, or buttons)
- Develop and deploy standalone web or mobile applications
- Collaborate in teams with role-based permissions
- Manage your application development lifecycle end-to-end
Required Roles and Privileges
Before using VB Studio, ensure that users have the necessary Oracle Cloud roles. Here are the key roles required:
| Role Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ORA_FND_APPLICATION_ADMINISTRATOR_JOB | Grants admin access to application configuration |
| ORA_HRC_HUMAN_CAPITAL_MANAGEMENT_APPLICATION_ADMINISTRATOR_JOB | Required for HCM extensions |
| ORA_SYNC_ENABLED_ADMINISTRATOR_ABSTRACT | Sync-enabled admin access |
| ORA_FND_APPLICATION_DEVELOPER_JOB | Allows full development access in VB Studio |
| ORA_SYNC_ENABLED_DEVELOPER_ABSTRACT | Enables developer-level access for sync features |
| FND_ADMINISTER_SANDBOX_PRIV | Required to manage and publish sandboxes |
Tip: Work with your IT administrator to ensure users have the correct job and abstract roles provisioned via Oracle Identity.
Creating a New Project in Visual Builder Studio
Step 1: Access VB Studio
- Log in to your Oracle Fusion Cloud instance.
- Go to: Home > Configuration > Visual Builder Studio
- You’ll land on the VB Studio Organisation page.
Step 2: Create a New Project
- Click the “+ Create” button.
- On the Details page, fill in:
- Project Name
- Description (optional but helpful)
- Visibility: Private is recommended
- Language: Choose your preferred development language
- Click Next.
Step 3: Select a Template
- Choose “Visual Application” for UI-based development projects.
- Click Next to proceed.
Step 4: Configure Properties
- Configure build settings, issue tracking preferences, and Git repository access.
- Click Next and then Finish.
Adding Team Members to a Project
Step 1: Open the Project
- On the Organisation page, click the name of the project.
Step 2: Add Team Members
- Go to the Team tab.
- Click “+ Add Member”.
- In the dialogue:
- Enter the username(s)
- Choose a role: Developer Full Access, Developer Limited Access, Contributor
- Click Add
VB Studio makes it easy to manage permissions and track accountability across your development team.
Accessing and Editing Fusion Application Pages
There are two ways to access Fusion Application pages in VB Studio:
Option 1: Direct Access from Fusion UI (Recommended)
- Navigate to a Fusion Application page (e.g., HCM, Procurement).
- Click the Settings icon (gear ⚙).
- Select “Edit Page in Visual Builder”.
- The page opens directly in VB Studio’s editor.
Option 2: Access from the Navigator Menu
- In Fusion, click the Navigator icon.
- Go to Configuration > Visual Builder.
- This brings you to the VB Studio landing page, where you can manage all projects.
Understanding Modes: Express vs. Advanced
VB Studio offers two customisation modes:
| Mode | Who It’s For | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Express Mode | Functional admins | Quick UI edits, drag-and-drop layout, no coding |
| Advanced Mode | Technical developers | Full control over UI, logic, and REST integration |
Tip: Use Express Mode for basic layout tweaks. Switch to Advanced Mode when working with complex business logic or REST service integrations.
Bonus: What About Reports and Data Models?
If you’re working with BI Publisher or Oracle Reporting tools, and need to list reports/data models from folders:
- Use scripts or APIs to automate report discovery.
- Organise reports in logical folders for better maintenance.
- Integrate report output into VB apps via REST or embedding.
Conclusion: From Configuration to Innovation
Oracle Visual Builder Studio removes traditional development roadblocks. With built-in tools for collaboration, CI/CD, and low-code app design, teams can respond to business needs faster without sacrificing governance or security.
Whether you’re building onboarding flows in HCM, tweaking financial dashboards, or launching customer-facing portals, VB Studio puts the power of development directly in your hands.
Need Help? CushySky Has You Covered
At CushySky, we specialise in helping clients extend and personalise Oracle Cloud Applications using Visual Builder Studio and other OCI services. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to scale advanced low-code deployments, our experts can guide your team from setup through success.
