How to Set Up and Use Oracle7 Data Sources with ODBC

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0
• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6, 2.6a

SUMMARY

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This article discusses how to use Oracle7 data sources with ODBC. Information is this article is available in DRVORA7.HLP in the DISTRIB.SRC\SYSTEM\SYSTEM16 directory under the Visual FoxPro directory, Professional version.

Microsoft does not support, endorse, or recommend any of these products. We provide this information only as a convenience for our customers and do not provide warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

MORE INFORMATION

Overview of Oracle RDBMS

Oracle RDBMS is a multiuser relational database management system (DBMS) that runs on a variety of workstation and minicomputer operating systems. Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to access data in Oracle RDBMS. IBM PCs and compatibles running Microsoft Windows communicate with Oracle7 database servers across a network such as Microsoft LAN Manager, Novell NetWare, Banyan VINES, DECnet, or any TCP/IP network.

The Oracle7 driver enables applications to access data in an Oracle7 database through the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface. It communicates with the network through SQL*Net.

Application/Driver Architecture

1. Application

Driver Conformance Levels

The Oracle7 driver has the following conformance levels:

• API Conformance Level: Level 1
• SQL Conformance Level: Minimum

To determine the minimum conformance levels (if any), you must use drivers with your application, see your application's documentation.

Hardware and Software Requirements

What You Must Have to Be Able to Access Oracle7 Data

• The Oracle7 driver.
• An Oracle7 RDBMS database.
• A network connecting the computers on which these reside and a SQL*Net connection across that network.

Hardware Requirements for the Oracle7 Driver

The Oracle7 driver requires the following hardware:

• An Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) computer, such as the IBM PC/AT or compatible.

  -or-

• A Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) computer, such as an IBM PS/2 or compatible.

  -or-

• An Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) computer with an 80286, 80386, or 80486 microprocessor.

• At least two megabytes of random-access memory (RAM) - four megabytes recommended.
• A hard disk drive and approximately 350 kilobytes of hard disk space for the Oracle7 driver.

Software Requirements for the Oracle7 Driver

• MS-DOS version 3.3 or later.
• Microsoft Windows version 3.0a or later.
• ODBC Driver Manager version 1.0 (ODBC.DLL).
• Oracle7 Call Interface (OCI) dynamic-link library (ORA7WIN.DLL).

Oracle7 RDBMS

To access data in an Oracle7 database with the Oracle7 driver, you must have Oracle RDBMS version 7 or later. For information about the hardware and software required by Oracle7 RDBMS, see the Oracle documentation.

Network Software

A network is required to connect the platforms on which Oracle7 RDBMS and the Oracle7 driver reside. For information about the hardware and software required by each network, see that network's documentation.

NOTE: If you are using Microsoft LAN Manager with the named pipes protocol, it must be version 2.0 or later. If you are using Microsoft LAN Manager with the TCP/IP protocol, it must be version 2.2 or later.

SQL*Net

The Oracle7 driver and Oracle7 RDBMS use SQL*Net as a common network interface. You should be able to use the Oracle7 driver on any SQL*Net connection from a computer running Windows to an Oracle7 database server. For complete information about SQL*Net, see the SQL*Net documentation.

NOTE: SQL*Net components are available only from Oracle Corporation.

How to Set Up the Oracle7 ODBC Driver

1. If you have not already done so, install the ORACLE SQL*Net client components on your computer. If you want to test your ORACLE SQL*Net connection, set up your computer as an Oracle7 client workstation, and run SQL*Plus or NetTest. For information on how to do this, see the SQL*Net documentation.

2. Add a data source for each copy of Oracle7 RDBMS in which you want to access data.

How to Set Up a New Version of the Oracle7 Driver

1. In the Main group in Program Manager, double-click the Control Panel icon. In the Control Panel window, double-click the ODBC icon. The Data Sources dialog box is displayed.

2. In the Data Sources dialog box, choose the Drivers button. The Drivers dialog box is displayed.

3. In the Drivers dialog box, choose the Add button. The Add Driver dialog box is displayed.

4. In the text box, type the name of the drive and directory containing the Oracle7 driver in the text box. Or choose the Browse button to select a drive and directory name.

5. In the Add Driver dialog box, choose the OK button. The Install Drivers dialog box is displayed.

6. In the Available ODBC Drivers list, select Oracle7.

7. Choose the OK button. The Oracle7 driver is installed.

How to Delete the Oracle7 Driver

1. In the Main group in the Program Manager window, double-click the Control Panel icon. In the Control Panel window, double-click the ODBC icon. The Data Sources dialog box is displayed.

2. In the Data Sources dialog box, choose the Drivers button. The Drivers dialog is displayed.

3. In the Installed ODBC Drivers list, select Oracle7.

4. Choose the Delete button. A message asks you to confirm that you want to remove the driver and all of the data sources that use the driver.

5. Choose the Yes button.

Before you can access data with the Oracle7 driver, you must add a data source for each of your copies of Oracle7 RDBMS. The Oracle7 driver uses the information you enter when you add the data source to access the data. You can change or delete a data source at any time.

How to Add an Oracle7 Data Source

1. In the Main group in the Program Manager window, double-click the Control Panel icon. In the Control Panel window, double-click the ODBC icon.

2. In the Data Sources dialog box, choose the Add button. The Add Data Source dialog box is displayed.

3. In the Installed ODBC Drivers list, select Oracle7 and choose the OK button. The Oracle7 ODBC Driver dialog box is displayed.

4. In the Oracle7 ODBC Driver dialog box, enter the Data Source Name and the SQL*NET Connect String information, which should be made available by the Network Administrator. The Description can be set to whatever you want. For more information about these options, press the Help button in the dialog box.

How to Connect to an Oracle7 Data Source

To connect to a data source, the Oracle7 ODBC Driver requires that an ORACLE SQL*Net driver be installed on your computer and the corresponding ORACLE SQL*Net listener be running on the Oracle7 database server. ORACLE SQL*Net for Windows is a Dynamic Linked Library (DLL)-based application. For more information about ORACLE SQL*Net, see the ORACLE SQL*Net documentation.

As part of the connection process, an application can prompt you for information. If an application prompts you for information about an Oracle data source, do the following:

1. In the User Name box, type the name you use on Oracle7 RDBMS.

An application must connect to a data source to access data in it. Different applications connect to data sources at different times. For example, an application might connect to a data source only at your request or it might connect automatically when it starts. For information about when an application connects to a data source, see the documentation for that application.

Troubleshooting "Message send failure"

The "Message send failure" error may occur when you're using Oracle7 with Microsoft LAN Manager using TCP/IP protocol. On Microsoft LAN Manager using the TCP/IP protocol, the number of bytes of data that can be sent to or retrieved from Oracle7 RDBMS at one time is controlled by the MAXSENDSIZE keyword in the [sockets] section of TCPUTILS.INI. If you receive a "Message send failure" error, try increasing this value. This error is most likely to occur when SQL_LONGVARCHAR or SQL_LONGVARBINARY data is being sent. For more information, see the Oracle documentation.

REFERENCES

More information on installing Oracle6 and Oracle7 is available in the DRVORA7.HLP, DRVORACL.HLP, and ORACLE.TXT files, which are located in the DISTRIB.SRC\SYSTEM\SYSTEM16 directory under the Professional Edition of the Visual FoxPro directory.