How to query an external MS Access DB from an Oracle DB? - oracle

Question

How to configure Oracle to be able to query a MS Access database (.accdb) that is lcoated in the same server (localhost)?
Which steps to follow?

Answer 1

Version of Oracle: 11g -> 11.2.0.1.0
Version of Windows: Windows Server 2008
Steps to complete:
Create System DSN with Microsoft Access Driver
Modify listener.ora file
Create the file initaccess.ora
Modify tnsnames.ora file
Restart listener
Check connection with access database
Create the DB Link in Oracle
STEP 1: Create system DSN
First go to ODBC Data Source Administrator click on System DSN tab. The create a DSN with the following parameter (you can choose the name link that you prefer but then you need to keep the same name all over the process).
In our case:
Driver: Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb,*.accdb)
Name: access
Description: (doesn't matter)
Database -> Select -> (Select the .accdb or .mdb database)
Save the configuration
Make sure you see this listed once you save it:
Name - Driver
access - Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb,*.accdb)
STEP 2: Modify listener.ora file
Let's locate the file. In our case:
E:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\NETWORK\ADMIN
We need to add the following text at the end. By the way, look at I posted as 'oracle_home' the directory in C: drive. That's because I had more than one directory related to Oracle, and I still don't understand it but worked in my case. Maybe in yours there's only one.
Parameters you need to modify:
In first block:
SID_NAME: name chosen in the step above. The name of the dsn created ('access' in our case)
ORACLE_HOME: Home directory of Oracle
PROGRAM = dg4odbc (I think that from Oracle 11g and beyond, 'dg4odbc' is mandatory.
In second block:
HOST: The name of the hostname (not sure if localhost' or an IP address are supported, but I guess they are)
SID_LIST_LISTENER =
(SID_LIST =
(SID_DESC=
(SID_NAME = access)
(ORACLE_HOME = C:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1)
(PROGRAM = dg4odbc)
)
)
LISTENER =
(DESCRIPTION_LIST =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = host_name)(PORT = 1521))
)
)
Make sure there is no space before 'SID_LIST_LISTENER' or 'LISTENER' in the file you modify:
STEP 3: Create the initaccess.ora file
Go to:
E:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\hs\admin
There, make a copy of 'initdg4odbc.ora' file (I deleted it after I made a copy). Add the following text to the file:
HS_FDS_CONNECT_INFO = access
HS_FDS_TRACE_LEVEL = 0
HS_FDS_CONNECT_INFO: Here we write the name of the link created in the ODBC source tool in the first step, so it's 'access'
HS_FDS_TRACE_LEVEL: Leave it with a 0
STEP 4: Modify tnsnames.ora file:
Let's locate the file. In our case:
E:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\NETWORK\ADMIN
Parameters to modify:
HOST: hostname of the server
SID: this is the name of the 'initaccess.ora' file BUT taking away the 'init' part and '.ora' file extension: then 'access'.
(HS=OK) = don't forget this.
access =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = host_name) (PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SID = access)
)
(HS=OK)
)
Be sure that you don't leave spaces before the 'access =' parameter.
STEP 5: Restart the listener
Open a command line terminal
Go to: C:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\BIN
Stop the listener
C:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\BIN>LSNRCTL.EXE stop
You should see a message saying it was successfull
Restart the listener
C:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\BIN>LSNRCTL.EXE start
You should see a message saying it was successfull
You should also see, (in the output, when restarting the server) a message talking about the 'access' service we just added
El servicio "access" tiene 1 instancia(s).
La instancia "access", con estado UNKNOWN, tiene 1 manejador(es) para este ser
vicio...
El comando ha terminado correctamente
STEP 6: Test connection with the access database
Open a command line terminal
Go to: C:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\BIN
Run tnsping.exe (as argument, pass the name of the link: 'access'):
C:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\BIN>tnsping.exe access
You should see a message saying it was correctly run and displaying the delay in msecs
TNS Ping Utility for 64-bit Windows: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on 06-JUN-2
014 11:04:35
Copyright (c) 1997, 2010, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Archivos de parßmetros utilizados:
E:\app\Administrador\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\network\admin\sqlnet.ora
Adaptador TNSNAMES utilizado para resolver el alias
Intentando contactar con (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = CUPCA
KE) (PORT = 1521)) (CONNECT_DATA = (SID = access)) (HS=OK))
Realizado correctamente (20 mseg)
STEP 7: Create the DB Link in Oracle and query the Ms Access database:
Create the DB Link (always as **sys):**
CREATE public DATABASE LINK accessdblink USING 'access';
* 'access': Same name as in tnsnames.ora -> 'access = '
Query the database:
SELECT * FROM table_name#accessdblink;