LINQPad - Connection String to my Oracle DB

Question

I just started using LINQPad and all works great when connecting to my SQL Server DB, but now I'm trying to set up a second connection to my Oracle DB and I'm getting stuck as to how to do it.

I downloaded the IQ driver (v 2.0.8.0 - Latest) and when I go to add a new connection, I select Oracle as my DB Provider and don't know how to do the rest based upon my usual connection string looking as follows:

Data Source=(DESCRIPTION =(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = [IP Address])(PORT = [Port]))(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED)(SERVICE_NAME = [Service Name])));User Id=[name];Password=[password];" 

I know that you usually post what you've tried, but, believe me, I've tried filling in those text boxes every which way I could think of and keep getting errors when I click the "Test" button.

Also, one of the errors I get is: License not valid due to the problems with dotConnect for Oracle installation - I don't think that's the only issue, but I'm sure I'll also need to fix that problem too....

Any suggestions / links to offer about what to fill in where to make this work??

THANKS!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I've just got this working with the latest version of LINQPad (4.55.03) Premium, and IQ (2.1.1.0), as of 2015-03-09.

In our workplace, we use the TNSNAMES.ORA file to connect to Oracle 11g using PL/SQL Developer with entries such as:

TNS_NAME =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = the-host-name)(PORT = 1521))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = the-service-name)
    )
  )

and JDBC connection strings for ColdFusion's connection to Oracle in the format

jdbc:oracle:thin:@
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = the-host-name)(PORT = 1521))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = the-service-name)
    )
  )

In LINQPad's Choose Data Context window, select the IQ driver and click Next...

Provider: Oracle
Connection Mode: Direct (although my workstation has both 32 and 64 bit Oracle clients installed, which PL/SQL Developer and ColdFusion use, respectively)
Server: the-host-name
User Name: your Oracle username
Password: its password

On the Advanced tab:

Additional connection string options:
SERVICE NAME=the-service-name

Clicking Test shows Connection Successful

The connection icon (a cog) in the connections pane then populated with the list of tables.