Oracle ORA-12154: TNS: Could not resolve service name Error?

Question

I am a SQL Server user .

I am on a project that is using oracle (which I rarely use) I need to create an ODBC connection so I can access the some data via MS Access I have a application on my machine called oraHome90. It seems to allow a configuration of something called a listener in a “net configuration utility”, I think that a “Local Net Service Name Configuration” needs to also be done. The IT support gave me this information to set up the ODBC connection . I have tried every combination that I can think of. I can get past a test that successfully passes a test to “login“ to the oracle server database. When I try to create the ODBC connection I get the following error: ORA-12154: TNS: Could not resolve service name.

Assuming that I want to start from scratch and the following information is supposed to allow for me to connect to the database….. Any suggestions or comment ? Note: ultimately the project will have a website .ASP page query the data, but I have to first prove that I can see the data using the ODBC connection via MS Access

Service name: SERVICENAME
HOST = HOST.XYZi.com
User Id: MYUSERID
Password: MYPASSWORD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Oracle Connection
Dim ocst
Dim oconn

ocst = "Provider=OraOLEDB.Oracle;" & _ 
        "Data Source=DATASOURCE;" & _ 
        "User ID=CHIJXL;" & _ 
        "Password=password;" 

set oconn = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")

Answer 1

from http://ora-12154.ora-code.com

ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve the connect identifier specified
Cause: A connection to a database or other service was requested using a connect identifier, and the connect identifier specified could not be resolved into a connect descriptor using one of the naming methods configured. For example, if the type of connect identifier used was a net service name then the net service name could not be found in a naming method repository, or the repository could not be located or reached.
Action:

• If you are using local naming (TNSNAMES.ORA file):

• Make sure that "TNSNAMES" is listed as one of the values of the NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH parameter in the Oracle Net profile (SQLNET.ORA)

• Verify that a TNSNAMES.ORA file exists and is in the proper directory and is accessible.

• Check that the net service name used as the connect identifier exists in the TNSNAMES.ORA file.

• Make sure there are no syntax errors anywhere in the TNSNAMES.ORA file. Look for unmatched parentheses or stray characters. Errors in a TNSNAMES.ORA file may make it unusable.

• If you are using directory naming:

• Verify that "LDAP" is listed as one of the values of the NAMES.DIRETORY_PATH parameter in the Oracle Net profile (SQLNET.ORA).

• Verify that the LDAP directory server is up and that it is accessible.

• Verify that the net service name or database name used as the connect identifier is configured in the directory.

• Verify that the default context being used is correct by specifying a fully qualified net service name or a full LDAP DN as the connect identifier

• If you are using easy connect naming:

• Verify that "EZCONNECT" is listed as one of the values of the NAMES.DIRETORY_PATH parameter in the Oracle Net profile (SQLNET.ORA).

• Make sure the host, port and service name specified are correct.

• Try enclosing the connect identifier in quote marks. See the Oracle Net Services Administrators Guide or the Oracle operating system specific guide for more information on naming.

Answer 2

Going on the assumption you're using TNSNAMES naming, here's a couple of things to do:

• Create/modify the tnsnames.ora file in the network/admin subdirectory associated with OraHome90 to include an entry for your oracle database:

> SERVICENAME_alias =
>    (DESCRIPTION =
>     (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = HOST.XYZi.com)(PORT = 1521))
>     (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = SERVICENAME))

This is assuming you're using the standard Oracle port of 1521. Note that servicename_alias can be any name you want to use on the local system. You may also find that you need to specify (SID = SERVICENAME) instead of (SERVICENAME=SERVICENAME).

• Execute tnsping servicename_alias to verify connectivity. Get this working before going any further. This will tell you if you're past the 12154 error.
• Assuming a good connection, create an ODBC DSN using the control panel, specifying the ODBC driver for Oracle of your choice (generally there's a Microsoft ODBC driver at least, and it should work adequately as a proof of concept). I'll assume the name you gave of DATASOURCE. Use the servicename_alias as the Server name in the ODBC configuration.
• At this point you should be able to connect to your database via Access. I am not a VB programmer, but I know you should be able to go to File->Get External Data->Link Tables and connect to your ODBC source. I would assume your code would work as well.