How to connect with your Oracle database without installing Oracle Client?

Did you ever get frustrated when you want to connect with your oracle database, but you have to install everything from oracle client software cd and waste for hundreds megs only to get connect with your database?
Now, those day were past.
After trial and error, I found more simple way to get TOAD, TORA (3rd party software for manage your database).
These explanation, only a sample to get work with 3rd party software like TOAD,SQLplus,TORA in order to connect with oracle database, I was run it on Windows XP Pro service pack 3, with TOAD  ver 9.0.1.8, edit my environment with notepad, and a cup of tea ?
In summary, you could get sqlplus command line and your TOAD run flawlessly without have to install oracle clients (*huraaa*).

1. Download from oracle website for instant client software (http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/tech/oci/instantclient/index.html)
   

   oracle link to instant client

   if you use end user windows, simply drive your click into http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/tech/oci/instantclient/htdocs/winsoft.html

2. Choose for latest suitable version for your own. On my version, I have to use Version 10.2.0.4, cause latest version (Version 11.1.0.6.0) not work for OCI.dll issue that not support for Version 11.1.0.6.0.
   

   Oracle Team of condition before download

3. After ACCEPT the license agreement above, Download instant client package –basic (35Mb on 10.2.0.4 and 44Mb on Version 11.1.0.6.0),
   

   basic option version 10

4. Download instant Client Package – SQL*Plus – size only 800Kb on 10.2.0.4 and 11.1.0.6.0
   

   option with SQLplus

5. You can download another package if you want, but only those above were mandatory
6. Create new folder on your main hard drive, I choose to create: “c:\oracle\instantclient”
   

   create new folder for extracting your instant client

7. Then, extract your all package into  c:\oracle\instantclient
8. after finished, from your desktop computer, access environment file, Start > My Computer > right Click > choose PROPERTIES
   

   link to computer propertise

9. From GENERAL tab, choose ADVANCED tab
   

   click on tab ADVANCE

10. Click on ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES button on bottom region (startup and recovery)
    

    environment variables button

11. On top region, click new variables, and create variable Name: TNS_ADMIN with value C:\oracle\instantclient
    

    create new variables TNS_ADMIN to link with your tnsnames.ora file

12. On bottom region, find PATH variable, and click EDIT
    

    add your instantclient link to PATH variables after adding

13. Add your location path into your last words after enter “;” (without quotes) value
14. Create new variable with NLS_LANG (find out more on NLS_LANG on http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_nls_lang.htm ) enter your selected language, I enter AMERICAN_AMERICA.WE8MSWIN1252 for my value (you can enter your value within this  http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/globalization/htdocs/nls_lang%20faq.htm#_Toc110410557 option)
    

    add new variable NLS_LANG, important variable for oracle connection

15. Restart your system
16. Install your TOAD or TORA, or if you like, you can use native sqlplus from oracle.
17. Create new file TNSNAMES.ora with your editor, or you can have it from your DBA man.
    

    ask your DBA to get the correct connection strings

18. Place the TNSNAMES.ora on “C:\oracle\instantclient”
19. Run TOAD or TORA
20. Enter your username, password and connection string from TNS files, you see TOAD now can read all the necessary information to connect with your database.
    

    after setup, connection to database is ready

21. You are connected to your database without have to install oracle client anymore:-)
    

    you are now connected, without waste your 400Mbs space

Questions

Help, my connection not work, an error come out with message: ORA-12705: Cannot Access NLS data files or invalid environment specified.

NLS_LANG error when try connect with database

NLS_LANG error when try to connect with SQLplus

Anwers:
This error show because you have NLS_LANG variable with wrong or not complete value, review your value base on http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/globalization/htdocs/nls_lang%20faq.htm#_Toc110410557

Help, I have error when connect with my TOAD, error “OCI version 11.1.0.1.0 is not supported” come out.

OCI error when try to connect to database

Answers:
This because your TOAD isn’t compatible with your instant client, download and install previous version from oracle instant client page http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/tech/oci/instantclient/htdocs/winsoft.html

I need to run SQLDR80.exe aka. Sql loader, can I have this on my machine without have to install the oracle client too?
Answers:
Interesting question, till now I still have no idea, any open idea that could solve this issue?

~ by celemotan on 22 October, 2008.