Oracle6i Forms/Reports Builder Cannot Connect To Any Database (ORA-12222)

Modified 12-DEC-2008     Type PROBLEM     Status MODERATED

In this Document
Symptoms
Cause
Solution
References

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This document is being delivered to you via Oracle Support’s Rapid Visibility (RaV) process, and therefore has not been subject to an independent technical review.

 

Applies to:

Oracle Net Services – Version: 8.0.6.0.0 to 8.0.6.3.0
Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Symptoms

– Problem Statement:
Oracle Forms6i Builder: 6.0.8.11.3 on Microsoft Windows XP.

Server: Oracle10g R2 (10.2.0.3.0)

When trying to connect to any database instance using Oracle6i Forms displays the following error:

ORA-12222: TNS:No such protocol adapter

There are no problems connecting to the database from SqlPlus, TOAD, etc that use the
same tnsnames.ora file entries.

Problem reported with any/all Net Service Name/aliases.

Cause

The ORA-12222 error is due to the ORACLE_HOME System environment variable being explicitly set to one of the installed Oracle Home locations causing the Oracle Forms/Reports products to look for supporting DLLs in the wrong path location.

When using multiple Oracle Homes on Windows platforms, the ORACLE_HOME variable should not be explicitly set in either the User or System Environment Variables.

To verify if the ORACLE_HOME variable is set in either the User or System Environment Variables:

- Right click My Computer from the Windows Desktop.
- Select ‘Properties’.
- Then click the ‘Advanced’ tab.
- Next select the ‘Environment Variables’ button.
- Search for the ORACLE_HOME variable in either the User or System Environment Variables sections.

Solution

– To implement the solution, please execute the following steps:

- Right click My Computer from the Windows Desktop.
- Select ‘Properties’.
- Then click the ‘Advanced’ tab.
- Next select the ‘Environment Variables’ button.
- Search for the ORACLE_HOME variable in either the User or System Environment Variables sections.
- If found, highlight/select the ORACLE_HOME variable and delete it using the ‘Delete’ button below the corresponding windowpane.

Important: On Windows 2003 Servers it is also important to cleanly reboot the Windows Server to clear the ORACLE_HOME variable.