Connecting to an Oracle Database

Hello All,

I am very new with VB.NET and I would appreciate your helping me with this problem.

I am trying to create a DataForm which will connect to an Oracle database on the server at work. Even though the connection was successful while tested, VB will not allow me to connect to the Oracle database by saying:

"It is only possible to connect to SQL Server Desktop Engine databases and Microsoft Access databases with this version of Visual Studio"

I currently have VB.NET standard edition on my PC and I was trying to connect to Oracle through OLE DB drivers.

I'm just wondering if there is another way I can try or if you know of any sure way to connect to a database other than SQL Server and MS Access. Thank you very much for your help.

Bruce

It's weird that you ask a poll question that is different than your thread topic.

Hello MRGTI,

I am also very new to this forum thing and I have not a clue how to turn off the poll thing. Sorry.

Bruce

Bruce,

Are you using the visual database tools? Wizards, datasource controls etc.? From what I've read (I have enterprise architect to don't know for sure) you can still connect to whatever DB you want as long as you do it entirely through code. If you wish to use the visual DB tools, then you need to give Mr. Gates some more money.

Hello Mike,

Yeah, I was trying to connect through the DataForm Wizard. I will try to explore the code option then. Do you have any pointers for me as for what kind of connect method I should be using? Should I staick with OLE DB or should I try something else?

Thanks.

You know, I don't use Oracle, I do MSSQL, so can't offer advice on which is best. I'd use the more modern thing, though - what is it? ODP.NET? over OLE DB or ODBC. That's just my personal preference, though, stay modern.

Thank you very much for your help. I haven't even heard of ODP.NET, I guess I have a lot of work ahead of me. Thanks again!

If you right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer in Visual Studio.... and select Add Reference...

Under the .Net tab, you should find the System.Data.OracleClient library.... select it, click Ok, and then you will be able to use it.


"This article is a discussion of how to access Oracle stored procedures (named SQL programming blocks) and functions (which are programming blocks that return a single value) using ADO.NET.

This article uses the Microsoft® .NET Framework data provider for Oracle. Different functionality is available using the Oracle ODP.NET data provider or the Microsoft .NET Framework data provider for OLE DB.

The Oracle .NET data provider ships with the .NET Framework 1.1. If you are using .NET Framework 1.0, you will need to download the .NET Managed Provider for Oracle. For either version, the data provider classes are located in the System.Data.OracleClient namespace."

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de.../msdnorsps.asp

Hello nemaroller,

Thank you very much for your help. I have written a very simple program to connect to the Oracle database and everything seemed to be working out just great.

Thanks.... Bruce