1. Using Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools
  2. Installing and Configuring Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools

1 Installing and Configuring Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools

Learn about Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools, including determining the correct install type and installation instructions.

1.1 About Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools

Learn about Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools, supported Microsoft tools, and how to select the appropriate Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools install type.

Introduction

Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools (OCMT) is a graphical installer that automates the installation and configuration of Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET) to support Microsoft tool connections with Oracle on-premises and cloud databases, including Oracle Autonomous Database (ADB) Serverless. OCMT supports multiple Microsoft tools, including:
  • Power BI Desktop
  • Power BI service
  • Excel
  • SQL Server Analysis Services
  • SQL Server Data Tools
  • SQL Server Integration Services
  • SQL Server Reporting Services
  • BizTalk Server

These instructions work for on-premises database and both dedicated and serverless ADB. The instructions for on-premises database setup also apply to Oracle Database Cloud Services and Oracle Exadata Cloud Service.

Compatibility

Power BI Desktop, Power BI service, Excel, SQL Server Analysis Services, and BizTalk Server use unmanaged ODP.NET to connect to Oracle database. If you use a 64-bit product, you must use 64-bit OCMT to install 64-bit unmanaged ODP.NET. If you use a 32-bit Microsoft product, you must use 32-bit OCMT to install 32-bit unmanaged ODP.NET.

SQL Server Data Tools, SQL Server Integration Services, and SQL Server Reporting Services use managed ODP.NET. Managed ODP.NET works with both 32-bit and 64-bit apps, which allows you to use either 32-bit or 64-bit OCMT with any of these Microsoft products.

Parent topic: Installing and Configuring Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools

1.1.1 Example: Determining the Bitness of a Microsoft Product

Determine the bitness of a Microsoft product.

If you are using unmanaged ODP.NET, determine whether you are using the 32-bit Microsoft product or the 64-bit Microsoft product so you can install the matching bitness of ODP.NET.

Let's use Power BI Desktop as an example. In Windows, start Power BI Desktop. On the menu, select Help , then About to see a window like the following:
Description of example-microsoftpowerbiversion.png follows
Description of the illustration example-microsoftpowerbiversion.png

The above screenshot notes that this is 64-bit Power BI Desktop. That means 64-bit unmanaged ODP.NET must be installed and configured for Power BI to connect to an Oracle Database.

If you are using 32-bit Power BI Desktop instead, you must install 32-bit unmanaged ODP.NET.

Parent topic: About Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools

1.2 Installing Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools

General steps for installing Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools.

Determine which bitness of Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools (OCMT) you need to install. In general, if you use a 32-bit product, you should use 32-bit OCMT. If you use a 64-bit product, you should use 64-bit OCMT.

Note:

Screenshots may differ slightly between 32-bit OCMT and 64-bit OCMT.
For more information on selecting the bitness of a product, see About Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools for general information, or Connecting with Microsoft Tools for information on the specific tool you are using.
  1. From the Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools page, click on the download link:
    • For 64-bit unmanaged ODP.NET, choose 64-bit Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools.
    • For 32-bit unmanaged ODP.NET, choose 32-bit Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools.
    • For managed ODP.NET, you can choose either download.
  2. Find the OCMT executable on your machine and doubleclick it to begin the install process.
    Description of ocmtexecutable.png follows
    Description of the illustration ocmtexecutable.png

  3. Click Yes in the User Account Control screen.
    The introductory install screen displays.
    Description of introinstallscreen.png follows
    Description of the illustration introinstallscreen.png

  4. Click Next.
  5. The OCMT Setup Type screen appears. You have two choices:
    • Custom - Decide whether to install and configure only managed ODP.NET, only unmanaged ODP.NET, or both.
    • Default - Both managed and unmanaged ODP.NET are installed and configured.
  6. Click Next.
  7. (Custom only) On the Select Features screen, select an installation option and click Next:
    • Managed ODP.NET - Installs only managed ODP.NET.
    • Unmanaged ODP.NET - Installs only unmanaged ODP.NET.
    • Both - Installs both managed and unmanaged ODP.NET.
  8. On the Destination Location screen, click Browse and select the installation directory for ODP.NET.
  9. Click Next.
  10. On the Oracle Configuration File Directory screen, click Browse to select the location of the Oracle Client configuration files, sqlnet.ora and tnsnames.ora, and click Next.
  11. If you are connecting to Oracle Autonomous Database Serverless:
    1. Download the database connection credentials zip file from the Oracle Cloud Console.
    2. Unzip the contents into the configuration file directory you specified in the previous step.
    3. Open sqlnet.ora.
    4. Update the wallet location's DIRECTORY setting value to the same configuration file directory.
      For more information on configuring Oracle database connections with specific Microsoft tools, see Connecting with Microsoft Tools.
  12. Click Install.
  13. (Optional) Select the checkbox to view the README file.
  14. Click Finish.
The installation is complete and configured for use on your machine. Your Microsoft tools can now connect to Oracle databases.

Note:

For more information on connecting specific Microsoft tools, see Connecting with Microsoft Tools.

Parent topic: Installing and Configuring Oracle Client for Microsoft Tools