How to set proper path to TNSNAMES file in C# application?
c#, oracle, tnsnames
Solution
You can set the `TNS_ADMIN` environment variable programmatically. See this page for a step by step. That is if you wanted to change to a specific `TNS_NAMES.ORA` file. The Oracle Client must still be installed on the client machine.
From ConnectionStrings - without using TNS:
Data Source=(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=MyHost)(PORT=MyPort))(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVICE_NAME=MyOracleSID)));User Id=myUsername;Password=myPassword;
EDIT: Added 3rd option
Please see this question which could aid you in finding the current location of the client's `TNS_NAMES.ORA` file - which you could open and modify if you wish (add your own connection if it doesn't exist)
Problem
I have a program in C# that use ODP.NET dlls: ``` oci.dll, ociw32.dll, Oracle.DataAccess.dll, orannzsbb11.dll, oraocci11.dll, oraociicus11.dll, OraOps11w.dll. ``` I've got 2 computers. First with whole ODAC package installed, and second without that package. But I have all required dlls in my exe directory, so ODAC is not a problem I think. The difference between these computers is the path to the `TNSNAMES` file. ``` First: C:\app\OraHome_1\Network\admin\ Second: C:\Oracle\product\11.2.0\client_1\network\admin ``` On the first computer, the program works fine. But on the second one with the same connection string, I get the error: ``` cannot open connection (ORA-12154) ``` Using SQL Plus I can connect on both computers. How can I show my program the proper path to the `tnsnames.ora` file?