Ohio University

The Oracle client is required software on your computer if you wish to access an Oracle database. The Data Warehouse is an Oracle database. There are versions of Oracle client just like there are versions of Oracle databases. The versions do not have to be the same, but Oracle suggests that they stay at the same version level for compatibility reasons. For example, new features become available with new versions of the Oracle database engine. These features would not be available to an older version of the Oracle client. Oracle client 10gR2 is required to enable network encryption which has been required to connect to the OU Data Warehouse since December 17, 2007. Although the Data Warehouse Oracle database has been upgraded to 11gR1, we are continuing to use the current 10gR2 Oracle client until we move to a web based reporting application.

Although, Data Warehouse connectivity can be configured in other desktop configurations, the following desktop environments can use our standard Oracle client installation processes. A manual configuration may be needed in other environments. 

32-bit Windows XP Professional

32-bit Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate

32-bit Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate

64-bit Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate with 32-bit Oracle client and 32-bit Microsoft Access

*Note that Oracle client 10.2 is not certified with Windows 7. A work around was put in place to make it work with the Oracle client 10.2.0.3 Data Warehouse installation. 

Obtaining and Installing the Oracle Client

You can download the installation CD from this page by saving the OUDWInstall.zip file on your desktop, then unzipping it to c:\oracle. Create the oracle directory if needed. This should create a c:\oracle\OUDWInstall directory. Once unzipped correctly, double click on c:\oracle\OUDWInstall\bootstrap.exe and follow the on-screen instructions. 

Before running the OUDW Utility it must be configured to run as Administrator.  Follow these steps to make that happen and then you can run the OUDW Utility to setup connectivity to the Data Warehouse.

1. Click on start all programs
2. Click on the OUDW Utility
3. Then right click on the OUDW Utility (one that looks like an atomic symbol) and choose properties
4. Click on the Compatibility tab
5. Click the button near the bottom that says 'Change settings for all users'
6. Check 'Run this program in compatibility mode for' and choose Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)
7. Check the 'Run this program as an administrator'
8. Click on Apply, then OK twice

For Windows 7 64-bit only, the 32-bit ODBC Administrator must be run to manage the 32-bit ODBC DSN created by the OUDW Utility.  We suggest creating a shortcut for it because it cannot be run from  Control Panel. The 32-bit DSN's are not visible in the 64-bit ODBC Administrator. Follow these steps to create a shortcut for the 32-bit:  

1. Start Windows Explorer

2. Navigate to c:\Windows\SysWOW64

3. Find and right click on odbcad32.exe

4. Choose Yes when asked if want shortcut created on the desktop

Also, change sqlplus to run as Administrator. 

1. Click on start all programs
2. Navigate to Oracle - OUDWclient --> Application Development --> SQL Plus
3. Then right click on SQL Plus and choose properties
4. Click on the Compatibility tab
5. Click the button near the bottom that says 'Change settings for all users'
6. Check the 'Run this program as an administrator'
7. Click on Apply, then OK twice

Current available Oracle Client downloads:

Oracle Client and OUDW Utility Install Download

To determine which Oracle client version you have installed on your pc, run sql*plus to connect to the DW. The folder names may vary somewhat based on your Oracle setup but should be similar. To run sql*plus choose start>programs>Oracle> Oracle - OUDWclient>Application Development>sqlplus. Enter your DW user name, password, and 'ordj' for the host name or service name. This should connect you to the DW via sqlplus. At this point, you could write your own sql statements to pull information from the DW (if you knew sql). The Oracle client version can be determined in the first line - 'SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.3.0'. 

Oracle clients 9iR2 and 10gR2 can now be installed on the same desktop. Data Warehouse users should have upgraded from 9iR2 to 10gR2 in December of 2007. No instructions were given to remove the 9iR2 client since they can coexist. Other applications, such as Discoverer Reporting, Alumni, or Onbase Imaging could be using the 9i client installation so be careful removing it. If you are sure that nothing is using particular client installation, you can remove it. 

Please delete any Microsoft ODBC data sources setup using the Oracle drivers you are going to remove. It is more difficult to remove them after the fact.

To remove the 9iR2 version of the Oracle client previously used for Data Warehouse access, run Start>Programs>Oracle - OUDWclient>Installation Products>Universal Installer. This will fire up one of those ugly black DOS screens and then a pretty Welcome OUI (Oracle Universal Installer) screen will appear. Click on installed products. Under the Oracle Homes top line (you may need to expand the list), you will see all of the Oracle Home installations on your desktop. Check the OraHome92 box, then click on Remove. It will ask you if you are sure; respond yes if you are sure. It will then deinstall the chosen Oracle Home.