Configure ODAC for Oracle

If you use an ODAC version newer than version 12, you will need to follow the procedures below. The reason is because newer versions of ODAC do not automatically register their own provider in the Global Assembly Cache (GAC). If you do not follow these procedures, even some of the most basic Meridian functionality will not work.

ClosedPrerequisites

To successfully complete these procedures, you must first download the following files:

  • the .NET Framework Software Development Kit (SDK) for the version of .NET you want to use

  • an Oracle ODAC version between version 11.2 and 12.2

    If you want to use a newer ODAC version (18 or higher), you can also download that version. However, you must have a version between 11.2 and 12.2 for Meridian Enterprise to function properly.

    We recommend you download the XCopy ODAC packages, because you will also need the ODP.NET components. The ODP.NET (Oracle.DataAccess) installation should be compatible with the client. For instance, the latest 64-bit Unmanaged ODP.NET 19.10, download includes the Oracle Instant Client. See the readme documentation included with the download. More than one Oracle client can be installed and configured to use by different executables on the same machine.

ClosedConfiguration

To configure ODAC for Oracle:

  1. Install the .NET Framework Software Development Kit (SDK) using the Windows SDK installation.

    You will use the Global Assembly Cache tool (gacutil.exe) from this SDK file.

  2. Add the following values to your system PATH environment variable, separated by semicolons:

    • c:\Oracle

      This assumes that you will install ODAC to c:\Oracle.

    • c:\Oracle\bin

    • %SystemRoot%\system32

    • c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v10.0A\bin\NETFX 4.6.1 Tools

      Use the proper location of your Windows SDK tools.

    • c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v10.0A\bin\NETFX 4.6.1 Tools\x64

      Use the proper location of your Windows SDK tools.

    Learn how to configure your system PATH environment variable.

  3. Create a folder named temp in your C drive.

  4. Create a folder named oratemp in the temp folder you created in the previous step.

  5. Unzip the ODAC zip file to C:\temp\oratemp.

  6. Open a Windows command prompt window.

  7. Change your current working directory using the following command:

    Copy
    cd c:\Temp\oratemp
  8. Execute a command using the below syntax:

    Copy
    install.bat [Oracle Data Provider for .NET 4] [Your installation directory path] odac true

    The odac argument is the Oracle Home Name that is used for the registry keys, and the true argument communicates the dependency with the Oracle Instant Client. A properly formatted example appears below:

    Copy
    install.bat odp.net4 c:\oracle odac true
  9. Change your current working directory using the following command:

    Copy
    cd c:\Oracle\odp.net\bin\4
  10. Execute the following command:

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    OraProvCfg /action:gac /providerpath:"c:\Oracle\odp.net\bin\4\Oracle.DataAccess.dll"
  11. Change your current working directory using the following command:

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    cd c:\Oracle\odp.net\PublisherPolicy\4
  12. Execute the following command:

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    gacutil /i "c:\Oracle\odp.net\PublisherPolicy\4\Policy.4.112.Oracle.DataAccess.dll"

    The 4.112 publisher policy is used to redirect the GAC to use the latest installed version of ODP.NET.

  13. Check that your Global Assembly Cache (GAC) appears in the following locations:

    • c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_64\Oracle.DataAccess\v4.0_4.122.19.1__89b483f429c47342\oracle.dataaccess.dll

    • c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_64\Policy.4.122.Oracle.DataAccess\v4.0_4.122.19.1__89b483f429c47342\Policy.4.122.Oracle.DataAccess.config

    • c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_64\Policy.4.122.Oracle.DataAccess\v4.0_4.122.19.1__89b483f429c47342\Policy.4.122.Oracle.DataAccess.dll

  14. Check that the following registry keys have been created:

    • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Oracle\KEY_odac

    • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Oracle\ODP.NET\4.122.19.1

  15. Restart your PC.

  16. Use the Windows Process Explorer to confirm that the oracle.dataaccess.dll file is correctly mapped to the following services:

    • BlueCieloECM.EnterpriseService.exe

    • w3wp.exe

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