[plsqldeveloper] Oracle PL Sql Developer cannot find my tnsnames.ora file

I have an Oracle tnsnames.ora file from my previous workplace. I want to pick it up with my newly installed PL SQL Developer on another computer. I have copied the file into ..ORACLE/product/11.2.0/client_32/NETWORK/ADMIN but PL SQL Developer cannot find it.

When it starts it is not showing me any choice of database. In About->i->TNSNames I dont see any lines

I have found a number of advices to look for it in Tools->Preferences->Database->..., but I dont have a Database tab in my preferences.

How can I fix it?

If you are certain your tnsnames.ora file is correct (eg by testing the connection with the Oracle Net Config Assistant, or logging in successfully with SQLplus), and you are able to open the PLSQL Developer application, but you still can't connect to the database in PLSQL Developer, then follow these steps:

1. In PLSQL Developer (version 11.0) go to Help/Support Info

2. Click the TNS Names tab. If the path in PLSQL Developer is wrong it will be blank (no tns file found) or incorrect (wrong tns file in use)

3. On the Info tab scroll down to the TNS File entry and to see the path for the tns file PLSQL Developer is using. Very likely this is wrong.

4. To correct the path:

   • open a command prompt
   • navigate to the PLSQL Developer directory in Program Files
   • enter this command:

     plsqldev.exe TNS_ADMIN=c:\your\tns\directory\path\here

   *path is to the directory containing your tnsnames.ora file - for me this is: c:\Oracle\product\11.2.0\client_1\network\admin

5. A new PLSQL Developer UI will open and you should be able to connect.

6. Make sure you have a Windows environment variable TNS_ADMIN set to the same path

   • On Windows 7 you go to Start, Control Panel, System, Advanced System Settings, Environment Variables to view/add/update environment variables

I recently had the problem of deleting the tnsnames.ora from the path where I had it, my solution was to create an environment variable called TNS_NAME with the value the path where the tnsnames.ora file is located and ready

Which Oracle client are you using?

Oracle 64bit 11g client isn't support in PLSQL Developer. Try to install 32bits client.

You most certainly have a databases tab in sql developer (all versions I've used in the past have this). Maybe check again? Perhaps, you're looking in the wrong location.

On a mac, the preferences is under "Oracle SQL Developer" (top left) -> Preferences -> Database -> Advanced -> section called Tnsnames Directory is where you specify the file.

On windows (going from memory so might have to search if this isn't correct) Tools -> Preferences -> Database -> Advanced -> section called Tnsnames Directory is where you specify the file.

See this image

Check if tnsnames.ora not saved as text file with an additional hidden .txt extension. Windows File Explorer will not show it by deafult settings.

I had the same problema, but as described in the manual.pdf, you have to:

You are using an Oracle Instant Client but have not set all required environment variables:

• PATH: Needs to include the Instant Client directory where oci.dll is located
• TNS_ADMIN: Needs to point to the directory where tnsnames.ora is located.
• NLS_LANG: Defines the language, territory, and character set for the client.

Regards