Tutorial - Updating your TNSNAMES.ORA File

Who needs to update the TNSNAMES file?
If you logon to an Oracle database, whether through Crystal Reports, ReportsSmith, Microsoft/Corel Office products, or PC-based Oracle Products (SQLNet, Oracle Forms, Oracle Designer), you use a file called tnsnames.ora. Occasionally, IT Services updates this file and notifies all users to obtain the new file. The file was last changed on July 24, 2003 by IT Services so you need to be using the file with this date.

What do I need to do?
You need to follow the steps below to obtain the replacement file and install it in the correct location. This will take about 10 minutes to do. Exit out of any open programs before you begin the process - except for this program (Internet Explorer or Netscape). You will need to download a file from this webpage.

What to do to replace the file

Find and Rename the Old File
First you need to rename your old file:

1. Go Start then Find (or Search)
2. Choose File or Folders
3. Type in tnsnames.ora next to Named.
4. Make sure that Look In has C: and Include Subfolders is checked
5. Click Find Now and the computer will search for that file.
6. When it is finished, right-click on the filename and choose Rename. Rename it tnsnames2.ora. If you have a tnsnames.ora file listed under a folder called Sample, just leave it alone.
7. Make note of where the file is located as listed under In Folder. Make sure that you can see the whole path; you may need to increase the size of the box to see the whole path. The usual file paths are -
   Windows 95/98 - c:\program files\orawin95\network\admin or c:\orawin95\network\admin
   Windows 2000/NT - c:\program files\orant\network\admin or c:\orant\network\admin
   Again, do not worry about the tnsnames.ora file listed under a folder called Sample.
8. Leave the Find box open in case you need to refer to it later.
   

Download the replacement file
Next you need to download the replacement file:

1. Right-click on this file - Tnsnames.ora - and choose Save Target As (or Save Link As).
2. Save the file to the path where the original tnsnames.ora file was (next to Save In, click on the down arrow and choose the path listed when you searched for the file). Once you have selected the proper folders, click Save.