Windows 7 64-bit + Oracle 32-bit ODBC not working

Question

Has anyone gotten JMP 9 or 10 on Windows 7 64-bit to work with a 32-bit Oracle ODBC?  I set up several Oracle ODBC data sources using the 32-bit ODBC driver administrator, found here: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe

When I try to access these sources in JMP via File > Database > Open Table > Connect, they don't show up on the Machine Data Source tab.

I have other software that doesn't play nicely with the Oracle 64-bit client, hence I'm working with the 32-bit one.

Thanks!

tsl · Accepted Answer

You can't do that - the "bit-ness" if I might put it that way must match. A 32 bit application requires a 32bit ODBC driver, a 64bit app requires a 64bit driver. If you can only use 32-bit Oracle ODBC then you need to uninstall JMP, re-install it, and choose the option to install as 32bit instead of the default of 64bit. Of course you'll lose the benefits of 64bit JMP in doing that. I would recommend installing the 64bit ODBC drivers for Oracle, then you can use those with JMP9 64bit on Win7.

Also, it is OK to have both 64bit and 32bit Oracle ODBC drivers on the same system - I have that and it works. Like you I have some applications that need 32bit Oracle drivers ( they are 32 bit apps ), while JMP needs the 64bit one. It's OK to have both drivers on the system

tsl · Accepted Answer

I haven't found it necessary to do anything with those environment variables. The two programs I mainly use are PL/SQL Developer ( 32bit ) and JMP 9 ( 64 bit ).

For PLSQL Developer, I place a tnsnames.ora file in C:\Oracle11gR2_x32\product\11.2.0\client_1\NETWORK\ADMIN and then just run the program. It finds the database connection information there and allows me connect to the databases. It doesn't use DSN's set up with ODBC Administrator.

For JMP9 64bit, I place the same tnsnames.ora file in C:\Oracle11gR2_x64\product\11.2.0\client_1\NETWORK\ADMIN, then run the default ODBC Administrator, which of course is the 64bit one, and create datasources in there. JMP9 uses these DSN's and connects to the databases.

If I did need DSN's for a 32bit app, then I'd run C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe and create them there and the 32bit app would see them. I did at one time have a 32bit version of JMP9 installed and this worked

So I don't seem to be relying on ORACLE_HOME or TNS_ADMIN environment variables.

In fact, I just looked on my system and I see that ORACLE_HOME is blank, it has no value, TNS_ADMIN is not present at all, and PATH has values for all the Oracle drivers I have installed, 32bit and 64bit.

Hope that helps