Oracle TNS names not showing when adding new conne

Question

I'm trying to connect to an oracle database with SQL Developer.

I've installed the .Net oracle drivers and placed the tnsnames.ora file at
C:\Oracle\product\11.1.0\client_1\Network\Admin

I'm using the following format in tnsnames.ora:

dev =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 192.168.XXX.XXX)(PORT = XXXX))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = idpdev2)
    )
  )

In SQL Developer, when I try to create a new connection, no TNS-names show up as options.

Is there something I'm missing?

Answer 1

You can always find out the location of the tnsnames.ora file being used by running TNSPING to check connectivity (9i or later):

C:\>tnsping dev

TNS Ping Utility for 32-bit Windows: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 08-JAN-2009 12:48:38

Copyright (c) 1997, 2005, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Used parameter files:
C:\oracle\product\10.2.0\client_1\NETWORK\ADMIN\sqlnet.ora


Used TNSNAMES adapter to resolve the alias
Attempting to contact (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = XXX)(PORT = 1521)) (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = DEV)))
OK (30 msec)

C:\>

Sometimes, the problem is with the entry you made in tnsnames.ora, not that the system can't find it. That said, I agree that having a tns_admin environment variable set is a Good Thing, since it avoids the inevitable issues that arise with determining exactly which tnsnames file is being used in systems with multiple oracle homes.