Initialization error while trying to connect to Oracle using SQLDeveloper

Question

I've installed Oracle 11.2.0 and Allround Automations' SQLDeveloper on Windows 7 64-bit.

When I run SQLDeveloper and and try to connect to Oracle, I get the below error:

Initialization error
Could not load "C:\app\MyComp\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\bin\oci.dll"

OCIDLL forced to C:\app\MyComp\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\bin\oci.dll
LoadLibrary(C:\app\MyComp\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\bin\oci.dll) returned 0

What can be the problem?

Answer 1

This happens because PL/SQL Developer is incapable of loading 64-bit version of oci.dll file. To fix this, download the 32-bit version of Oracle Instant Client, extract it to a directory such as \instant_client.

Next, configure PL/SQL Developer to use this version by clicking on Tool menus -> Preferences. Under Oracle Home, point to the location where you had extracted Instant client (\instant_client, in this case)  and under location of OCI Library, point to the oci.dll file present in location where you had extracted Instant client ( \instant_client\oci.dll). Restart PL/SQL Developer and you should be able to connect now.