Question

I need to use PLSQL Developer to access oracle databases. I get the following error when I try to connect to my database. ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve the connect identifier specified. I am able to use SQLPLUS from the command line to connect to the database, and tnsping returns successfully, but I can’t figure out why PLSQL Developer will not work – it’s using the right tnsnames.ora file, and the connection string in there is correct because it’s the same one that tnsping uses.

Anyone have an idea what I can do to fix this? I’ve looked at other threads about this specific error with no luck.

tnsnames.ora

    ORCL =
      (DESCRIPTION = 
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = MININT-AIVKVBM)(PORT = 1521)) 
      (CONNECT_DATA = 
        (SERVER = DEDICATED) 
        (SERVICE_NAME = orcl)
      )
    )

sqlnet.ora

     SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES= (NTS)
     NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH= (TNSNAMES, EZCONNECT)

sqlpus command line
image here

PLSQL Developer Connection Preferences: image here

Answer 1

The answer was simply moving the PLSQL Developer folder from the “Program Files (x86) into the “Program Files” folder – weird!