problems connecting to Oracle 7 server with app written using OCI 8

Hi. I have written an application using the OCI 8.0.5 client with the assumption that whatever I wrote would be backwards compatible with an Oracle 7.3 server (the Oracle documentation states that this is the case). However, what I have found is that the OCIServerAttach() call fails on any machine using the Oracle 7 client interface to connect to Oracle 7.

Specifically, I have installed the app on a machine which uses the Oracle 7 client (SQL*Net 2.3.2, I believe) and it gets either an ORA-12203, ORA-12222 or an ORA-12154. In all cases, if I call OCIErrorGet(), I get the message "There was an error while trying to retrieve the text for error ORA-12203 . . ." (or ORA-12222 or ORA-12154).

I have tried using different protocols, I have tried making a directory called NET80 in the oracle home, and then copying the files from the Network/Admin directory. I know the database is up because I can query it using SQL Plus 3.3.

If, however, I install Net 8 onto the machine (no other parts of the client interface for Oracle 8, except the required support files) everything connects fine.

I am curious if I need to do something else to make this app work without the Net 8 install, or if anyone can tell me what files I need to re-distribute in order for this application to work. I cannot require the clients to purchase and install Oracle 8, when they are only using the Oracle 7 server.

I have attempted to get help from Oracle's website as well as by attempting to get in touch with Documentation Sales or per-incident support, but no one answers the phones there.

Any assistance you can provide to me will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
--Rob Received on Thu Jul 08 1999 - 06:50:42 CDT