hi ron, thanks for the response. using sqlnet.ora just doesn't work for me. i agree with you about hidden files -- i don't like them. that's why i'd like to find a better way. here's what happens using sqlnet.ora:
----- [~] cat sqlnet.ora NAMES.DIRECTORY_PATH=(ezconnect, tnsnames) [~] sqlplus 'fs_public/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/iwebdb' SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.3.0 - Production on Wed Apr 11 12:30:48 2007 Copyright (c) 1982, 2006, Oracle. All Rights Reserved. ERROR: ORA-12514: TNS:listener does not currently know of service requested in connect descriptor Enter user-name: ERROR: ORA-12162: TNS:net service name is incorrectly specified Enter user-name: ERROR: ORA-12162: TNS:net service name is incorrectly specified SP2-0157: unable to CONNECT to ORACLE after 3 attempts, exiting SQL*Plus [~] cat tnsnames.ora infra=(description=(address=(protocol=tcp)(host=infradb.fs.usda.gov) (port=1521))(connect_data=(sid=iwebdb))) [~] sqlplus 'fs_public/[EMAIL PROTECTED]' SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.3.0 - Production on Wed Apr 11 12:31:13 2007 Copyright (c) 1982, 2006, Oracle. All Rights Reserved. ERROR: ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve the connect identifier specified Enter user-name: ERROR: ORA-12162: TNS:net service name is incorrectly specified Enter user-name: ERROR: ORA-12162: TNS:net service name is incorrectly specified SP2-0157: unable to CONNECT to ORACLE after 3 attempts, exiting SQL*Plus ----- but if i create a .tnsnames.ora file, i can use sqlplus 'fs_public/[EMAIL PROTECTED]' and it works just fine. did i make a mistake somewhere? thanks, tom -- a celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized. --fred allen
