Forum Discussion
Oracle connection error: Object reference not set to an instance
This is not the case with 64-bit PBI desktop, however. It seems to be a unique snowflake in a sense, that it does not use PATH for locating the driver. I believe it requires the driver to be installed in GAC - basically a directory for shared DLLs and other assemblies located under %WINDIR%\Microsoft.NET\assembly. When Oracle universal installer prompts whether to place the driver in GAC and configured on machine level, select yes. If using Xcopy version, use configure.bat in Oracle install directory to place the driver there.
While the above holds true for the version from Microsoft Store, it appears the version downloadable from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=45331 works fine (both February 2018). So finally, I have the driver installed from Xcopy as described in my previous message and I'm able to connect to the Oracle DB in 64-bit PBI Desktop, too.
My take on the situation is that MS Store version disregards PATH and goes straight to GAC and fails. The "direct download" searches PATH first and then goes to GAC - if I remove my ODAC directory from PATH, this one throws the same ‘Object reference...' exception.
If anyone has managed to get the 64-bit version from Microsoft Store working with Oracle, it would be interested to know how.
Hi! I have been experiencing with this ODAC install and related issues. I have a complete Oracle test environement on my virtual machine where I am trying to install ODAC. I have the Oracle database server and OBIEE (Oracle BI, with servers).
Due to this I had a client_1 in C:\app\client\<windowsuser>\product\12.2.0 folder.
1. The first installation I installed odac in a client_2 folder. Result: Power BI did still complain about not having ODAC installed
Then I found a thread https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/Unable-to-connect-using-Oracle-database-even-after-ODAC-install/m-p/426572#M196317 saying that installing on the same client would solve issue
2. Changed the path for ODAC install to client_1
Then I no longer got the error abot having to install odac client, but the error Details: "An error happened while reading data from the provider: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'"
Found some stackoverflow saying that this issue is mixing 32 bit and 64 bit, and also Oracle documentation does not recommend installing onto existing oracle home/folder.
I have not installed using x_copy so far. But for the last installation I did select machine level for .NET I have now the store version of Power BI, but will install with the other downloadable.
QUESTION: What should I do to get this to work, having the downloadable version instead? Go back to client_2 folder installation, or use X_copy for ODAC to install instead? Where do you install ODAC?
Figured it out now: I kept the installation with having ODAC installed to client_1. I de-installed the store version and installed the download version. I new error related to TNS names Oracle: ORA-12541: TNS:no listener" when I connected to the computername as server name in Power BI. I checked the tnsnames.ora in C:\app\client\anitaberg\product\12.2.0\client_1\Network\Admin and then tested to log on as localhost as server name. Got then the error Details: "Oracle: ORA-12504: TNS:listener was not given the SERVICE_NAME in CONNECT_DATA" , then I used the name of the service (if it is called that) ORCL as server, and then Power BI was able to show the three of tables.
ORCL = (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = localhost)(PORT = 1521)) (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED) (SERVICE_NAME = orcl) ) )
THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!!! worked for me
