Connecting to Oracle to publish to a spatial data server

To connect to an Oracle database from ArcGIS for Desktop to create a map and publish data to a spatial data server, you must install the Oracle Database Client on the machine where you have ArcGIS for Desktop installed. You can obtain the Oracle Instant Database Client from the Esri Customer Care portal, or get the Oracle Database Client directly from Oracle.

Next, create a connection to the database using a specific Easy Connect string, listed in the following steps:

Steps:

1. Follow Oracle's instructions for installing the Oracle Database Client.

   If you download the Oracle Instant Client from the Esri Customer Care portal, a text file with Oracle instructions is included.

2. Start ArcCatalog or start ArcMap and open the Catalog window.
3. Expand the Database Connection node and double-click Add Database Connection.
4. Choose Oracle from the Database Platform drop-down list.
5. Type the following information in the Instance text box: <Oracle server name>:<Oracle service name>.

   For example, if you are connecting to an Oracle service, o11, on server flotsam, you would type flotsam:o11.

   If you have multiple Oracle instances on the same server or you use a nondefault port for your Oracle instance, you can specify the port number of the Oracle instance in the string in the format <Oracle server name>:<Oracle port number>/<Oracle service name>. In the previous example, if the Oracle instance listens on port 1357, you could type flotsam:5555/o11.

6. Use database authentication to connect, and type the user name and password of the connecting user in the appropriate text boxes.

   Be sure to leave Save user name and password checked.

7. Click OK to make the connection.

A new database connection is listed under the Database Connections node.