• use separate rows for user and password (no ";", and the password is not displayed)

  	We typed     connect system <enter>     aaaaaa1- <enter>
  	and we are connected:

• or, Instead of using the "Start menu | Oracle" menu, we could as well
  

  	start a command line window
  	type     sqlplus / as sysdba
  	we are connected no user password required since the current user belongs to the oracle dba group.

1.7 - The Scott database

  C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\11.2.0\server\rdbms\admin  

To use this database

	open a cmd.exe console window
	CD to the scott.sql directory
	start SQL*Plus
	execute the script     @scott
	check     show user
	connect back as sysdba     conn / as sysdba
	as sysdba, we can display the dba_users table     desc dba_users
	here is the display:

and

	describe the dba_tables     desc dba_tables
	here is the display:
	display SCOTT's table names     select table_name         from dba_tables         where owner='SCOTT'
	here is the display:

Finally we can use the Scott database:

	we connect as scott/TIGER (the password is case sensitive) :     conn scott/TIGER;
	we request the emp table description     desc emp
	the emp description is:
	we request some rows;     select ename, sal         from emp         where sal> 2000;
	and here is the result :

1.8 - Using the HR demo database

We can install this database taking the following steps:

	start SQL*Plus
	unlock the demo database     alter user hr account unlock ;
	HR is unlocked

1.9 - The Apex Oracle GUI

	select "Start Menu | Oracle | Getting Started"
	the graphic user interface page is displayed

• the url is http://127.0.0.1:8080/apex/f?p=4950
  
• we tried to start the interface first, without success. Some web posts mention that we should open the 8080 port. But, after using the sql console mode, this was not necessary.
  

2 - The Oracle Instant Client

We chose to install Instant Client which is a lightweight Client.

	download the Oracle Instant Client from     http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/winx64soft-089540.html
	we selected "accept" and clicked the instantclient-basiclite-windows.x64-12.2.0.1.0.zip (37 Meg) link
	the Oracle login is displayed
	enter your Oracle user / password
	the dowload dialog is displayed
	save the .zip and decompress it. We used the c:\instant_client folder :

Among the many files are the OCI.DLL, as well as the ORAOCI*.DLL files.

3 - Oracle and Delphi

	open Delphi, click "File | New | Vcl Forms Application"
	set the target to 64 bit Windows : "Project manager | Target Platforms | Right Click | Add platform", and select "64 bit Windows"
	drop a tFdPhysOracleDriverLink, a tFdGUIxWaitCursor and a tFdConnection on your Form
	add a tButton and connect to Oracle: Procedure TForm1.connect_oracle_firedac_Click(Sender: TObject);   Begin     With FDPhysOracleDriverLink1 Do     Begin       VendorHome := 'C:\oracle_client\';       VendorLib := 'OCI.DLL';       DriverId:= 'my_driver_id';     End; // with FDPhysIBDriverLink1     With FdConnection1 Do     Begin       With Params Do       Begin         Close;         DriverId:= 'my_driver_id';         Add('User_Name=scott');         Add('Password=TIGER');         Add('Database=XE');         Add('HostName=localhost');       End;       Open;       Label1.Caption:= 'connected';     End; // with FdConnection1
	compile and run
	Label1 displays "connected"

	drop a tFdQuery drop a tDataSource on the Form set DataSet to FdQuery1 drop a tDbGrid on the Form set DataSource to DataSource1 drop a tButton on the Form and open EMP Procedure TForm1.open_table_Click(Sender: TObject);   Begin     With FdQuery1 Do     Begin       Close;       Sql.Text:= 'Select * From Emp';       Open;     End;   End; // open_table_Click
	compile and run
	here is the design time form: and the execution :

4 - Download the Sources

• delphi_oracle_firedac.zip: connection the Scott database using Delphi Xe8 and FireDac (57 K)
  

• the main program (.DPROJ, .DPR, .RES), the main form (.PAS, .ASPX), and any other auxiliary form or files
  
• any .TXT for parameters, samples, test data
  
• all units (.PAS .ASPX and other) for units
  

• are self-contained: you will not need any other product (unless expressly mentioned).
  
• will not modify your PC in any way beyond the path where you placed the .ZIP (no registry changes, no path outside from the container path creation etc).
  

• create or select any folder of your choice.
  
• unzip the downloaded file
  
• using Delphi, compile and execute
  

The Pascal code uses the Alsacian notation, which prefixes identifier by program area: K_onstant, T_ype, G_lobal, L_ocal, P_arametre, F_unction, C_lass etc. This notation is presented in the Alsacian Notation paper.

As usual:

• please tell us at fcolibri@felix-colibri.com if you found some errors, mistakes, bugs, broken links or had some problem downloading the file. Resulting corrections will be helpful for other readers
  
• we welcome any comment, criticism, enhancement, other sources or reference suggestion. Just send an e-mail to fcolibri@felix-colibri.com.
  
• or more simply, enter your (anonymous or with your e-mail if you want an answer) comments below and clic the "send" button

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5 - References

• Oracle download pages

  Oracle Database Express Edition 11g Release 2

• some other Oracle / Delphi articles :
  
  • Oracle 10g installation (in French)
    
  • Creating an Oracle 10g database (in French)
    
  • Oracle Tutorial: creating an Oracle Client application, with Table Creation, Index creation, and CRUD operation (create, read, write, delete) (in French)
    

6 - The author