Oracle connectivity

[Will]

We have several large Oracle databases that we are writing new front
ends for in .Net. The applications will be Windows clients. We are
looking for the best method for connecting with the Oracle database.
The Microsoft data provider requires the Oracle client to be installed,
a huge footprint at 250 meg. ODAC (from Oracle) is another 250 meg
install. We aren't opposed to using ODBC (which requires Oracle Client
as well) for whatever that's worth.

We'd really like something that has a smaller footprint if possible.
Any thoughts, comments, suggestions are welcome.

[Miha Markic [MVP C#]]

"Will" <bk******@hotmail.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@b28g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...

We have several large Oracle databases that we are writing new front
ends for in .Net. The applications will be Windows clients. We are
looking for the best method for connecting with the Oracle database.
The Microsoft data provider requires the Oracle client to be installed,
a huge footprint at 250 meg. ODAC (from Oracle) is another 250 meg
install. We aren't opposed to using ODBC (which requires Oracle Client
as well) for whatever that's worth.

Indeed, those sizes are an absurd.

>
We'd really like something that has a smaller footprint if possible.
Any thoughts, comments, suggestions are welcome.

You might check out this website as it lists different providers:
http://www.sqlsummit.com/DataAcce.htm

HTH
--
Miha Markic [MVP C#, INETA Country Leader for Slovenia]
RightHand .NET consulting & development www.rthand.com
Blog: http://cs.rthand.com/blogs/blog_with_righthand/

[Bjorn Abelli]

"Will" <bk******@hotmail.comwrote...

We have several large Oracle databases that we are writing new front
ends for in .Net. The applications will be Windows clients. We are
looking for the best method for connecting with the Oracle database.
The Microsoft data provider requires the Oracle client to be installed,
a huge footprint at 250 meg. ODAC (from Oracle) is another 250 meg
install. We aren't opposed to using ODBC (which requires Oracle Client
as well) for whatever that's worth.

We'd really like something that has a smaller footprint if possible.
Any thoughts, comments, suggestions are welcome.

Have you tried Oracle's "Instant Client Package - Basic Lite"?

http://www.oracle.com/technology/sof...s/winsoft.html

As it's only 10Mb it should at least be worth a try.
/// Bjorn A