Oracle beginner problem: can't connect to Oracle using cx_Oracle

[Aurelio Martin]

Benson, John wrote:
> Hi, I'm a non-Oracle guy just starting to use Python to explore Oracle.
> I enclose the Python command prompt log for the usage example further
> down with only the user, password and host names changed to keep me out
> of trouble. But first, I'd like to point out that I'm able to logon to
> myhost, and get into the following via SQL*Plus using myuser/mypassword
> 
> Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.7.3.0 - Production 
> With the Partitioning option                               
> JServer Release 8.1.7.3.0 - Production
> 
> (end quote of Unix box SQL*Plus stuff)  
> 
> so I know that myuser/mypassword works for SQL*Plus on the myhost Unix
> box.
> 
> I downloaded the cx_Oracle Python interface to Oracle(r) Version: 4.0
> Date: December 17, 2003 Win32 binary for Oracle 8i, Python 2.) and
> proceeded to exercise the usage example:                   
> 
> PythonWin 2.3.2 (#49, Oct  2 2003, 20:02:00) [MSC v.1200 32 bit (Intel)]
> on win32.
> Portions Copyright 1994-2001 Mark Hammond (mhammond at skippinet.com.au) -
> see 'Help/About PythonWin' for further copyright information.
> 
>>>>import cx_Oracle
>>>>connection = cx_Oracle.connect("myuser/mypassword at myhost")
> 
> Traceback (most recent call last):
>   File "<interactive input>", line 1, in ?
> DatabaseError: ORA-12514: TNS:listener could not resolve SERVICE_NAME
> given in connect descriptor
> 

I think it's a problem with the connection data in your Windows PC.
You have tested a local connection ( user/password ) on the Unix host 
with SQL*Plus.
Have you tried a remote connection ( user/password at host ) from your 
Windows PC with SQL*Plus ?
I think you will find the same problem if you try it with SQL*Plus.

Probably the connection data in your TNSNAMES.ORA file is not correct.

Hope this helps

	Aurelio