Introduction
Oracle SQL Developer 1.2 with this latest version is sometimes called the Migration version as it supports migrating data from three vendors (MySQL, SQL Server and MS Access) to an Oracle database. In fact, it has been designed to migrate from more than one version of MS Access. This feature was not available in the version 1.1 of this tool.
Overview of this Tutorial
Oracle 10G XE, by design, can have just one database on a computer. However, you can have separate applications by having different user schemas. Oracle 10G XE comes bundled with a sample database schema and data which can be accessed by using the credentials, username hr with a password hr. For the purposes of this example a new user will be created and his authentication will be used for creating necessary migration related schemas to be stored in a repository. This will become clear as you follow the various details and the steps.
Once the ‘Repository’ is created then you can begin by capturing the metadata of the source followed by converting the captured source information into Oracle specific model where a mapping between the source data and the Oracle will be accomplished. After this process, you generate the data definition language script which will create the Oracle objects such as tables, views, etc. In the final step these tables will be populated by transferring the data from the source to Oracle 10G XE.
MS Access 2003 Source
Creating a New User in Oracle 10G XE
Only a user with DBA privileges can create a new user. Open the Homepage of the Oracle 10G XE Server. Login with the credentials you supplied while installing the software where the user is system and the password is what you chose at that time, as shown in the next figure.
This gives you access to several of the tools that you can use to administer as well as work with database objects. Click on the icon for Administration and follow the drop-downs till you get to the menu item, Create User, as shown in the next figure.
Create a new user MigrateAccess with some password that you choose and confirm. Keep the account status unlocked. This uses the default tablespace called USERS. The default user privilege does not include the DBA role but for this example, the DBA is also included by placing a check mark in this selection. Also several other system wide privileges are also granted. Please follow steps described in the earlier article for the details. The next figure shows all the details filled in.
Creating the Repository to Store Schemas
Migration using this tool requires an Oracle database schema to store the Meta data it collects about the source. You will create a connection from the Oracle SQL Developer to the Oracle 10 XE, in which, you just finished creating a new user schema. This user’s schema is where the repository contents will be stored.
Making a connection to the Oracle
Right click on the Connections node, and from the drop-down menu select New Connection. This brings up the New / Select Database Connection (this has been described in the earlier referenced article) window. It comes up with the default connection to an Oracle database. It even recognizes the local Oracle 10G XE, capturing all its details as shown. You need to provide a Connection Name, a Username and a Password. The connection name is your choice (herein called conMigrate) and the user name and password is the same that was used while creating the new user MigrateAccess. When you click on the button ‘Test’, a (success) status message will be posted to this form above the Help button, as shown in the next figure after a little while, preceded by a little progress window.
Now click on the OK button on the New / Select Database Connection window.
This adds the conMigrate connection to the list of Connections as shown in the next figure. Notice that objects are all empty as we discussed earlier.
Create Repository
Click on the main menu item Migrate. From the drop-down, click on Repository Management –> Create Repository as shown in the next figure.
This brings up the Create Repository window showing the connection conMigrate as shown in the next figure. You may connect or disconnect this from the tool as long as the authentication information is available.
Now click on the Create button. This brings up the Installing Repository window which reports the various objects installed and finally shows a message “Repository Built Successfully” as shown in the next figure.
Click on the Close button on this window.
Now login to the Oracle 10G XE with the credentials for the user MigrateAccess, and click on the object browser. Now you see all the Tables, Views, etc in the repository as shown.
The next figure shows the submenus of the View menu.
Connect to the Source Database
Right click on the connection node and establish a new connection so that you can connect to the source database, conTestMigration as shown in the next figure. When you click the Test button you will see a message that gets posted to the screen indicating the connection was a success. Click on the Connect button. This adds the conTestMigrate connection to the list of Connections in the navigator window.