Can't create database link when password has special character

Question

I'm trying to execute the following statement within sqlplus
create database link alpha connect to scott identified by tiger! using 'db_alpha'
note that the password for the account has an exclamation point in it. the command fails. I've tried placing the password in quotes (') and double-quotes ("). The double-quotes work, but then the link fails to function properly.
We are required to have a special character in our passwords... so how do I get that special character into the password for the database link?
Thanks in advance,
Darren

Answer 1

for some weird reason, I can't post the reply I want. every time I try, the forum hangs and doesn't save the message. give me a sec...
I have put the password within double quotes... so I'm starting to think the problem is something else. I've been reading other posts regarding creating database links and I've obtained limited results. Here's what I've done, and the results I'm getting.
(names changed to protect the innocent)
My oracle database is on SYSA. I'm on SYSB. I set my TWO_TASK=SYSA and just use sqlplus to connect as user1.
I want to run a command on user2's tables. Normally I would just grant read access to user1 on user2's tables and use a command like
nert spaces to get this to save (weird forum bug here, I can't delete the text to the left)
SQL> sel{color:black}{color}ect * fr{color:black}{color}om u{color:black}{color}s{color:black}{color}e{color:black}{color}r{color:black}{color}2{color:black}{color}.{color:black}{color}m{color:black}{color}y{color:black}{color}_{color:black}{color}t{color:black}{color}a{color:black}{color}b{color:black}{color}l{color:black}{color}e{color:black}{color};
However, user2 is for test data and those tables get dropped and recreated often and it is cumbersome to try to remind everyone to recreate the grants. So I can't trust that user1 will have access to user2's tables. So my goal with the database link is to create a private (for user1 only) database link and access the tables that way, that way I bypass the grant issue. This works out better for me because we only change that password every 2 months. I just recreate the database link once every two months, rather than recreate grants multiple times every week. Well, that's the theory anyway.
Back to creating the database link, I thought my issue was the special character in the password because if I remove the exclamation point everyting works (except that the password is invalid). Below is what it looks like when I do this...
Attempt #1:
SQL> create database link BLAH connect to user2 identified by "tiger" using 'BLAH';
Database link created
SQL> sel{color:black}{color}ect * fr{color:black}{color}om my{color:black}{color}_{color:black}{color}table{color:black}{color}@{color:black}{color}BLAH;
sel{color:black}{color}ect * fr{color:black}{color}om my{color:black}{color}_{color:black}{color}ta{color:black}{color}ble{color:black}{color}@{color:black}{color}BLAH
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-01017: invalid username/password; logon denied
ORA-02063: preceding line from BLAH
So that looks like it's just a password issue. If I put in the correct password... the error changes to this...
Attempt #2:
SQL> create database link BLAH connect to user2 identified by "tiger!" using 'BLAH';
Database link created
SQL> sel{color:black}{color}ect {color:black}{color}* fr{color:black}{color}om my{color:black}{color}_{color:black}{color}table{color:black}{color}@BLAH;
sel{color:black}{color}ect * fr{color:black}{color}om my{color:black}{color}_ta{color:black}{color}ble{color:black}{color}@BLAH
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-02085: database link BLAH.AAA.BB.CCC.DDD connects to
DEVDB.AAA.BB.CCC.DDD
To me, that doesn't make sense. If the link isn't working... how did it get the "invalid username/password" in Attempt #1?
Anyway, in perusing other forum posts, one post said to put in the full text from the tnsnames.ora file instead of the alias. So I do a little cut/paste and try this...
Attempt #3:
SQL> create database link BLAH connect to user2 identified by "tiger!" using
2 '(DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = server001.aaa.bb.ccc.ddd)(PORT = 9999)))
3 (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = devdb)))';
Database link created.
SQL> sel{color:black}{color}ect {color:black}{color}* fro{color:black}{color}m my{color:black}{color}_{color:black}{color}tab{color:black}{color}le{color:black}{color}@BLAH;
sel{color:black}{color}ect {color:black}{color}* fr{color:black}{color}om {color:black}{color}my_{color:black}{color}tab{color:black}{color}le@B{color:black}{color}LAH
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-02085: database link BLAH.AAA.BB.CCC.DDD connects to
DEVDB.AAA.BB.CCC.DDD
Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?
Darren