DB link over HSODBC problem

Question

I've double and triple checked this and can't seem to find out why I am still getting ora-02063 errors. The connection is to a MSSQL server 2000 database from 10G R2, files configured are as such:
================================================================
tnsnames.ora:
# tnsnames.ora Network Configuration File: D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\db_1\NETWORK\ADMIN\tnsnames.ora
# Generated by Oracle configuration tools.
TFMDEV =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = winms-tfmdev)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = tfmdev)
FORMAT =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = winms-tfmdev)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = format)
(HS = OK)
LIMSPROD =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = winms-lims)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = limsprod)
WISPROD =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = winms-wooddb)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = wisprod)
EXTPROC_CONNECTION_DATA =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = IPC)(KEY = EXTPROC0))
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SID = PLSExtProc)
(PRESENTATION = RO)
listener.ora:
# listener.ora Network Configuration File: D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\db_1\NETWORK\ADMIN\listener.ora
# Generated by Oracle configuration tools.
SID_LIST_LISTENER =
(SID_LIST =
(SID_DESC =
(GLOBAL_DBNAME = TFMDEV)
(ORACLE_HOME = D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\db_1)
(SID_NAME = TFMDEV)
(SID_DESC =
(GLOBAL_DBNAME = format)
(PROGRAM = hsodbc)
(SID_NAME = format)
(ORACLE_HOME = D:\oracle\product\10.2.0\db_1)
LISTENER =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = winms-tfmdev)(PORT = 1521))
initFORMAT.ora in hs\admin directory:
# This is a sample agent init file that contains the HS parameters that are
# needed for an ODBC Agent.
# HS init parameters
HS_FDS_CONNECT_INFO = FORMAT
HS_FDS_TRACE_LEVEL = OFF
HS_FDS_TRACE_FILE_NAME=c:\orahs1.log
# Environment variables required for the non-Oracle system
#set <envvar>=<value>
================================================================
The DSN to the MSSQL database is named "FORMAT", and a dblink has been created with the same name. The dblink checks out ok (active) when testing it, and if I issue a select sysdate from dual@format I get a result.
However select * from <table>@format nor does select <colname> from <table>@format or select "<colname>" <table>@format, however desc <table>@format does return a list of columns:
================================================================
SQL> desc tblRua@FORMAT;
Name Null? Type
strActivityId VARCHAR2(12)
strAgreementType VARCHAR2(10)
strSegmentUsed VARCHAR2(50)
intNumberOfWells NUMBER(5)
intNumberOfKms FLOAT(23)
intVolume NUMBER(5)
strRuaRateType VARCHAR2(10)
dtmLastUpdateDate DATE
strUserId VARCHAR2(16)
SQL> select * from tblRua@FORMAT;
select * from tblRua@FORMAT
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-28500: connection from ORACLE to a non-Oracle system returned this message:
[Generic Connectivity Using ODBC][Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL
Server]Invalid object name 'TBLRUA'.[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL
Server]Statement(s) could not be prepared. (SQL State: S0002; SQL Code: 208)
ORA-02063: preceding 2 lines from FORMAT
SQL> select "strActivityId" from tblRua@FORMAT;
select "strActivityId" from tblRua@FORMAT
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-28500: connection from ORACLE to a non-Oracle system returned this message:
[Generic Connectivity Using ODBC][Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL
Server]Invalid object name 'TBLRUA'.[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL
Server]Statement(s) could not be prepared. (SQL State: S0002; SQL Code: 208)
ORA-02063: preceding 2 lines from FORMAT
================================================================
I have connected to the MSSQL database as the user specified in the dblink with the MSSQL query analyzer and can select the tables no problem, so I know its not a rights issue within MSSQL.
Am I missing something here?
TIA

Answer 1

Since the above worked, you still may want to create the view so you don't have to quote each time you select.
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14232/apc.htm#sthref516
I would suggest the following:
create a view which accessess your odbc table. In this view, explicity convert all columns to oracle datatypes. (FLOAT isn't an oracle datatype http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14200/sql_elements001.htm#sthref215) Then select from the view.
SQL> desc tblRua@FORMAT;
Name Null? Type
strActivityId VARCHAR2(12)
strAgreementType VARCHAR2(10)
strSegmentUsed VARCHAR2(50)
intNumberOfWells NUMBER(5)
intNumberOfKms FLOAT(23)
intVolume NUMBER(5)
strRuaRateType VARCHAR2(10)
dtmLastUpdateDate DATE
strUserId VARCHAR2(16)
Message was edited by:
dbtoo