SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

2928744 - Error: 'The database connector: 'crdb_oracle.dll' could not be loaded...' when refreshing a report based of Oracle in Crystal Reports

Symptom

  • Error when refreshing reports based on Oracle.
  • Error: "The database connector: ‘crdb_oracle.dll’ could not be loaded."
  • On some computers, unable to refresh reports connecting to Oracle in Crystal Reports.
  • On the same computer, can successfully refresh reports based on Oracle when logged on as the computer Administrator, but it fails with other MS Windows users.
  • When refreshing a report based of Oracle in Crystal Reports, it fails with the error:
      
        "Failed to load database information.
         Details: The database connector: 'crdb_oracle.dll' could not be loaded.
         The correct version of the database client for this database type might not be installed."

Environment

  • SAP Crystal Reports 2016
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2020
  • SAP Crystal Reports 2025
                  
  • Oracle 12c R2
  • Oracle 18c
  • Oracle 19c
  • Oracle 21c

Reproducing the Issue

  1. In Crystal Reports, open a report based on an Oracle database.
  2. Refresh the report, and it fails with the error:
         
       "Failed to load database information.
        Details: The database connector: 'crdb_oracle.dll' could not be loaded.
        The correct version of the database client for this database type might not be installed."

Cause

  • The Oracle Client is not installed, or configured correctly on the computer where Crystal Reports is installed.
    • For Crystal Reports 2016: It requires the 32bit Oracle Client.
    • For Crystal Reports 2020, 2025: It requires the 64bit Oracle Client.
             
  • If you have both 64bit, and 32bit Oracle Client installed on the same computer, it generates the error because Crystal Reports cannot access the correct Oracle Client for the version of Crystal Reports used.

Resolution

  1. Install and configure the Oracle Client on the computer where Crystal Reports is installed:

    1. 1.1 Confirm which version of Oracle is supported for the version of Crystal Reports used, by reviewing the
            supported platforms document available in the SAP Knowlege Base Article 2859510 
                
    2. 1.2  Install the 32bit or 64bit Oracle Client on the computer based on the version of Crystal Reports used, and the version of Oracle you are connecting to:
         
             - For Crystal Reports 2016:
                   - Install the 32bit Oracle Client.
           
             - For Crystal Reports 2020, 2025:
                    - Install the 64bit Oracle Client.
          
             For examples:
             - For Crystal Reports 2016, connecting to Oracle 12c, install and configure the 32bit Oracle 12c Client.
             - For Crystal Reports 2020, connecting to Oracle 19c, install and configure the 64bit Oracle 19c Client. 
                       
    3. 1.3 Configure the Oracle Client to point to your Oracle data source.
              
      Note:
      For assistance in installing, and configuring the Oracle Client, contact your Oracle Database Administrator, or consult the Oracle documentation.
          
               
  2. If the Oracle Client is installed and configured, and you are still receiving the error after, then it's because you may have the 32bit, and 64bit Oracle Client instralled on the same computer. To ensure Crystal Reports can successfully connect to Oracle then:

    1. 2.1 Change the order of the path to the Oracle Client, in the MS Windows Environment Variable:  
         
      • For Crystal Reports 2016:
        Add the 32 bit path to the PATH environment variable right after the 64 bit path. For example: 
          
        PATH=C:\Ora12g64\product\12.2.0\client_1\bin;C:\Ora12g32\product\12.2.0\client_1\bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;...
          
      • For Crystal Reports 2020, 2025:
        Add the 64 bit path to the PATH environment variable right after the 32 bit path. For example: 

        PATH=C:\Ora12g32\product\12.2.0\client_1\bin;C:\Ora12g64\product\12.2.0\client_1\bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;...
            
                               
    2. 2.2  Set the Oracle registry key: TNS_ADMIN, to point to the location of the tnsnames.ora

      1. 2.2.1  Start the Microsoft Windows Registry editor (regedit)
          
      2. 2.2.2  Navigate to the your Oracle client registry under:

        • For Crystal Reports 2016:
    3.                   Go to the 32bit Oracle Client:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\ORACLE
       
        • For Crystal Reports 2020, 2025:
           Go to the 64bit Oracle Client registry :  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE
             
      1. 2.2.3  Right click on your Oracle folder entry, and select in the contextual menu  "New - String Value" and create: TNS_ADMIN registry key
           
      2. 2.2.4 Add the 32bit, or 64bit path to the Oracle Client depending on the version of Crystal Reports used:

        • For Crystal Reports 2016: 
          In the TNS_ADMIN, add the path to the 32 bit Oracle Client location of the tnsnames.ora on your hard drive.   

        • For Crystal Reports 2020, 2025:
          In the TNS_ADMIN, add the path to the 64 bit Oracle Client location of the tnsnames.ora on your hard drive

Keywords

CR, ORA , KBA , BI-RA-CR , Crystal Reports designer or Business View Manager , Problem

Product

SAP Crystal Reports 2016 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2020 ; SAP Crystal Reports 2025