credit and sources:
http://alderprogs.blogspot.com/2009/04/deploying-odpnet-with-oracle-instant.html
http://jeremybranham.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/oracle-instant-client-with-odp-net/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh873130.aspx
video instruction:
http://youtu.be/xBptxDqXkhs
My dev env:
Windows 7 x64
VS11
.NET 4.5
Express Edition 11g Release 2
ODAC 11.2 Release 5 and Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio (11.2.0.3.20)
The sources mentions that you need to download additional oracle package to obtain the necessary dll. In actuality you don't. All you need to do is search for those required dll files within the installed Oracle Client11g directory not the directory where you installed the Oracle Database 11g Express Edition.
Oracle dll files:
OraOps11w.dll
oci.dll
orannzsbb11.dll
oraociei11.dll
the Oracle.DataAccess.dll is in the reference section of the project Solution Explorer. Oracle.DataAccess will be changed.
search for those dll files and copy/paste it to the project folder that contains the source.
Open the project in VS.
From the Solution Explorer click on "Show All Files"
select all the oracle dll file, right click and "Included In Projects". while those files are still selected, right click -> Properties.
select "Copy if newer" option from Copy to Output Directory
Go to References, delete the Oracle.DataAccess reference. Right click on the References folder -> select "Add Reference" -> click "Browse"
go to the odp.net\bin\4\ folder within your oracle client 11g install path, select Oracle.DataAccess, click ADD and then OK
for me that file is found in D:\OracleDB\base\product\11.2.0\client_1\odp.net\bin\4
In the Solution Explorer -> right click on your project -> Properties -> Publish
Select where you want your file published.
Next click on "Prerequisites..." -> select framework 4.5 and Download prerequisites from the same location as my application -> press ok
follow step 1 to 3 here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh873130.aspx
When done hit"Publish Now" and there you have it!