How To Install Oracle Instant Client v12 For Xampp v7, v5.5 & v5.6 (Windows)

Below you will find the instructions on how to configure/install and enable the Oracle Instant Client for XAMPP v7, v5.5 and v5.6.

1. Download and install XAMPP from https://www.apachefriends.org/download.html
2. Modify the php.ini in “C:\xampp\php”
   • Uncomment the following line “;extension=php_oci8_12c.dll  ; Use with Oracle Database 12c Instant Client”
   • Restart Apache
3. Download the 32 bit (PHP is 32 bit so no need to 64) Oracle Instant Client from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/winsoft-085727.html
   • You need both Instant Client Package – Basic and Instant Client Package – SDK
   • Unzip both in “C:\php-sdk\oracle\x86\instantclient_12_1″ and “c:\php-sdk\oracle\x86\instantclient_12_1\sdk” respectivly
4. Add the directory “C:\php-sdk\oracle\x86\instantclient_12_1″ to the windows path veritable
   • Under system Properties click Environment Variables
   • 
   • Edit the Path variable
   • 
   • You need to reboot windows
5. (Optional)If you want to specify the oracle connections in the tnsnames.ora file:
   • Create a file called “tnsnames.ora” in “C:\php-sdk\oracle\x86\instantclient_12_1″
   • Add your oracle connections to the file as described here: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B28359_01/network.111/b28317/tnsnames.htm#NETRF007
   • Create a new environmental variable called “TNS_ADMIN” with the value of “C:\php-sdk\oracle\x86\instantclient_12_1″
   • Reboot Windows

Thats it 🙂