Oracle SQL Developer Unable to Reset the Password - Reset Password dialog box is not active -ORA 28001

Introduction

Oracle SQL Developer (OSD) is a popular tool used for database development, administration, and maintenance. One of the essential features of OSD is its ability to reset passwords for users in an Oracle database. However, there have been reports of issues with resetting passwords in OSDEntering the password reset dialog box being unresponsive or inaccessible can be frustrating and hinder productivity. In this article, we will explore one such issue that has been encountered by some users and provide possible solutions to resolve it.

Understanding the Issue

The problem we are discussing is related to the inability to access the “Reset Password” dialog box in Oracle SQL Developer after attempting to reset a password. The error message displayed is ORA 28001, which typically indicates an internal error or invalid operation on the database.

Step-by-Step Steps to reproduce this issue

To help with troubleshooting and diagnosis, we can recreate the steps that lead to this issue:

Access the “Reset Password” option: Open Oracle SQL Developer and connect to your Oracle database using a valid username and password.
Navigate to the User Manager: In the Object Navigator, navigate to Users > [Username] > Properties.
Click on the “Change Password” button: This will open the “Change Password” dialog box.
Attempt to submit changes: Click the “Apply” or “Save” button without entering any new password.

Symptoms of the Issue

After attempting to reset the password and clicking “Apply” or “Save,” the following symptoms are observed:

The “Reset Password” dialog box is not visible, even when trying to access it by clicking on a different option.
An error message ORA 28001 is displayed.

Possible Causes

Several factors can contribute to this issue. Here are some possible causes and solutions for each of them:

1. Privilege issues with the User Manager

If the user running Oracle SQL Developer does not have sufficient privileges on the database, they may encounter errors when trying to reset passwords using the User Manager.

Solution: Ensure that the user has sufficient permissions to access the User Manager and perform password changes.

– Grant necessary privileges to the user GRANT CREATE SESSION TO [username]; GRANT SELECT ON users TO [username];


### 2. Corrupted or locked User data

The "Reset Password" dialog box might not appear if the user's data is corrupted, locked, or otherwise invalid.

*   **Solution**: Try dropping and recreating the tablespace for the user's data.
    ```markdown
-- Drop and recreate the tablespace for the user's data
DBMS_SPACE.MANAGE_DATAFILES(
  owner => [username],
  type      => 'TABLESPACE');

3. Oracle Client Version Compatibility

Ensure that you are using an Oracle client version compatible with your database.

Solution: Check the compatibility of your Oracle client and update it if necessary.

– Upgrade to a newer Oracle client version – Download and install a newer Oracle client


## Additional Steps for Troubleshooting

In addition to checking privilege issues, corrupted user data, and Oracle client version compatibility, there are further steps that can help with troubleshooting:

### 1. Check the Oracle SQL Developer Console Output

The console output may contain more information about what went wrong.

*   **Solution**: Open the Oracle SQL Developer Console and review the output.
    ```markdown
-- Show Console Output
SELECT * FROM DUAL;

2. Execute the `DBMS_OUTPUT` command in PL/SQL

By executing a simple command, you can see the output of the DBMS_OUTPUT buffer.

Solution: Execute the following PL/SQL command to view any additional debug information.

– Enable and View DBMS_OUTPUT SET SERVEROUTPUT ON;


### 3. Use SQL Developer's Built-in Troubleshooting Tools

OSD has various built-in tools that can aid in debugging.

*   **Solution**: Use the "Tools" > "Run Debug" or "Debug" option to run a debug session and analyze any issues.
    ```markdown
-- Run a Debug Session
DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE;

Conclusion

The inability to reset passwords using Oracle SQL Developer can be frustrating for many users. However, with patience and persistence, it is possible to identify the root cause of the issue and resolve it. By understanding privilege issues, corrupted user data, Oracle client version compatibility, and utilizing built-in debugging tools, you should now have a better idea about how to approach this problem in your own environment.

When dealing with technical difficulties involving software applications, sometimes these troubleshooting steps can aid in solving issues such as password reset problems with Oracle SQL Developer.

Last modified on 2025-02-24