Ssma Console — Agent Skill by GitHub

From the author

Use when: SSMA console operations — create project, generate assessment report, convert schema, migrate data, Oracle to SQL Server migration, schema conversion, data migration

— the description by kapilsamant

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a structured approach to performing database migrations from Oracle to SQL Server using the SSMA (SQL Server Migration Assistant) console. It guides the user through generating the necessary XML configuration files (variables, servers, and operation scripts) and executing the migration process directly via the SSMA console executable. The skill covers the full lifecycle, including project creation, assessment reporting, schema conversion, and data migration, while addressing common pitfalls like TNS connection modes and namespace resolution.

What it does

Generates required XML configuration files for SSMA console operations.
Configures Oracle and SQL Server connection parameters.
Creates assessment reports to evaluate migration readiness.
Executes schema conversion and deployment to the target SQL Server.
Performs end-to-end data migration between source and target databases.
Summarizes migration results and logs for verification.

When to use it

When migrating Oracle databases to SQL Server using the command line.
When you need to automate repetitive migration tasks without a GUI.
When generating standardized assessment reports for migration planning.
When troubleshooting common SSMA console errors like ORA-12505 or namespace issues.

Advantages

Enables repeatable, scriptable migration workflows.
Reduces manual configuration errors by using standardized XML templates.
Provides clear guidance on resolving common connectivity and schema mapping issues.
Supports full-cycle migration from assessment to data transfer.

Usage examples

“Create an SSMA assessment report for my Oracle database.”: The agent will collect your Oracle and SQL Server connection details, generate the necessary XML files, and execute the assessment report command, providing a summary of the findings.
“Migrate my Oracle schema to SQL Server 2022.”: The agent will generate the configuration files and run the schema conversion and synchronization commands, reporting the status of the deployment.

Install

Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/github/ssma-console/download

Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip ssma-console.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by kapilsamant

SSMA Console — Oracle to SQL Server Migration

Generate XML configs and invoke SSMAforOracleConsole.exe directly — no external scripts or wrappers.

Operations (run in order for "full migration"):

create-project — connect source & target, map schema
generate-report — assessment report
migrate-schema — convert & deploy schema
migrate-data — convert, deploy, migrate data end-to-end

Collect Inputs

Ask for missing parameters. Defaults in parentheses.

Oracle: Host (localhost), Port (1521), Instance (required, service name), User, Password, Schema SQL Server: Server, Database, User, Password, Encrypt (true), Trust Server Certificate (true), Target Schema (dbo) Project: Name (ssma-migration), Folder (.), Type (sql-server-2022 — also 2016/2017/2019/2025/sql-azure), SSMA Path (C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for Oracle\bin\SSMAforOracleConsole.exe)

Generate XML Files

Resolve ALL {PLACEHOLDER} tokens before writing. Generate 3 files:

`ssma-variables.xml`

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<variables>
  <variable name="$WorkingFolder$" value="{PROJECT_FOLDER}" />
  <variable name="$ProjectType$" value="{PROJECT_TYPE}" />
  <variable name="$ProjectName$" value="{PROJECT_NAME}" />
  <variable-group name="OracleConnection">
    <variable name="$OracleHostName$" value="{ORACLE_HOST}" />
    <variable name="$OracleInstance$" value="{ORACLE_INSTANCE}" />
    <variable name="$OraclePort$" value="{ORACLE_PORT}" />
    <variable name="$OracleUserName$" value="{ORACLE_USER}" />
    <variable name="$OraclePassword$" value="{ORACLE_PASSWORD}" />
    <variable name="$OracleSchemaName$" value="{ORACLE_SCHEMA}" />
  </variable-group>
  <variable-group name="SQLServerConnection">
    <variable name="$SQLServerName$" value="{SQL_SERVER}" />
    <variable name="$SQLServerDb$" value="{SQL_DATABASE}" />
    <variable name="$SQLServerUsrID$" value="{SQL_USER}" />
    <variable name="$SQLServerPwd$" value="{SQL_PASSWORD}" />
  </variable-group>
  <variable-group name="ReportSettings">
    <variable name="$SummaryReportFile$" value="Reports\Assessment\AssessmentReport.xml" />
    <variable name="$ConversionReportFile$" value="Reports\Conversion\ConversionReport.xml" />
    <variable name="$ConversionReportFolder$" value="Reports\Conversion" />
    <variable name="$DataMigrationReportFile$" value="Reports\Migration\DataMigrationReport.xml" />
    <variable name="$SynchronizationReportFolder$" value="Reports\Synchronization" />
  </variable-group>
</variables>

`ssma-servers.xml`

CRITICAL: Use tns-name-mode — standard-mode treats instance as SID and fails with ORA-12505.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<servers>
  <oracle name="source_oracle">
    <tns-name-mode>
      <connection-provider value="OracleClient" />
      <service-name value="(DESCRIPTION =(ADDRESS_LIST =(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = $OracleHostName$)(PORT = $OraclePort$)))(CONNECT_DATA =(SERVICE_NAME = $OracleInstance$)))" />
      <user-id value="$OracleUserName$" />
      <password value="$OraclePassword$" />
    </tns-name-mode>
  </oracle>
  <sql-server name="target_sqlserver">
    <sql-server-authentication>
      <server value="$SQLServerName$" />
      <database value="$SQLServerDb$" />
      <user-id value="$SQLServerUsrID$" />
      <password value="$SQLServerPwd$" />
      <encrypt value="{ENCRYPT}" />
      <trust-server-certificate value="{TRUST_CERT}" />
    </sql-server-authentication>
  </sql-server>
</servers>

Operation Script XML

Generate one script per operation. All scripts share this common <config> block (add <object-overwrite action="overwrite" /> for migrate-schema/migrate-data, add <data-migration-connection source-use-last-used="true" target-server="target_sqlserver" /> for migrate-data, use every-5% progress for schema/data ops):

<config>
  <output-providers>
    <output-window suppress-messages="false" destination="stdout" />
    <upgrade-project action="yes" />
    <user-input-popup mode="continue" />
    <progress-reporting enable="true" report-messages="true" report-progress="every-10%" />
    <log-verbosity level="info" />
  </output-providers>
</config>

All scripts start with this preamble in <script-commands>:

<create-new-project project-folder="$WorkingFolder$" project-name="$ProjectName$"
                    overwrite-if-exists="true" project-type="$ProjectType$" />
<connect-source-database server="source_oracle">
  <object-to-collect object-name="$OracleSchemaName$" />
</connect-source-database>

CRITICAL: Always include <object-to-collect> — without it, map-schema fails with "Source namespace was not found".

Per-operation commands (after preamble, before <save-project />):

Operation	File	Commands after preamble
create-project	`ssma-create-project.xml`	`connect-target-database` → `map-schema source-schema="$OracleSchemaName$" sql-server-schema="$SQLServerDb$.{TARGET_SCHEMA}"`
generate-report	`ssma-assessment.xml`	`generate-assessment-report object-name="$OracleSchemaName$" object-type="Schemas" write-summary-report-to="$SummaryReportFile$" verbose="true" report-errors="true"`
migrate-schema	`ssma-schema.xml`	`connect-target-database` → `map-schema` → `convert-schema` (to $ConversionReportFile$ ) → `synchronize-target object-name="$SQLServerDb$.{TARGET_SCHEMA}"`
migrate-data	`ssma-data.xml`	Same as migrate-schema + `refresh-from-database` → `migrate-data object-name="$OracleSchemaName$.Tables" object-type="category"` (to $DataMigrationReportFile$ ) → `close-project`

Execute

Show resolved XML and command to user. Confirm before running.

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "Reports\Assessment","Reports\Conversion","Reports\Migration","Reports\Synchronization","Logs" | Out-Null
& "{SSMA_CONSOLE_PATH}" -s "{SCRIPT_XML}" -c "ssma-servers.xml" -v "ssma-variables.xml" -l "Logs\{OPERATION}.log"

Report Results

Check exit code (0 = success), read logs and reports (Reports\Assessment\, Reports\Conversion\, Reports\Migration\), summarize findings.

Constraints

No external scripts — no .ps1, .bat, .sh
Confirm connection details before executing
Resolve all placeholders — no {...} in final XML
Create output directories before execution

Known Pitfalls

Symptom	Fix
`ORA-12505: SID not registered`	Use `tns-name-mode`, not `standard-mode`
`Source namespace was not found`	Add `<object-to-collect>` to `connect-source-database`
`not found in metabase` on `force-load`	Use `object-to-collect` instead — `force-load` is unreliable
`SQL Server Agent is not running`	Warning only — BCP client-side migration still works

Files

ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer863 B
LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer1.0 KiB
SKILL.md7.0 KiB

Requirements and compatibility

Written for: GitHub Copilot

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Wizard
Matt Pocock· Community
Generate interactive bash wizards to guide humans through complex manual setup, migration, or configuration tasks.
Automation and integrationsClaude CodeClaude appsOpenAI Codex+14 more
MITLow riskHas scriptsGitHub stars of the source repository317.5k
Emails
Corey Haines· Community
Design and optimize automated email sequences for onboarding, nurturing, and lifecycle management.
Automation and integrationsClaude CodeClaude appsOpenAI Codex+14 more
MITGitHub stars of the source repository59k
Conversion Tracking
Corey Haines· Community
A systematic approach to setting up, auditing, and verifying website conversion tracking across major ad platforms and analytics tools.
Automation and integrationsClaude CodeClaude appsOpenAI Codex+14 more
MITLow riskHas scriptsGitHub stars of the source repository59k
Directory Submissions
Corey Haines· Community
A strategic framework for submitting software products to directories to build backlinks, improve domain rating, and drive discovery.
Automation and integrationsClaude CodeClaude appsOpenAI Codex+14 more
MITMedium riskGitHub stars of the source repository59k
Sms
Corey Haines· Community
Plan, build, and optimize compliant SMS, MMS, and WhatsApp marketing programs for high-engagement customer communication.
Automation and integrationsClaude CodeClaude appsOpenAI Codex+14 more
MITGitHub stars of the source repository59k
Marketing Loops
Corey Haines· Community
Orchestrate and schedule repeatable, self-running marketing workflows that operate on a defined cadence.
Automation and integrationsClaude CodeClaude appsOpenAI Codex+14 more
MITGitHub stars of the source repository59k

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download ssma-console.zip