SQL*Loader-704/ORA-12154 errors

A user was attempting to run SQLLDR with the below command:

sqlldr sys@DBUAT control=/db1/DB_UAT_data.ctl log=/db1/DB_UAT_data.log

The above command prompted for the SYS password and then displayed the below error message:

SQL*Loader-704: Internal error: ulconnect: OCIServerAttach [0]
ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve the connect identifier specified 
11:22 AM 

TNSPING to the DBUAT database were successful.

The issue was caused by the SYS password containing the “@” symbol. A quick workaround was to change the command to:

sqlldr \'/ as sysdba \' control=/db1/DB_UAT_data.ctl log=/db1/DB_UAT_data.log