User cannot perform Describe on synonyms when logged as certain user account. Describe displays "Object xxx not found". Running the same Describe statement in SQLPLus, via Editor menu option of Toad, works OK. User can perform a Select statement on the same synonym from Toad. However, running a Describe, results in error.
This synonym was created in a schema (schema A) other than the schema that its table exists in (schema B).
Describe A.<synonym name>; -- results in Object Not Found error
Using the SYS account, the Describe can be performed.
This is as designed.
Exclude the schema name when performing the Describe:
Describe <synonym name>;
If the synonym does not exist in ALL_OBJECTS and ALL_SYNONYMS views, then user privileges are on the underlying object, not the synonym itself, hence, the Describe will not work.
The Describe works in SQL Plus because SQLPlus only lists columns information and does not need additional requirements.
Logging in as SYS works because SYS has access to DBA_OBJECTS, while normal user only can use ALL_OBJECTS. If user has access to DBA_OBJECTS, then Describe would work.
