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Quoting myself..... > To any and all Informix guru's, et al...... > > H e l p , H e l p , H E L P ! ! ! ! > > I am running Informix 4GL SE release 4.10.UC2 and trying to convert data >from an older version of Informix. > > One of the fields I need to convert is a CHAR(15) containing info similar >to a DateTime type field into a field designated as DateTime YEAR TO MINUTE. >The problem is that the CHAR(15) data is not consistant and doesn't always >convert properly. When this happens, I get a > Form Error -1262 >which is expected. Unfortunately, I do not seem to be able to TRAP this error. >I've checked STATUS and sqlca.sqlcode - both are ZERO. WHENEVER ERROR >statements don't seem to help any. If I can trap the fact that the data >doesn't convert on the 1st try, there are some things I can try to massage the >data better and try another conversion. I'm stuck. Questions..... > > 1) Is there any way to trap the error so Informix doesn't display it? > 2) Is there something else I can check for errors? > 3) Is there another way to test the data BEFORE trying to convert into > the DateTime field? > > Thanks in advance, guys and gals. > To all those that replied to my desperate cry for help, thanks. The best answer came from Dave Snyder (author of db4glgen, etc.). He suggested using the Informix Utility DBLOAD rather than the SQL LOAD since it has better features, capabilities, etc. This allowed me to transfer most of the records and isolate those that actually needed attention. The main problem I have, and this is something I have found in MANY past situations, is that the documentation is so darned difficult to use. 8-( I think Informix has a wonderful product, and the utilities, functions, features associated with the PRODUCT are excellant, but trying to find something in the docs is difficult to say the least. Anyway, no sense in beating THAT horse too much, just a little frustration venting. Again, thanks for all your help. Mark * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mark E. Heringslake Phone (215) 824-3000 extension 249 * * FAX (215) 824-4423 * * "If at first you don't succeed, hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't work * * use a bigger hammer and hit it harder. If it breaks, it needed fixing * * anyway." - Murphy (paraphrased) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *