Issue with legacy informix driver

I've been lucky enough to inherit an older ESQL/C program that interfaces with the database through the C library. We're in the midst of a Y2K initiative and I'm seeing something that looks as if it might be a bonehead move by myself, but since I'm new to Informix, I'm not too good at recognizing bonehead moves! When the application calls EXEC SQL DESCRIBE stmt INTO sqldba_p; I'm seeing the resultant structure alter the column datatypes (sqlba_p=>sqltype) to something other than that which I'd expect. I'm seeing columns created in the database (and viewable in informix.syscolumns.coltype ...) as REAL, FLOAT, and DECIMAL all returned to me with a DECIMAL type attached to them. The program I'm debugging is written to differentiate (it handles fixed and non- fixed 'legth' numebsr differently) so I know it wasn't workign this way before. Is there a database flag that may be 'consolidating' things? I had to install the database myself and since there wasn't an old process to follow, I may have inadvertablty NOT turned on some sort of value (like some ANSI compatible variable or something). I know this is pretty vague, but any help woudl be appreciative ... I'm a bit out of my league! Thanks, Mike Bristol mbristol@fastech.com -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading