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Informix Error -19991: Table is not in Enterprise Replication alter mode

Cause and resolution

Table is not in Enterprise Replication alter mode

The specified operation cannot be performed on a table defined for replication if the table is not in Enterprise Replication alter mode. If you want to perform the specified operation, you must put the table in Enterprise Replication alter mode.

This error can also be returned when user attempts to modify primary key constraint of a replicated table without setting alter mode manually using 'cdr alter --on DB1:OWNER1.TABLE1' command. Make sure to close the current transaction before attempting manual alter mode.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-19991 fires when an operation requiring Enterprise Replication (ER) alter mode is attempted on a table that isn't in that mode — per the official guidance.

  1. A table not put into ER alter mode before the operation, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
  2. An attempt to modify a replicated table's primary key constraint without manually setting alter mode, per the official guidance — a specifically named case, via cdr alter --on DB1:OWNER1.TABLE1; close the current transaction first.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Put the table into ER alter mode, per the official guidance, before performing the operation.
  2. For primary key constraint changes, run cdr alter --on DB1:OWNER1.TABLE1 manually, per the official guidance, after closing the current transaction.
Examples
Setting alter mode manually
$ cdr alter --on mydb:myowner.mytable
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the table's current ER alter-mode state (cdr list ...), and set it manually if needed, closing any open transaction first.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -19992 — "Cannot perform insert/delete/update operations on a replicated table while the table is in alter mode." The mirror-image restriction, about DML being blocked while alter mode IS set rather than an operation needing it while it's unset.

The table isn't in ER alter mode — set it (manually via cdr alter for primary key changes).