Informix Error -2026: The FORMONLY field fieldname did not have a type specified. A type must be specified if include lists or default values are specified.

Cause and resolution

The FORMONLY field fieldname did not have a type specified. A type must be specified if include lists or default values are specified.

The usual way of defining a form-only field (one not linked to a database column) is as follows:

tagname = DISPLAYONLY.fieldname TYPE datatype

The TYPE clause is required. Review the attribute statements and recompile the form. (The keyword FORMONLY is used in forms that the 4GL compiler compiles. Its meaning is the same as DISPLAYONLY.)

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-2026 fires when a FORMONLY/DISPLAYONLY field (one not linked to a database column) is given an INCLUDE list or default value without a TYPE clause — per the official guidance, TYPE is required in that case; FORMONLY is the keyword used in forms the 4GL compiler compiles, with the same meaning as DISPLAYONLY.

A FORMONLY/DISPLAYONLY field with an INCLUDE list or default value but no TYPE clause, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Add the required TYPE clause, per the official guidance, using the form tagname = DISPLAYONLY.fieldname TYPE datatype.
Review the attribute statements and recompile the form, per the official guidance.

Examples

A FORMONLY field missing TYPE

tagname = FORMONLY.search_status,
  INCLUDE = ("pending", "shipped");
-- -2026: no TYPE clause specified

Corrected

tagname = FORMONLY.search_status TYPE CHAR(10),
  INCLUDE = ("pending", "shipped");

Diagnostic Checks

Check every FORMONLY/DISPLAYONLY field that has an INCLUDE list or default value, and confirm it also has a TYPE clause.

Related Errors / Related Topics

No closely related error codes are cross-referenced for -2026 in this set yet.

A FORMONLY/DISPLAYONLY field with an INCLUDE list or default value is missing its required TYPE clause.