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Informix Error -21608: You have exceeded the limits of 8 defines. Extra defines will be ignored.

Cause and resolution

You have exceeded the limits of 8 defines. Extra defines will be ignored.

If this internal error recurs, note all circumstances and contact IBM Informix Technical Support.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-21608 fires when an mkmessage input file's preprocessor uses more than 8 ^ifdef/ ^ifndef macro defines — per the official guidance, defines past the eighth are ignored.

  1. More than 8 preprocessor defines used in the input file, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Reduce the number of preprocessor defines to 8 or fewer, per the official guidance's implication, or restructure the input to not need the extras.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond exceeding 8 defines.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Count the distinct macros defined via -dMACRO/^ifdef/^ifndef in the input file, and reduce below 8 if exceeded.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -21614 — "Expected identifier not found following ^ifdef or ^ifndef at line line-number." A related preprocessor error, on malformed ^ifdef/^ifndef syntax rather than exceeding the define limit.

More than 8 preprocessor defines were used — extras are silently ignored; reduce the count.