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Informix Error -23196

-23196 Unknown locale in selected database.

The locale information that is stored in the system catalog systables of the selected database does not match the value that the DB_LOCALE environment variable specifies. Check the value of DB_LOCALE. If it is correct, drop the database and re-create it with the correct value of DB_LOCALE.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-23196 fires when the locale information stored in the selected database's systables catalog doesn't match the value DB_LOCALE specifies — per the official guidance.

  1. DB_LOCALE not matching the database's stored locale information, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check the value of DB_LOCALE, per the official guidance.
  2. If DB_LOCALE is correct, drop and re-create the database with the correct DB_LOCALE value, per the official guidance.
Examples
Checking DB_LOCALE
$ echo $DB_LOCALE
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Compare DB_LOCALE's value against the database's actual stored locale information, and correct whichever is wrong.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -23197 — "Database locale information mismatch." A related database-locale error, on specific GL_CTYPE/GL_COLLATE catalog values disagreeing with DB_LOCALE rather than the locale being entirely unrecognized.

DB_LOCALE didn't match the selected database's stored locale — check DB_LOCALE, or drop and re-create the database with the correct value.