Informix Error -26174: Incorrect DATAFILES entry.

Cause and resolution

Incorrect DATAFILES entry.

A DATAFILES entry does not have the correct format. The format for an entry is filetype:rooted-path-name.

Check that the file type is a valid type (DISK or PIPE), that the second item names a item names a file that can be accessed.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-26174 fires when a DATAFILES entry doesn't follow the required filetype:rooted-path- name format — per the official guidance.

A DATAFILES entry not in filetype:rooted-path-name format, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Use a valid file type (DISK or PIPE), per the official guidance.
Name an accessible file for the path portion, per the official guidance.

Examples

An incorrectly formatted DATAFILES entry

CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE ext_tab SAMEAS orders
  USING (DATAFILES ("/data/orders.unl"), ...);
-- -26174: missing the DISK:/PIPE: filetype prefix

Corrected

CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE ext_tab SAMEAS orders
  USING (DATAFILES ("DISK:/data/orders.unl"), ...);

Diagnostic Checks

Check every DATAFILES entry for the filetype:path format, and confirm the file type is DISK/PIPE and the path is accessible.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-26175 — "DATAFILES entry are missing." A related DATAFILES-clause error, on the clause being absent rather than incorrectly formatted.
-26182 — "Incorrect file type in DATAFILES string datafile entry." A related DATAFILES-entry error, specifically on the file-type portion rather than the entry's overall format.

A DATAFILES entry wasn't in filetype:rooted-path-name format — correct it.