Informix Error -26178: Incorrect external column type column-name.

Reasons / Common Causes

-26178 fires when a CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE column's external type is invalid — per the official guidance.

1. The named column's external type isn't CHAR(size), per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Declare the external column type as CHAR(size), per the official guidance.

Examples

An invalid external type

CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE ext_tab (order_id INTEGER EXTERNAL INT)
  USING (FORMAT 'FIXED', ...);
-- -26178: external type must be CHAR(size)

Corrected

CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE ext_tab (order_id INTEGER EXTERNAL CHAR(10))
  USING (FORMAT 'FIXED', ...);

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the named column's declared external type, and change it to CHAR(size).

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -26176 — "Cannot use SAMEAS for FIXED format tables." A related FIXED-format restriction, on SAMEAS usage rather than an invalid external type.
• -26179 — "FIXED or DELIMITED columns must be external CHAR type column-name." The same restriction stated as a general rule.
• -26180 — "Missing external column type column-name." A related external-type error, on the type being missing rather than incorrect.

A column's external type wasn't CHAR(size) — declare it as such.