Informix Error -2820: The label name between brackets is incorrectly given or the label is missing.

Cause and resolution

The label name between brackets is incorrectly given or the label is missing.

In this line of the SCREEN section of a form specification, square brackets indicate a field. The brackets should contain a simple name. Instead, they contain spaces or an invalid name. Review the punctuation of the line to make sure that the brackets contain only a simple identifier.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-2820 fires when the SCREEN section's bracketed label doesn't contain a valid simple identifier — per the official guidance, the brackets should contain only a simple identifier, but instead contain spaces or an invalid name (or are empty).

Spaces or an invalid character inside the label brackets, per the official guidance — the direct, common cause.
The label missing entirely between the brackets, per the official guidance's other framing.

Solutions / Resolution

Review the punctuation and ensure brackets contain only a valid simple identifier, per the official guidance.

Examples

An invalid label

SCREEN
{
[order id]
}
-- -2820: "order id" contains a space, not a valid simple identifier

Corrected

SCREEN
{
[order_id]
}

Diagnostic Checks

Check every bracketed label in the SCREEN section for a valid simple identifier, with no spaces or invalid characters.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-2830 — "A left square bracket has been found on this line, with no right square bracket to match it." A related SCREEN-section bracket error, about an unmatched bracket rather than an invalid label inside matched brackets.

A SCREEN-section label bracket contains spaces, an invalid name, or is empty — use a valid simple identifier.