Informix Error -2977

-2977 Table table1 cannot be a master of table table2 because

they do not join.

The two tables that are named in a MASTER OF instruction must be joined. A join between tables is expressed by naming columns from both tables in one statement in the ATTRIBUTES section. Check the spelling of the table names here, and review the attribute statements.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-2977 fires when a MASTER OF instruction names two tables that aren't joined — per the official guidance, a join between tables is expressed by naming columns from both tables in one ATTRIBUTES statement, and the two tables in MASTER OF must be joined that way.

The two tables named in MASTER OF have no join expressed in ATTRIBUTES, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Check the spelling of the table names, per the official guidance.
Review the attribute statements to confirm a join exists between the two tables, per the official guidance, adding one if it's missing.

Examples

A MASTER OF pair with no join defined

INSTRUCTIONS
  orders MASTER OF item
END
-- -2977: no ATTRIBUTES statement joins orders and item

Corrected

ATTRIBUTES
  order_id = orders.order_id, item.order_id;

INSTRUCTIONS
  orders MASTER OF item
END

Diagnostic Checks

Check the spelling of both table names in MASTER OF, and confirm ATTRIBUTES expresses a join between them.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-2862 — "The table table-name cannot be found in the database." A related table-reference error, about a table not existing at all rather than two tables failing to join.
-2864 — "The table table-name is not among the specified tables." A related table-reference error, about a table missing from TABLES rather than two tables failing to join.

MASTER OF names two tables with no join between them in ATTRIBUTES — add a join, or check the table name spellings.