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Informix Error -4154: The maximum size allowed for a constant of type CHAR or VARCHAR is 255.

Cause and resolution

The maximum size allowed for a constant of type CHAR or VARCHAR is 255.

In a CONSTANT declaration or definition, the size of a character type constant (CHAR or VARCHAR) cannot exceed 255.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4154 fires when a CONSTANT declaration or definition's CHAR/VARCHAR size exceeds 255 — per the official guidance, this is a hard maximum for character-type constants.

  1. A CHAR/VARCHAR constant declared or defined larger than 255, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Reduce the constant's declared size to 255 or fewer.
Examples
A CHAR constant exceeding 255
CONSTANT big_default CHAR(300) = "..."
-- -4154: 300 exceeds the maximum of 255
Corrected
CONSTANT big_default CHAR(255) = "..."
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check every CHAR/VARCHAR constant's declared size, and reduce it to 255 or fewer.
Related Errors / Related Topics

No closely related error codes are cross-referenced for -4154 in this set yet.

A CHAR/VARCHAR constant's size exceeds 255, the maximum allowed — reduce it.