Informix Error -4366: The number of variables does not match the number of database columns in this statement.
Cause and resolution
The number of variables does not match the number of database columns in this statement.
There must be a program variable to receive data from or supply data to each column named in the statement. Possibly there is an ambiguity between column names and variable names. When a program variable has the same name as a database column, you can force 4GL to use the database column by prefixing it with the at-sign (@) character or with its tablename.
Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance
Reasons / Common Causes
-4366 fires when the count of program variables doesn't match the count of database columns named in a statement — per the official guidance, there must be exactly one program variable per named column; this can also arise from an ambiguity between column names and variable names sharing the same name.
- A mismatched count of program variables and database columns, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
- A program variable name colliding with a database column name, per the official guidance — a related, named cause of ambiguity.
Solutions / Resolution
- Add or remove variables so the count matches the columns.
- If a program variable shares a name with a column, force 4GL to use the database column
by prefixing it with
@or its table name, per the official guidance.
Examples
Disambiguating a column from a same-named variable
DEFINE order_id INTEGER
SELECT order_id INTO @order_id FROM orders WHERE order_id = 1001;
Diagnostic Checks
- Count the variables and columns named in the statement, and confirm they match, using
@/table-name prefixing to resolve any name collisions.
Related Errors / Related Topics
No closely related error codes are cross-referenced for -4366 in this set yet.
The variable count doesn't match the column count — check for a missing/extra variable, or a
name collision needing @/table-name disambiguation.