Informix Error -4509: An array variable has been referenced outside of its specified dimensions.

Reasons / Common Causes

-4509 covers two variants, per the official guidance. On NewEra, this code stays active with its own meaning: an array bound has been exceeded while array-bounds checking is turned on (via the -a compiler switch or a PRAGMA ARRAY BOUNDS statement). On products other than NewEra, this code is a legacy wording that has been replaced by error -1326.

1. On NewEra: an array bound was exceeded with bounds-checking enabled, per the official guidance — the direct, active cause on that product.
2. On other products: this exact wording is superseded, per the official guidance — -1326 now covers the same underlying condition there.

Solutions / Resolution

1. On NewEra, correct the array subscript so it stays within the declared dimensions, per the official guidance.
2. On other products, treat this as -1326 and apply that code's resolution steps.

Examples

An out-of-bounds array reference (NewEra, bounds-checking enabled)

DEFINE items ARRAY[10] OF INTEGER
LET items[11] = 5
-- -4509: subscript 11 exceeds the declared dimension of 10

Diagnostic Checks

1. On NewEra, check every array subscript against its declared dimensions, especially with -a or PRAGMA ARRAY BOUNDS enabled.
2. On other products, confirm whether -1326 is the code actually reported, and refer to that code's diagnostics.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -1326 — "An array variable has been referenced outside of its specified dimensions." The current, active code that has replaced -4509 for products other than NewEra.

An array bound was exceeded with bounds-checking enabled (NewEra), or this legacy wording has been replaced by -1326 on other products.