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Informix Error -47090: Cannot specify today as a default value with this column type.

Cause and resolution

Cannot specify today as a default value with this column type.

You cannot specify a default value that consists of the current system date for a column when the column data type is not DATE. Change the column data type (if permitted), or specify a different default value.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-47090 fires in the interactive ALTER TABLE menu when a TODAY-based default value is specified for a non-DATE column — per the official guidance.

  1. TODAY specified as a default value for a non-DATE column, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Change the column's data type to DATE, if permitted, per the official guidance.
  2. Or specify a different default value, per the official guidance.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond this menu-driven default-value restriction.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the column's data type, and either change it to DATE or choose a different default value.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -47086 — "Cannot specify current as default value with non-datetime column type." A related default-value/type-mismatch error, for CURRENT and DATETIME columns rather than TODAY and DATE.

TODAY can only be a default value for a DATE column — change the type or choose a different default.