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Informix Error -47092: Cannot specify user as a default value with this column length.

Cause and resolution

Cannot specify user as a default value with this column length.

In order to specify a default value that consists of the login name of the current user for a CHAR, NCHAR, VARCHAR, or NVARCHAR column, the minimum column length must be 8. Increase the column length, or specify a different default value.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-47092 fires in the interactive ALTER TABLE menu when USER is specified as a default value on a character column shorter than the required minimum — per the official guidance, the minimum length is 8.

  1. The column's length being less than 8, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Increase the column's length to at least 8, 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 declared length, and increase it to at least 8, or choose a different default value.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -47089 — "Cannot specify server or site as a default value with this column length." A related length restriction, for SERVER/SITE (minimum 18) rather than USER (minimum 8).
  • -47091 — "Cannot specify user as a default value with this column type." A related USER default-value error, on the column being the wrong type rather than too short.

USER as a default value requires a column length of at least 8 — increase the length or choose a different default.