Informix Error -8004: Illegal FLOAT constant.

Cause and resolution

Illegal FLOAT constant.

The FLOAT constant is not written correctly. The exponent might be too small or too large (the allowable range of exponents depends on your computer and operating system but is the same as your C compiler allows for the DOUBLE data type), or incorrect punctuation or a nondigit character other than e might be present.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-8004 fires when a FLOAT constant in a report specification isn't written correctly — per the official guidance.

An exponent too small or too large for the system's DOUBLE-equivalent range, per the official guidance — the first named cause.
Incorrect punctuation, per the official guidance — the second named cause.
A non-digit character other than e, per the official guidance — the third named cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Correct the FLOAT constant's format, per the official guidance, checking the exponent range, punctuation, and character set.

Examples

An illegal FLOAT constant

LET x = 1.5x10
-- -8004: "x" is not a valid exponent character (use "e")

Corrected

LET x = 1.5e10

Diagnostic Checks

Check every FLOAT constant's format, for exponent range, punctuation, and disallowed non-digit characters other than e.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-8003 — "A SMALLINTEGER constant may not be larger than 32767." A related constant-format error, for SMALLINT rather than FLOAT constants.

A FLOAT constant is malformed — check its exponent, punctuation, and character set.