Informix Error -8261: Cannot secure rows in a table without a default value for the IDSSECURITYLABEL column.

Cause and resolution

Cannot secure rows in a table without a default value for the IDSSECURITYLABEL column.

A non-empty table cannot be protected with row-level granularity without specifying a default value for the IDSSECURITYLABEL column. Change the ALTER TABLE statement to specify the DEFAULT clause for the IDSSECUIRTYLABEL column.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-8261 fires when row-level protection is added to a non-empty table without a DEFAULT for the IDSSECURITYLABEL column — per the official guidance.

A non-empty table given row-level protection without a DEFAULT clause on the IDSSECURITYLABEL column, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Change the ALTER TABLE statement to specify the DEFAULT clause for the IDSSECURITYLABEL column, per the official guidance.

Examples

Missing DEFAULT on row-level protection

ALTER TABLE orders ADD (seclabel IDSSECURITYLABEL);
-- -8261: no DEFAULT given for existing rows

Corrected

ALTER TABLE orders ADD (seclabel IDSSECURITYLABEL DEFAULT 'public');

Diagnostic Checks

Check whether the table already has rows, and confirm the ALTER TABLE statement includes a DEFAULT for the IDSSECURITYLABEL column if so.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-8244 — "The value provided for row security label column is invalid." A related row-security-label error, about an invalid value rather than a missing default.

Row-level protection needs a DEFAULT value for IDSSECURITYLABEL on a non-empty table — add one to the ALTER TABLE statement.