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Informix Error -9052: The format string is too large. It may not be larger than 79 characters.

Cause and resolution

The format string is too large. It may not be larger than 79 characters.

A limit exists on the size of the format string that is presented to the USING function.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-9052 fires when a format string presented to the USING function exceeds 79 characters — per the official guidance.

  1. A USING format string longer than 79 characters, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Shorten the format string to 79 characters or fewer, per the official guidance.
Examples
An oversized format string
PRINT amount USING "###,###,###,###,###,###,###,###,###,###,###,###.##"
-- -9052 if the literal exceeds 79 characters
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Count the format string's length, and shorten it if it exceeds 79 characters.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -9003 — "A USING format string may contain only one '.'." A related USING-format-string validity error, on decimal-point count rather than length.

A USING format string exceeded the 79-character limit — shorten it.