Oninit
Talk to an expert →

Informix Error -9411

Cause and resolution

User-defined aggregate support function <function-name> does not </function-name> handle nulls.

You created your aggregate with the HANDLESNULLS option, but the function named in the error message does not handle nulls.

When you create an aggregate with HANDLESNULLS, all support functions must also handle nulls. You can either change the aggregate or change the function. To change the aggregate, drop the aggregate and re-create it without the HANDLESNULLS option.

If the aggregate needs to handle null values, you must modify the function so that it can handle nulls. Then drop the function and reregister it with the HANDLESNULLS option.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-9411 fires when an aggregate created with the HANDLESNULLS option has a named support function that doesn't actually handle nulls — per the official guidance; all support functions of a HANDLESNULLS aggregate must handle nulls.

  1. A support function that wasn't written or registered to handle null arguments, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Drop the aggregate and recreate it without the HANDLESNULLS option, per the official guidance, if null handling isn't actually needed.
  2. Or modify the function to handle nulls, then drop and reregister it with the HANDLESNULLS option, per the official guidance.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond a HANDLESNULLS aggregate whose support function doesn't handle nulls.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check whether HANDLESNULLS is actually required, and either drop it from the aggregate or add null handling to every support function and reregister them with HANDLESNULLS.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -9402 — "Multiple occurrences of the modifier." A related CREATE AGGREGATE modifier-validity error, on duplication rather than HANDLESNULLS consistency.

A HANDLESNULLS aggregate's support function doesn't actually handle nulls — either drop HANDLESNULLS or add null handling and reregister the function.