Informix Error -9714: OUT parameter can only be the last parameter of a routine.

Reasons / Common Causes

-9714 fires when a CREATE FUNCTION statement's OUT parameter isn't the last, or only, parameter with the OUT option — per the official guidance.

1. An OUT parameter not positioned last, per the official guidance — the first named cause.
2. More than one OUT parameter, per the official guidance — the second named cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Make the OUT parameter the last parameter, and the only one with the OUT option, per the official guidance.

Examples

An OUT parameter not last

CREATE FUNCTION my_func(a OUT INT, b INT) RETURNING INT ...;   -- -9714

Corrected

CREATE FUNCTION my_func(b INT, a OUT INT) RETURNING INT ...;

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the parameter list for an OUT parameter's position, and move it to last, removing any other OUT parameters.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -9715 — "A procedure cannot have any OUT parameters." A related OUT-parameter restriction, on procedures not being allowed to use OUT at all rather than positioning.

An OUT parameter wasn't the last (or only) OUT parameter — reposition it.