Informix Error -9996: Distinct type (<type-name>) already exists in database.

Reasons / Common Causes

-9996 fires when a CREATE DISTINCT TYPE statement's name is already in use — per the official guidance; distinct types must be unique within the schema (ANSI mode) or database.

1. The distinct type name already in use, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Redefine the type with a new name, per the official guidance.
2. Or remove the existing name before creating the new version, per the official guidance.

Examples

Reusing an existing distinct type name

CREATE DISTINCT TYPE di AS INT;   -- -9996 if di already exists

Corrected

CREATE DISTINCT TYPE di_v2 AS INT;

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the system catalog for the existing distinct type name, and choose an unused name or drop the existing type.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -9631 — "Opaque type (type_name) already exists in database." The same class of duplicate-name error, for opaque types rather than distinct types.

The distinct type name already exists — choose a new name or drop the existing type.