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Informix Error -1121

-1121 Message number not found in message file.

A message number that is given in the HELP clause of an INPUT, PROMPT, or MENU statement cannot be found in the current message file. The most- recently executed OPTIONS HELP FILE statement establishes the message file. Find that statement in the program, and verify that the message file is the one that you intended. Then review the source of that message file, and ensure that it contains definitions for all the message numbers that are used in the program. Recompile the message file with the mkmessage utility, and try the program again.

For 4GL programs, -1228 replaces this error.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-1121 fires when a message number referenced in an INPUT, PROMPT, or MENU statement's HELP clause can't be found in the currently active message file (the one named by the most recent OPTIONS HELP FILE statement) — per the official guidance, -1228 is the equivalent error for 4GL programs specifically.

  1. A HELP clause referencing a message number that was never added to the message file's source, per the official guidance — the direct, common cause.
  2. The wrong message file active, per the official guidance's framing — a different OPTIONS HELP FILE statement than intended is in effect, so the right file (with the right number) isn't the one being searched.
  3. The message file not recompiled after the number was added to its source, per the official guidance's resolution steps.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Verify the correct message file is specified in the OPTIONS HELP FILE statement, per the official guidance.
  2. Confirm the message file contains all message numbers referenced in the program, per the official guidance.
  3. Recompile the message file using the mkmessage utility, per the official guidance, if the number was added to the source but not yet built in.
  4. Retry the program, per the official guidance, once the file and number are confirmed correct.
Examples
Recompiling after adding a message number
$ mkmessage order_help.msg order_help.iem
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Confirm which message file is active, per the most recent OPTIONS HELP FILE statement.
  2. Check that the referenced message number exists in that file's source, and recompile with mkmessage if it was recently added.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -1120 — "Message file not found." A related help-message error, about the file itself being missing rather than a specific number within an otherwise-found file.
  • -1228 — The 4GL-program equivalent of this same missing-message-number condition.

The referenced message number isn't in the active message file — confirm the right file is active, and recompile with mkmessage if the number is missing (see -1228 for the 4GL-program equivalent).