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Informix Error -16301: A syntax error has occurred.

Cause and resolution

A syntax error has occurred.

A syntax error has been detected in a Debugger command. Check that you have not misspelled or omitted a keyword or identifier, included an extra command argument, or placed keywords out of sequence. Check if you have omitted parentheses after a function name in a CALL command or included them in a VIEW command. To display a two-page synopsis of all the commands, enter help all.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-16301 fires when a syntax error is detected in a Debugger command — per the official guidance.

  1. A misspelled or omitted keyword or identifier, per the official guidance.
  2. An extra command argument, or keywords placed out of sequence, per the official guidance.
  3. Omitted parentheses after a function name in a CALL command, or included parentheses in a VIEW command, per the official guidance.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check for a misspelled/omitted keyword, an extra argument, or keywords out of sequence, per the official guidance.
  2. Check CALL/VIEW command parentheses usage, per the official guidance.
  3. Enter help all for a two-page synopsis of all commands, per the official guidance.
Examples
Checking the command reference
> help all
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the command's spelling, argument count, and keyword order, and consult help all if unsure of the correct syntax.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -16302 — "An illegal character has been found in the command." A related command-syntax error, about disallowed characters rather than structural syntax.
  • -16311 — "Command name is not recognized." A related command error, about the command name itself being unrecognized rather than a syntax error within an otherwise valid command.

A Debugger command has a syntax error — check spelling, argument count, and keyword order, or run help all.