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Informix Error -2042: The usage of a BLOB field in or around the above statement is incorrect.

Cause and resolution

The usage of a BLOB field in or around the above statement is incorrect.

Columns of BYTE and TEXT types cannot be used in the ways that this statement implies. Check that the table and column names are as you intended, and verify the current definition of the table in the database that the DATABASE statement names.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-2042 fires when a BYTE/TEXT (BLOB) column is used in a way the statement doesn't allow — per the official guidance, this is a general BLOB-usage error, related to the more specific restrictions covered by -2037/-2038/-2039.

  1. A BYTE/TEXT column used in a context that isn't valid for that type, per the official guidance — the direct, general cause; the specific invalid usage depends on the statement itself.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Verify that the table and column names are correct, per the official guidance, and confirm the current table definition in the referenced database.
  2. Check the specific BLOB restriction that applies, per -2037 (PROGRAM attribute requirement), -2038 (can't be joined), and -2039 (unsupported attributes), for the more specific mechanism involved.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented — this is a general BLOB-usage error; check the statement for which specific BLOB restriction applies.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Identify the specific statement and BLOB column involved, and check it against the more specific BLOB restrictions in -2037/-2038/-2039.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -2037 — "The PROGRAM attribute can only be specified for BYTE and TEXT fields." A related, more specific BLOB-attribute restriction.
  • -2038 — "BLOB fields cannot be joined." A related, more specific BLOB-usage restriction.
  • -2039 — "The attributes AUTONEXT, DEFAULT, INCLUDE, VERIFY, RIGHT and ZEROFILL are not supported for BLOB fields." Another related, more specific BLOB-attribute restriction.

A general BLOB-usage error — check the statement against the more specific restrictions in -2037/-2038/-2039.