Informix Error -238

Reasons / Common Causes

-238 is the direct sibling of -237, at commit time instead of begin time: a COMMIT WORK statement failed, most likely due to a problem accessing the transaction log.

1. A problem accessing the transaction log — the officially named probable cause, potentially any of the specific conditions covered by -118, -120, -121, or -224.
2. The accompanying ISAM error code identifies exactly which specific log-access problem is occurring — this generic wrapper needs that companion code to diagnose properly.
3. The log filling or becoming unavailable mid-transaction, between when the transaction began successfully and when it tried to commit.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Check the accompanying ISAM error code first, per the official guidance.
2. Address whichever specific log-access problem is named, using that code's own guidance elsewhere in this catalogue.
3. Treat this with urgency — a transaction that can't commit may need to be rolled back and retried once the underlying log issue is resolved, and leaving it hanging risks holding locks and transaction-table slots (see -134/-190) longer than necessary.

Examples

Checking the accompanying code first

-- The specific ISAM error code accompanying -238 determines the fix:
--   -120/-224: log file can't be opened — check path, permissions, existence
--   -118/-121: log file exists but has a read/write problem — check hardware, space

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the accompanying ISAM error code.
2. Check transaction log file status and accessibility, per -120/-224's diagnostic steps.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -237 — "Cannot begin work." The direct sibling — same log-access family, at the opposite end of a transaction's lifecycle.
• -224 — "Cannot open transaction log file." A likely accompanying cause.

Check the accompanying ISAM error code before anything else — -238 alone only says COMMIT WORK failed, not why.