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Informix Error -26164: External table data conversion failure (unload).

Cause and resolution

External table data conversion failure (unload).

A conversion failure occurred when the database server tried to convert the data to ASCII format.

Check that the external table columns have enough space reserved to write the ASCII representation of the data and that the columns in the external table are compatible with the data selected.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-26164 fires when the server fails to convert data to ASCII while unloading to an external table — per the official guidance.

  1. The external table's columns don't have enough space reserved for the ASCII representation of the data, per the official guidance — the first named case.
  2. The external table's columns aren't compatible with the data being selected, per the official guidance — the second named case.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Widen the external table's column definitions to fit the ASCII representation of the data, per the official guidance.
  2. Confirm the external table's column types are compatible with the selected data, per the official guidance.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond an ASCII conversion failure during unload.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the external table's column widths and types against the data being unloaded, and widen/retype as needed.
Related Errors / Related Topics

No closely related error codes are cross-referenced for -26164 in this set yet.

Converting data to ASCII during an external-table unload failed — widen/retype the external table's columns.