Informix Error -26176: Cannot use SAMEAS for FIXED format tables.

Cause and resolution

Cannot use SAMEAS for FIXED format tables.

The CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE statement does not allow the SAMEAS keyword for FIXED format tables. The column entries must also define an external type to describe how to access the data in the fixed file.

Revise the CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE statement to enumerate the column information and reissue the statement.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-26176 fires when SAMEAS is used with a FIXED-format CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE statement — per the official guidance.

SAMEAS used for a FIXED-format external table, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause; FIXED format requires enumerated column definitions (each with an external type) instead.

Solutions / Resolution

Enumerate the column information explicitly, including each column's external type, per the official guidance, instead of using SAMEAS.

Examples

SAMEAS on a FIXED table

CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE ext_tab SAMEAS orders
  USING (FORMAT 'FIXED', DATAFILES ("DISK:/data/orders.fix"), ...);
-- -26176: SAMEAS not allowed for FIXED format

Corrected

CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE ext_tab (order_id CHAR(10), total CHAR(12))
  USING (FORMAT 'FIXED', DATAFILES ("DISK:/data/orders.fix"), ...);

Diagnostic Checks

Check whether the external table uses FORMAT 'FIXED' and SAMEAS together, and replace SAMEAS with an explicit column list.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-26178 — "Incorrect external column type column-name." A related FIXED-format column-definition error, on an invalid external type rather than using SAMEAS.
-26180 — "Missing external column type column-name." A related FIXED-format column-definition error, on a missing external type rather than using SAMEAS.

SAMEAS was used on a FIXED-format external table — enumerate the columns explicitly instead.