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Informix Error -26179: FIXED or DELIMITED columns must be external CHAR type column-name.

Cause and resolution

FIXED or DELIMITED columns must be external CHAR type column-name.

The CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE statement contains an external column type that is not valid. If the table describes a FIXED format file, the valid external- column type is CHAR. CHAR data must be enclosed in quotation marks.

If the table describes a DELIMITED format file and includes external-column types, then the type must be CHAR. A table that describes DELIMITED format files does not need to include external-column-type information.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-26179 fires when a FIXED/DELIMITED-format external table declares a non-CHAR external column type — per the official guidance.

  1. A FIXED-format table's column declares an external type other than CHAR, per the official guidance — the first named case; CHAR data must be quoted.
  2. A DELIMITED-format table's column declares external-column-type information other than CHAR, per the official guidance — the second named case; DELIMITED tables don't need external-column-type information at all.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. For FIXED tables, declare each column's external type as CHAR, per the official guidance.
  2. For DELIMITED tables, either omit external-column-type information, or declare it as CHAR, per the official guidance.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond a non-CHAR external type on a FIXED/DELIMITED table.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check every column's declared external type in a FIXED/DELIMITED external table, and confirm it's CHAR (or omitted, for DELIMITED).
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -26178 — "Incorrect external column type column-name." The specific instance of this rule, naming a column whose external type isn't CHAR(size).
  • -26180 — "Missing external column type column-name." A related external-type error, on the type being missing (for FIXED, where it's required) rather than incorrect.

A FIXED/DELIMITED table's column declared a non-CHAR external type — use CHAR, or omit it for DELIMITED.