Informix Error -32116: Illegal session level for altering a constraint.

Reasons / Common Causes

-32116 fires when a session attempts to alter a constraint at a sensitivity level that doesn't match the table's own level — per the official guidance.

1. The session's sensitivity level doesn't equal the target table's sensitivity level, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Log in at (or switch to) the session level matching the table's sensitivity level, per the official guidance, before altering the constraint.

Examples

N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented beyond a session-level/table-level mismatch.

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the session's current sensitivity level against the target table's level, and match them before retrying.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -32110 — "Illegal session level for dropping a database." The same session-level/object-level matching rule, for dropping a database.
• -32117 — "Illegal session level for creating an index." The same rule, for creating an index.
• -32119 — "Illegal session level for altering an index." The same rule, for altering an index.
• -32121 — "Illegal session level for dropping an index." The same rule, for dropping an index.
• -32127 — "Illegal session level for dropping a table." The same rule, for dropping a table.

The session's sensitivity level didn't match the target table's level — match them before altering the constraint.