Informix Error -33208: Runtime error is possible because size of host-variable-name is unknown.

Cause and resolution

Runtime error is possible because size of host-variable-name is unknown.

This message is a warning only; compilation continues. ESQL/C does not know the size of the host character variable. If the variable is used in an INTO clause, memory might be overwritten. Specify the variable as a character array with a numeric size. The numeric size can be a literal value or an ESQL/C macro value.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-33208 is a preprocessor warning — per the official guidance, ESQL/C doesn't know the size of the flagged host character variable; if it's used in an INTO clause, memory could be overwritten.

A host character variable whose size ESQL/C can't determine, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Specify the variable as a character array with a numeric size, per the official guidance — a literal or an ESQL/C macro value.

Examples

A host character variable of unknown size

EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char *name;
-- -33208: size of name is unknown; risk of overwrite if used in INTO
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;

Corrected

EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char name[64];
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;

Diagnostic Checks

Check the flagged host character variable's declaration, and give it a fixed array size if it's used in an INTO clause.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-33084 — "The lvarchar host variable('variable-name') should be an array or a pointer." A related unknown-size warning, for lvarchar variables rather than plain character variables.

A host character variable's size was unknown, risking a memory overwrite in an INTO clause — declare it as a sized character array.