Informix Error -4106

Reasons / Common Causes

-4106 fires when a context requiring a DATETIME expression instead finds something else — per the official guidance, this can occur in an EVENT statement, a function definition or declaration, an EXTERNAL REPORT statement, a HANDLER statement, a function invocation, or a plain expression.

1. A non-DATETIME expression used where DATETIME is required, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Supply a genuine DATETIME expression, converting the value first if needed.

Examples

A non-DATETIME expression where one is required

EVENT MyEvent(ts INTEGER)
-- -4106: if ts is used somewhere requiring DATETIME

Corrected

EVENT MyEvent(ts DATETIME YEAR TO SECOND)

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the expression's actual type against the context requiring DATETIME, and convert it if necessary.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -4107 — "An expression of type INTEGER or SMALLINT is expected." The same type-requirement pattern applied to integer types instead of DATETIME.
• -4108 — "An expression of type DATE is expected." The same type-requirement pattern applied to DATE instead of DATETIME.
• -4109 — "An expression of type DATE or DATETIME is expected." The same type-requirement pattern, accepting either DATE or DATETIME.

A DATETIME expression is required but something else was found — supply or convert to a genuine DATETIME value.