Informix Error -4131

-4131 No implied object for this non-shared function call ("SELF" is

not defined in this context).

No object reference has been supplied for this member function call. If the member function call was made inside a member function, "self" would be the implied object reference. This call was made in a nonmember function body, so there is no implied object reference.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4131 fires when a member function is called with no object reference supplied, outside a member function body — per the official guidance, SELF is only implied as the object reference inside a member function; a non-member function body has no implied object.

A non-SHARED member function called with no explicit object reference, from a non-member function body, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Call the member function through an explicit object reference (object.method()) when calling from outside a member function body.

Examples

A member function call with no object, outside a class

FUNCTION main()
  CALL save()
  -- -4131: no implied SELF exists in a non-member function
END FUNCTION

Corrected

FUNCTION main()
  DEFINE o Order
  CALL o.save()
END FUNCTION

Diagnostic Checks

Check whether the call site is inside a member function body, and if not, supply an explicit object reference for the member function call.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-4021 — "A class member cannot be named "SELF"." A related SELF-identifier restriction, about naming a member SELF rather than a missing implied object.
-4070 — "Cannot assign to "SELF"." A related SELF-identifier restriction, about assigning to SELF rather than a missing implied object.

A member function is called with no object reference outside a member function body — supply an explicit object reference.