Informix Error -4148: CHAR (*) type is not allowed in SQL statements.

Reasons / Common Causes

-4148 fires when CHAR(*) is used in an SQL statement context — per the official guidance, CHAR(*) isn't a valid SQL type and can't appear in CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, or similar statements.

1. CHAR(*) used in a SQL DDL context, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Use an explicit CHAR length instead of CHAR(*) in the SQL statement.

Examples

CHAR(*) in a CREATE TABLE

CREATE TABLE orders (order_ref CHAR(*));
-- -4148: CHAR(*) is not a valid SQL type

Corrected

CREATE TABLE orders (order_ref CHAR(30));

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check every SQL DDL statement for a CHAR(*) type, and give it an explicit length instead.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -4138 — "Arrays of CHAR(*) are not allowed." A related CHAR(*) restriction, about array element types rather than SQL statement usage.

CHAR(*) is used in an SQL statement, which isn't valid — give it an explicit length instead.