Informix Error -4161

-4161 This variable has not been defined as a record or object.

The variable indicated has been used with an asterisk or with the THRU or THROUGH keywords. However, it has not been defined as a record or an object. Check the spelling of the name. If it is as you intended, locate the definition of the variable, and find out why it was not defined as expected. Only NewEra returns this error.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4161 fires when a variable used with .* (asterisk expansion) or THRU/THROUGH isn't actually defined as a record or object — per the official guidance, only NewEra returns this error.

A variable used with .*/THRU/THROUGH that isn't declared as a record or object, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Check the spelling of the name, per the official guidance.
Locate the variable's definition and find out why it wasn't defined as expected, per the official guidance.

Examples

Expanding a plain variable

DEFINE qty INTEGER
DISPLAY qty.*
-- -4161: qty is not defined as a record or object

Corrected

DEFINE rec RECORD
  qty INTEGER,
  price DECIMAL
END RECORD

DISPLAY rec.*

Diagnostic Checks

Check the declaration of any variable used with .*/THRU/THROUGH, and confirm it's genuinely defined as a record or object.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-4098 — "Type of expression that is expanded must be class or record." A closely related error covering the same condition for .*/THRU expansion.

A variable used with .*/THRU/THROUGH isn't defined as a record or object — check its declaration.