Informix Error -4354: Aggregate functions cannot be performed with TEXT or BYTE variables.

Cause and resolution

Aggregate functions cannot be performed with TEXT or BYTE variables.

This statement applies an aggregate function such as SUM to a variable that is defined as BYTE or TEXT. Such variables are not in the domain of the aggregate functions. Review the use of functions in the statement, and make sure that they are applied to the variables you intended.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4354 fires when an aggregate function such as SUM is applied to a TEXT/BYTE-typed variable — per the official guidance, such variables aren't in the domain of aggregate functions.

An aggregate function applied to a TEXT/BYTE variable, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Review the statement and confirm the aggregate is applied to the variable actually intended, per the official guidance — a numeric variable, not a TEXT/BYTE one.

Examples

An aggregate applied to a TEXT variable

REPORT myreport(rec)
  ...
  PRINT SUM(rec.notes)
  -- -4354: rec.notes is TEXT, not aggregatable

Corrected

  PRINT SUM(rec.total)

Diagnostic Checks

Check the data type of every variable passed to an aggregate function, and confirm it's not TEXT/BYTE.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-4353 — "The type of this ORDER BY or GROUP item specified for the report is not valid for sorting." A closely related restriction on TEXT/BYTE types, about ordering/grouping rather than aggregate functions.

An aggregate function is applied to a TEXT/BYTE variable, which isn't supported — apply it to a numeric variable instead.