Informix Error -4362: The report cannot skip to the top of page while in a header or trailer.

Cause and resolution

The report cannot skip to the top of page while in a header or trailer.

When SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE is executed, the page trailer clause must be executed (so as to display fixed page-end material) followed by the page header clause. If the statement was allowed in a header or trailer clause, an infinite loop could ensue.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4362 fires when SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE is executed from within a header or trailer clause — per the official guidance, executing it there could trigger an infinite loop, since SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE itself needs to run the trailer, then the header, in sequence.

SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE executed from within a header or trailer clause, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Move the SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE statement outside any header/trailer clause, per the official guidance — typically into the detail (ON EVERY ROW) processing instead.

Examples

SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE inside a page trailer

PAGE TRAILER
  SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE
  -- -4362: this could cause an infinite loop

Corrected

ON EVERY ROW
  IF need_new_page THEN
    SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE
  END IF

Diagnostic Checks

Check every header/trailer clause for a SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE statement, and move it into detail processing instead.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-4363 — "The report cannot skip lines while in a loop within a header or trailer." A related header/trailer restriction, about SKIP statements inside loops rather than SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE specifically.

SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE is executed from within a header/trailer, which could loop infinitely — move it into detail processing.