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Informix Error -4424

-4424 The variable variable-name has not been defined as a record.

The variable shown has been used with an asterisk, or with the THRU or THROUGH keywords. However, it has not been defined as a record. 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 a record. Only 4GL returns this error.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4424 fires when a variable used with .*/THRU/THROUGH isn't defined as a record — per the official guidance, only 4GL returns this error (as opposed to NewEra's equivalent message).

  1. A variable used with .*/THRU/THROUGH that isn't declared as a record, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check that the correct variable name was used, per the official guidance.
  2. Locate the variable's definition and find out why it wasn't defined as a record, per the official guidance.
Examples
Expanding a non-record variable
DEFINE qty INTEGER
DISPLAY qty.*
-- -4424: qty is not defined as a record
Corrected
DEFINE rec RECORD
  qty INTEGER,
  price DECIMAL
END RECORD

DISPLAY rec.*
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the declaration of any variable used with .*/THRU/THROUGH, and confirm it's genuinely a record.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -4161 — "This variable has not been defined as a record or object." A closely related error in the NewEra-specific context, also covering objects.
  • -4311 — "The variable "variable-name" was not defined as a record. It cannot be used in this fashion." A closely related error covering the same condition.

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