Oninit
Talk to an expert →

Informix Error -4433: A variable used in the above statement must be of type CHAR or VARCHAR.

Cause and resolution

A variable used in the above statement must be of type CHAR or VARCHAR.

The filename in the REPORT TO statement must be given as a character value; and the program name in the REPORT TO PIPE statement must also be given as a character value. In either case, this can be a constant, a variable of either of the types mentioned, or an expression. However, it cannot be a number or other data type; no automatic type conversion occurs in these statements.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4433 fires when REPORT TO's filename (or REPORT TO PIPE's program name) isn't a character value — per the official guidance, a constant, CHAR/VARCHAR variable, or expression is acceptable, but no automatic type conversion occurs.

  1. REPORT TO/REPORT TO PIPE's value isn't CHAR/VARCHAR, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Use a CHAR/VARCHAR constant, variable, or expression, per the official guidance, converting a non-character value first if needed.
Examples
A non-character REPORT TO value
DEFINE report_num INTEGER
REPORT TO report_num
-- -4433: report_num is INTEGER, not CHAR/VARCHAR
Corrected
DEFINE report_name CHAR(30)
LET report_name = "orders_", report_num USING "&&&&&"
REPORT TO report_name
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the type of every REPORT TO/REPORT TO PIPE value, and confirm it's CHAR/VARCHAR.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -4075 — "Simple string expressions must have type CHAR or VARCHAR." A related string-type requirement, about simple string expressions generally rather than REPORT TO specifically.

REPORT TO/REPORT TO PIPE's value isn't CHAR/VARCHAR — convert it first.