Informix Error -445: The length of the collation name in the SET COLLATION statement exceeds 32 bytes.

Reasons / Common Causes

-445 is a straightforward identifier-length limit: SET COLLATION requires the collation name to be 32 bytes or fewer, and the name supplied exceeds that.

1. A collation name longer than 32 bytes supplied to SET COLLATION — the direct, only cause.
2. A collation name assembled or concatenated programmatically, growing past the limit without an explicit length check.
3. Confusion with a different, longer identifier (a full locale string, for example) being used where a shorter, specific collation name is expected.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Shorten the collation name to 32 bytes or fewer, per the official guidance.
2. Consult the list of valid, supported collation names for the server/locale in use, rather than assembling one from a longer locale string.
3. For programmatically constructed collation names, add an explicit length check before issuing SET COLLATION.

Examples

Checking a collation name's length before use

-- Confirm the collation name is 32 bytes or fewer before
-- issuing SET COLLATION with it.
SET COLLATION en_us_utf8_ci;

Diagnostic Checks

1. Measure the byte length of the collation name being supplied to SET COLLATION.
2. Confirm the name is a valid, recognized collation name for the server/locale in use, not a longer, unrelated identifier.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -354 — "Incorrect database or cursor name format." A related identifier-length/format restriction, in a different context (database/cursor names rather than collation names).

Keep collation names within the 32-byte limit — consult the server's list of valid, supported collation names rather than assembling one from a longer identifier.