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Informix Error -4538: No database name has been given.

Cause and resolution

No database name has been given.

The Application Builder attempted to execute an OPEN DATABASE command without specifying the name of the database. Check the "database=..." line in your informix.ini file. If you want to use the default database, set the line to "database=syspg4gl".

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-4538 fires when the Application Builder attempts to execute an OPEN DATABASE command without a database name specified — per the official guidance, check the database=... line in informix.ini.

  1. The database=... line in informix.ini is missing or empty, per the official guidance — the direct, named cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Set the database=... line in informix.ini to the intended database name, per the official guidance.
  2. Use database=syspg4gl if the default database is wanted, per the official guidance.
Examples
informix.ini database line
database=syspg4gl
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the database=... line in informix.ini, and set it to the intended database name (or syspg4gl for the default).
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -4536 — "Database open failed." A related Application Builder database-open error, about a network/DBPATH/host failure rather than a missing database name.

OPEN DATABASE was attempted with no database name given — set database=... in informix.ini.