Informix Error -8008: The file filename could not be opened. The operating system was asked to open it for reading.

Reasons / Common Causes

-8008 fires when the ACE compiler can't open a named file for reading — per the official guidance.

1. A misspelled filename, per the official guidance — the first named cause.
2. The file doesn't exist, per the official guidance — the second named cause.
3. The account lacks read access, per the official guidance — the third named cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Check the spelling of the filename, per the official guidance.
2. Make sure the file exists and the account has read access to it, per the official guidance.
3. Enter a complete pathname if the file is in a directory other than the current directory, per the official guidance.

Examples

Checking file existence and permissions

$ ls -l filename

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the filename's spelling, its existence, its read permission, and whether a full path is needed.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -8010 — "The file filename could not be opened. The operating system was asked to open it for writing..." The equivalent failure, for opening a file to write rather than read.

A file couldn't be opened for reading — check spelling, existence, read permission, and pathname.