Informix Error -8010: The file filename could not be opened. The operating system was asked to open it for writing. It is possible that a file by the same name already exists, but the user has no permission to write over it, or, if -o is used, the destination directory does not exist.

Reasons / Common Causes

-8010 fires when the ACE compiler can't open a named file for writing — per the official guidance.

1. A file of that name already exists, and the account lacks write permission over it, per the official guidance — the first named cause.
2. The destination directory (when -o is used) doesn't exist, per the official guidance — the second named cause.

Solutions / Resolution

1. Ensure the filename is spelled correctly and the account has write access to the destination directory, per the official guidance — possibly the directory named by the DBTEMP environment variable.
2. If a file of that name already exists, erase it or make sure the account has write access to it, per the official guidance.

Examples

Checking DBTEMP and write access

$ echo $DBTEMP
$ ls -ld $DBTEMP

Diagnostic Checks

1. Check the filename's spelling, write permission on the destination directory (possibly DBTEMP), and whether a conflicting file already exists there.

Related Errors / Related Topics

• -8008 — "The file filename could not be opened. The operating system was asked to open it for reading." The equivalent failure, for opening a file to read rather than write.

A file couldn't be opened for writing — check the destination directory's existence and write permission, and any existing file of the same name.