Informix Error -8061: This report contains a READ statement but no ASCII record definition has been specified.

Cause and resolution

This report contains a READ statement but no ASCII record definition has been specified.

In order to use the READ statement, you must use the ASCII statement in the DEFINE section to define the expected fields of the ASCII file.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-8061 fires when a report uses READ without an ASCII record definition — per the official guidance, READ requires the expected fields of the ASCII file to be defined via ASCII in the DEFINE section.

A READ statement with no corresponding ASCII statement in DEFINE, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Add an ASCII statement in the DEFINE section, per the official guidance, defining the expected fields of the ASCII file.

Examples

READ without an ASCII definition

FORMAT
  EVERY ROW
    READ
    -- -8061: no ASCII record definition exists

Corrected

DEFINE
  ASCII
    order_id CHAR(10),
    status CHAR(20)

FORMAT
  EVERY ROW
    READ

Diagnostic Checks

Check the DEFINE section for an ASCII statement, and add one if the report uses READ.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-8062 — "This report contains a SELECT statement, but a READ statement should be used instead because an ASCII record definition has be specified." The complementary condition — an ASCII definition present alongside SELECT instead of READ.

A report uses READ without an ASCII record definition — add one in the DEFINE section.