Oninit
Talk to an expert →

Informix Error -9004

-9004 The column name is not in the current table, or the user variable name

has not been defined.

The name that is shown cannot be related to either a column in a database table or a defined variable. Check its spelling. If you meant it to be a variable, add it in the DEFINE section. If you meant to name a column in the database, check to see if the table was altered or its columns were renamed.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-9004 fires when a name used in the report specification can't be related to either a column in a database table or a defined variable — per the official guidance.

  1. A misspelled column or variable name, per the official guidance — the first named cause.
  2. A variable that was never added to the DEFINE section, per the official guidance — the second named cause.
  3. A table that was altered or had columns renamed after the report was written, per the official guidance — the third named cause.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check the name's spelling, per the official guidance.
  2. If it was meant to be a variable, add it in the DEFINE section, per the official guidance.
  3. If it was meant to be a column, check whether the table was altered or the column was renamed, per the official guidance.
Examples
An undefined name
PRINT custome_name   -- -9004: misspelled, no such column or variable
Corrected
PRINT customer_name
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the name's spelling against the table's actual columns and the report's DEFINE section, and correct or add it as needed.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -9025 — "The column name is not in the current table. Any column used as an ORDER BY column must be in the current table." The same class of unresolved-name error, specific to ORDER BY.

A name in the report couldn't be resolved to a column or a defined variable — check spelling and the DEFINE section.