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Informix Error -9071

Cause and resolution

A record in the flat ascii input file contains less data fields than what was specified in the DEFINE ASCII statement of the report.

A field in the ASCII file is a sequence of zero or more characters that ends in a delimiter character (the delimiter is specified in the READ statement). Effectively, as many fields as delimiter characters exist in each record. The number of fields must be the same in each record, and each field must be defined in an ASCII statement in the DEFINE section of the report. No default exists for missing fields. Look for message -9072; it can help you locate the record in error.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-9071 fires when a record in the flat ASCII input file has fewer delimiter-separated fields than the report's DEFINE ASCII statement declares — per the official guidance.

  1. A record with fewer delimiter characters (fields) than declared in DEFINE ASCII, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause; no default exists for missing fields.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check the ASCII file's field structure against the report's DEFINE ASCII statement, per the official guidance.
  2. Use the accompanying -9072 message to locate the record in error, per the official guidance.
Examples
An input record with a missing field
DEFINE ASCII name, address, city   -- three fields declared

"Jane Doe","123 Main St"   -- -9071: only two fields present
Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the -9072 record-count message to locate the offending line, and count its delimiter characters against the DEFINE ASCII field count.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -9070 — "A record in the flat ascii input file contains more data fields than what was specified in the DEFINE ASCII statement of the report." The inverse case — more fields than declared.
  • -9072 — "The count records from the ascii input file have been read in." The informational companion message that helps locate the offending record.

An input record had fewer fields than the report's DEFINE ASCII statement declares — check the record against the declared field count, using -9072 to locate it.