Oninit
Talk to an expert →

Informix Error -9503

-9503 The table tablename could not be opened.

Check that the table name is correctly spelled. If so, the table tablename might not exist in the database (it might have been dropped or renamed); or if it exists, your account might not have SELECT access to it. Alternatively, if you are using the IBM Informix SE database server, you might have exceeded the limit on open files, which can limit the number of tables that you can name in a SELECT statement. In this case, you might have to revise the SELECT section of the report to use more SELECT statements, each of which names fewer tables. Products after Version 4.0 do not issue this message.

-9503 PRINT FILE filename could not be opened.

The file that is shown could not be opened for output. Look for operating-system error messages that might give more information. Possible causes include a full disk or lack of the correct permissions for the file or directory.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-9503 fires when a report's named table can't be opened — per the official guidance, which notes this message is obsolete past Version 4.0.

  1. A misspelled table name, per the official guidance — the first named cause.
  2. The table not existing (dropped or renamed), per the official guidance — the second named cause.
  3. Missing SELECT access on the table, per the official guidance — the third named cause.
  4. On IBM Informix SE, an exceeded open-files limit, per the official guidance — the fourth named cause, specific to SE.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Check that the table name is spelled correctly, per the official guidance.
  2. Check whether the table still exists, per the official guidance.
  3. Check whether the account has SELECT access to the table, per the official guidance.
  4. On Informix SE, revise the SELECT section to use more SELECT statements, each naming fewer tables, if the open-files limit is exceeded, per the official guidance.
Examples
N/A

No specific triggering statement is documented; the named table varies. Per the official guidance, this message is obsolete on products after Version 4.0.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check the table name's spelling and existence, and the account's SELECT privilege, and (on SE) the number of tables named per SELECT statement.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -9004 — "The column name is not in the current table, or the user variable name has not been defined." A related name-resolution error, for columns/variables rather than a table failing to open.

The report's named table couldn't be opened — check its spelling, existence, and SELECT access; on Informix SE, also check the open-files limit.