Informix HPL message 23201: Error %d converting record field %s to column %s

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

What it means

While loading, onpload failed to convert one field of an input record into the target column's type. %d is an ordinary Informix error number (look it up at /errorcode/ or with finderr), followed by the record field and the column it was being mapped to. The record is counted as a conversion error and (unless the job's error limit is hit) goes to the convert-reject file.

Common causes

• The data does not match the format definition: wrong delimiter or fixed-width offsets, so a field holds text the column type cannot accept (letters in a numeric column, an invalid date).
• A date, money or numeric field in a different layout from the one the job or locale expects (see DBDATE, DBMONEY and the locale).
• A field longer than the column, or a null/empty value mapped to a column that does not allow it.

What to do

• Read the rejected records in the convert-reject file (-R basename) and compare the offending field with the format and map.
• Fix the format definition, or clean the data, and rerun.
• If a few bad rows are expected, raise the limit with -e rather than letting the job abort.