Informix Error -3003

-3003 This BLOB field is empty.

You selected the View menu option. The cursor is positioned in a field that represents a BYTE column, and you pressed the ! key to edit the contents of the field. However, the field is null; no data exists to view. Use Query to select a row that includes nonnull data in this field.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-3003 fires when the operator presses ! to edit a BYTE field's contents via View, but the field is null — per the official guidance, the cursor is positioned in a field representing a BYTE column, and no data exists to view.

The current row's BYTE column value is null, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.

Solutions / Resolution

Use Query to select a row that includes nonnull data in this field, per the official guidance.

Examples

Finding a row with nonnull BLOB data

SELECT order_id FROM orders WHERE attachment IS NOT NULL;

Diagnostic Checks

Check whether the current row's BYTE/TEXT column is null, and use Query to locate a row with actual data if one is needed.

Related Errors / Related Topics

-3002 — "There are no BLOB fields to view." A related BLOB-viewing error, about a form with no BLOB fields at all, rather than a BLOB field that exists but is null.

The current row's BYTE field is null — query for a row with nonnull data.