DB2 throws SQLCODE -104 / SQLSTATE 42601 when it meets an unexpected token or misplaced keyword, signaling a syntax error in the SQL statement.
DB2 SQLCODE -104 / SQLSTATE 42601 indicates a syntax error—DB2 found an unexpected token in your SQL. Review the position mentioned in the error text, correct misplaced keywords, parentheses, or delimiters, then rerun the statement to resolve the issue.
SQLCODE -104, SQLSTATE 42601: "An unexpected token <token> was found following <context>. Expected tokens may include: <list>."
DB2 returns SQLCODE -104 with SQLSTATE 42601 when its parser hits an unexpected token in an SQL statement. The engine stops executing because the command cannot be interpreted as valid SQL.
The error text shows the bad token, its position, and a short list of expected tokens. Correcting the syntax and resubmitting the statement clears the error.
Most incidents stem from missing commas, parentheses, or quotation marks.
Incorrect clause order—such as placing WHERE before FROM—also triggers SQLCODE -104.
Version-specific keywords, reserved words used as identifiers, or dynamic SQL built by concatenation can introduce unexpected tokens, leading to SQLSTATE 42601.
Start by reading the error message; note the token and its absolute character position.
Open the statement in an editor with line numbers, such as Galaxy, and navigate to that spot.
Re-arrange clauses into DB2’s expected order, add missing delimiters, or quote identifiers properly. After each change, rerun the statement to confirm the fix.
Missing comma in column list: A forgotten comma between column names raises -104.
Insert the comma and retry.
Mismatched parentheses in complex JOINs: Balance opening and closing parentheses, then execute again.
Use a modern SQL editor like Galaxy that color-codes matching delimiters and highlights reserved keywords, reducing typos.
Adopt automated unit tests for stored procedures and enable statement validation in CI pipelines to catch syntax issues early.
SQLCODE -109 (SQLSTATE 42601) surfaces when a clause is missing.
SQLCODE -199 flags illegal use of keywords. Both share similar troubleshooting patterns—inspect syntax and adjust.
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Not always. The token is where DB2 detected the issue, which can be a few characters after the real mistake.
No. Even dynamic statements must be syntactically correct before execution; fix the statement source.
DB2 cannot auto-correct, but editors like Galaxy provide inline suggestions and formatting to reduce errors.
Upgrades add keywords and stricter parsing, so testing and code review remain essential.
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