What does HRESULT 0x80040E06 (DB_E_BADCHAPTER) mean?

 
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DB_E_BADCHAPTER

Chapter is invalid

Exact value and interpretation

DB_E_BADCHAPTER has the unsigned 32-bit value 2147749382 (0x80040E06) and the signed representation -2147217914. AllStat defines the result as “Chapter is invalid”. In the concrete failure represented here, a chapter-aware OLE DB method receives an HCHAPTER that is invalid for the target rowset.

The high bit is set for DB_E_BADCHAPTER, so it is a failure HRESULT rather than a success or informational status. Its facility field is 4 (FACILITY_ITF) and its low code is 3590 (0x0E06). Those bit fields place DB_E_BADCHAPTER in an interface-defined family, but they do not reveal the provider, object identity, method, rowset generation or command state that produced it.

OLE DB contract boundary

DB_E_BADCHAPTER must be interpreted against this contract: chaptered rowsets expose hierarchical results through chapter columns and HCHAPTER values; a flat rowset, an invalid chapter handle and a valid chapter with no matching row are different contracts and must be diagnosed separately.

Start with the chaptered rowset, parent row and HCHAPTER lifetime associated with the operation when investigating DB_E_BADCHAPTER. Preserve DB_E_BADCHAPTER before ADO, ATL, .NET, a database abstraction layer or an application exception replaces it with a generic message; the exact interface and method matter because one OLE DB object can expose several contracts with different preconditions.

Evidence to collect before changing the system

A useful DB_E_BADCHAPTER record includes provider CLSID and version, process architecture, interface and method, COM apartment and thread, object correlation ID, transaction state, and the first preceding HRESULT. When DB_E_BADCHAPTER involves parent keys, chapter identifiers, row contents and hierarchical paths, record types, lengths, hashes or redacted identifiers instead of secrets or full business data.

  • Evidence 1 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: the parent rowset and chapter handle identities.
  • Evidence 2 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: the call that created or returned the HCHAPTER.
  • Evidence 3 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: chapter release events and the parent row lifetime.

Specific conditions that produce this result

  • Cause 1 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: the chapter handle was released.
  • Cause 2 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: the handle came from another chaptered rowset.
  • Cause 3 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: the parent row or rowset generation ended before the chapter operation.

Diagnostic sequence

  1. Capture DB_E_BADCHAPTER immediately at the native OLE DB return and obtain the current OLE DB error object before another COM call replaces thread error information.
  2. Identify the exact stage for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: a chapter-aware OLE DB method receives an HCHAPTER that is invalid for the target rowset.
  3. For DB_E_BADCHAPTER, compare the live command, rowset, accessor or schema state with the metadata and properties actually granted by the provider.
  4. For DB_E_BADCHAPTER, inspect per-binding, per-property, per-row or per-record statuses whenever the method supplies them; the aggregate result may not identify the rejected element.
  5. For DB_E_BADCHAPTER, reproduce the issue with the smallest command, rowset or definition operation that preserves the same contract boundary.
  6. For DB_E_BADCHAPTER, apply one evidence-backed correction, then verify that the operation succeeds and does not merely change into a nearby HRESULT.

Retry and recovery policy

Retry rule for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: retry only with a chapter obtained from the current chaptered rowset. A safe DB_E_BADCHAPTER retry must use a changed input, object generation, provider capability or state transition. If the call returning DB_E_BADCHAPTER could have created, updated, deleted or copied data, determine partial completion before replaying it.

For DB_E_BADCHAPTER, use bounded retries and preserve cancellation. For DB_E_BADCHAPTER, configuration and contract failures should normally fail fast; concurrency, resource or transient state failures may justify retry only after their stated precondition changes.

Corrective actions

  • Action 1 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: scope each chapter handle to its source rowset and parent context.
  • Action 2 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: release chapters exactly once and clear cached handles.
  • Action 3 for DB_E_BADCHAPTER: reacquire the chapter after parent-row or rowset changes.

Practical incident

A hierarchical consumer stores a child chapter after releasing the parent rowset, then uses it in a new rowset; obtaining a new HCHAPTER prevents DB_E_BADCHAPTER. The diagnostic value comes from retaining DB_E_BADCHAPTER together with the failing interface and object state, not from reducing every provider result to “database error”.

Implementation guidance

Code handling DB_E_BADCHAPTER should release OLE DB resources in ownership order, preserve every provider error record, and log granted properties rather than only requested properties. When handling DB_E_BADCHAPTER, handles such as HACCESSOR, HROW, HCHAPTER and provider-specific region tokens must never be treated as portable integers across object lifetimes.

When DB_E_BADCHAPTER crosses an abstraction boundary, attach a stable correlation ID and structured fields for the native HRESULT, provider source, interface IID, method, object generation and operation phase. For DB_E_BADCHAPTER, do not log passwords, access tokens, complete SQL text or unrestricted row values merely to make the event easier to search.

Difference from related HRESULT values

DB_E_INVALID states that a rowset is not chaptered, while DB_E_BADCHAPTER states that a supplied chapter handle is invalid. Keep these outcomes separate in telemetry and user-facing remediation because DB_E_BADCHAPTER requires a different next action.

Official Microsoft references

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