| Previous | Next |
| DB_E_BADLOCKMODE | DB_E_BADCOLUMNID |
DB_E_PARAMNOTOPTIONAL
Exact value and interpretation
DB_E_PARAMNOTOPTIONAL has the unsigned 32-bit value 2147749392 (0x80040E10) and the signed representation -2147217904. AllStat defines the result as “No value given for one or more required parameters”. In the concrete failure represented here, ICommand::Execute is called without a value for one or more required parameters.
The high bit is set for it, 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 3600 (0x0E10). Those bit fields place this result 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
This result must be interpreted against this contract: OLE DB command parameters are described through ordinals, names, provider types and a parameter accessor; the command definition and parameter metadata must agree with the DBPARAMS buffer supplied to ICommand::Execute.
Start with the command object, parameter metadata and parameter accessor used for the execution when investigating this result. Preserve it 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 this result 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 it involves parameter names, parameter values, procedure names and command text, record types, lengths, hashes or redacted identifiers instead of secrets or full business data.
- Evidence 1 for it: the command's parameter count, names and ordinals.
- Evidence 2 for it: the parameter accessor bindings and DBPARAMS count.
- Evidence 3 for it: GetParameterInfo or SetParameterInfo metadata for optionality and type.
Specific conditions that produce it
- Cause 1 for it: the parameter accessor omits a required ordinal.
- Cause 2 for it: a required binding reports DBSTATUS_S_ISNULL when NULL is not accepted.
- Cause 3 for it: metadata changed but the consumer still binds the previous parameter set.
Diagnostic sequence
- Capture it immediately at the native OLE DB return and obtain the current OLE DB error object before another COM call replaces thread error information.
- Identify the exact stage for it: ICommand::Execute is called without a value for one or more required parameters.
- compare the live command, rowset, accessor or schema state with the metadata and properties actually granted by the provider.
- 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.
- reproduce the issue with the smallest command, rowset or definition operation that preserves the same contract boundary.
- 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 it: retry after supplying all required parameter values through a valid parameter accessor. A safe it retry must use a changed input, object generation, provider capability or state transition. If the call returning it could have created, updated, deleted or copied data, determine partial completion before replaying it.
Use bounded retries and preserve cancellation. 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 it: bind every required parameter by its correct ordinal.
- Action 2 for it: distinguish missing parameters from explicit NULL values.
- Action 3 for it: refresh parameter metadata after procedure or command definition changes.
Practical incident
A stored procedure gains a required input parameter but an older client sends its previous accessor; refreshing parameter metadata resolves it. The diagnostic value comes from retaining it together with the failing interface and object state, not from reducing every provider result to “database error”.
Implementation guidance
Code handling it should release OLE DB resources in ownership order, preserve every provider error record, and log granted properties rather than only requested properties. When handling it, handles such as HACCESSOR, HROW, HCHAPTER and provider-specific region tokens must never be treated as portable integers across object lifetimes.
When it 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. 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_BADPARAMETERNAME rejects an unrecognized name, while it reports that a required parameter value was not provided. Keep these outcomes separate in telemetry and user-facing remediation because it requires a different next action.
Official Microsoft references
Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.