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DB_E_NOSOURCEOBJECT
Meaning
Windows documents DB_E_NOSOURCEOBJECT as “Source row does not exist”. In this case, a scoped copy, move or related resource operation cannot find the source row named by the source URL.
Relevant contract
Investigation of this result should start with the binder or session, normalized URL, requested GUID/object type and DBBINDURLSTATUS result.
Diagnostic sequence
- Identify the exact failing stage: a scoped copy, move or related resource operation cannot find the source row named by the source URL.
Conditions that specifically lead to it
- Cause 1: the source was deleted or renamed.
- Cause 2: the URL resolves in a different scope than expected.
- Cause 3: a concurrent operation moved the source first.
Evidence to collect
A useful diagnostic event records provider CLSID and version, process architecture, interface IID and method, object correlation ID, transaction state and the immediately preceding HRESULT. When recording diagnostic data involving URLs containing credentials, tenant paths and remote object names, use types, lengths, hashes or redacted identifiers rather than secrets or complete business data.
- Evidence 1: normalized source URL and scope.
- Evidence 2: existence check immediately before the operation.
- Evidence 3: concurrent move or delete correlation IDs.
Corrective actions
- Action 1: refresh the source identity before mutation.
- Action 2: make copy or move workflows resilient to concurrent disappearance.
- Action 3: treat absence as a distinct idempotency outcome where appropriate.
Retry and recovery
Retry rule: retry only after the source row exists again or a new valid source is selected.
Do not turn it into an unbounded retry loop. Preserve cancellation for this HRESULT and use a fresh provider object when the failed call may have left local state ambiguous.
Difference from nearby HRESULT values
DB_E_NOTFOUND is a broad absence result, while DB_E_NOSOURCEOBJECT specifically identifies the source row of a resource operation.
Practical scenario
Two workers move the same resource; the second observes that the source row no longer exists and records an idempotent completion. Keeping it with the method and object state makes this scenario diagnosable instead of reducing it to “database error”.
Operational dashboards for this HRESULT should group by provider version, interface, method and normalized failure stage. A telemetry event must not expose passwords, tokens, full connection strings, unrestricted command text or raw row contents.
Official Microsoft references
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