Invalid conversion between DATE column <str> and host variable <str> Explanation: Only binary dates can be compared or assigned to or from DATE columns. User Action: Use a date declaration for the host variable to be used with the date field: in COBOL, use S9(11)V9(7) COMP; in PL/I, use CHAR(8) or BYTE_FIELD(8); in FORTRAN, use CHARACTER*8.