RNF3496 error in SQL program: "Initialization value exceeds maximum literal..."

   In a V5R2 SQL RPG program, I'm using two externally-defined data
   structures ("E  DS") (physical files) with INZ(*EXTDFT).  The compiler
   gives me RNF3496: "Initialization value exceeds maximum literal length". 
   There aren't any literals involved, and I've experimented with the
   relative position of the lines; it doesn't seem to make any difference. 
   The error message is inserted after column ending in position 1568 of the
   table.
    
   I'm doing this successfully in non-SQL ILE programs.  If I remove the data
   structures and create "F" specs for the files, the program compiles
   properly.  Or if I remove the *EXTDFT, the program compiles properly.  The
   fact the error message prefix is "RNF" and not "SQL" bugs me.
    
   Am I doing a Bad Thing or the Wrong Thing?
    
   Thanks,
   irg 

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