Re: Function returning 2 columns evaluated twice when both columns are needed - Mailing list pgsql-general

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009, Tom Lane wrote:

> Gerhard Wiesinger <lists@wiesinger.com> writes:
>> Since getSums() is a cursor and is complex and takes long time getSums
>> should only be evaluated once. Is there a better solution available to
>> get both columns from the function in the select?
>
> You need a sub-select, along the lines of
>
> SELECT
>  cur_date,
>  (gs).sum_m1,
>  (gs).sum_m2
>  FROM
>  (
>   SELECT
>     cur_date,
>     getSums(start_ts, stop_ts) AS gs
>   FROM
>     getDatesTimestamps($1, $2)
>   OFFSET 0
>  ) AS ss
>   ;
>
> The OFFSET bit is a kluge, but is needed to keep the planner from
> flattening the subquery and undoing your work.
>

Thnx Tom. It also works without the OFFSET kludge. Any ideas why?
Looks also reasonable to me because there is no SETOF returned.

BTW: Why is the function in the original statement evaluated twice? On
"SELECT table.*" I guess query is also executed once and not n times (for
each column).

PG is version 8.3.8.

Thnx.

Ciao,
Gerhard