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Thread: Definition of return types for own functions?

Definition of return types for own functions?

From
Matthias.Pitzl@izb.de
Date:
Hello all!

Is it possible to define a complex return type like a record in a function
without having some table around with the needed structure of the return
values?
For example: if i want a function that returns a date and an integer, i
create the function:

CREATE FUNCTION bla(text) RETURNS SETOF table_name AS '...

And i need the table table_name with the structure:
CREATE TABLE table_name( datum DATE, zahl INTEGER);

Can i somehow define this structe inside the function declaration without
having some empty tables or views around?

Thank you all!

Best regards,
Matthias

Re: Definition of return types for own functions?

From
"A. Kretschmer"
Date:
am  Thu, dem 28.09.2006, um  9:46:29 +0200 mailte Matthias.Pitzl@izb.de folgendes:
> Hello all!
>
> Is it possible to define a complex return type like a record in a function
> without having some table around with the needed structure of the return
> values?

Yes, you can define a new type:

CREATE TYPE name AS
    ( attribute_name data_type [, ... ] )



HTH, Andreas
--
Andreas Kretschmer
Kontakt:  Heynitz: 035242/47215,   D1: 0160/7141639 (mehr: -> Header)
GnuPG-ID:   0x3FFF606C, privat 0x7F4584DA   http://wwwkeys.de.pgp.net

Re: Definition of return types for own functions?

From
Martijn van Oosterhout
Date:
On Thu, Sep 28, 2006 at 10:15:19AM +0200, A. Kretschmer wrote:
> am  Thu, dem 28.09.2006, um  9:46:29 +0200 mailte Matthias.Pitzl@izb.de folgendes:
> > Hello all!
> >
> > Is it possible to define a complex return type like a record in a function
> > without having some table around with the needed structure of the return
> > values?
>
> Yes, you can define a new type:
>
> CREATE TYPE name AS
>     ( attribute_name data_type [, ... ] )

Also, in more recent versions (8.1 I think) you can use OUT parameters
to create anonymous types.

Have a nice day,
--
Martijn van Oosterhout   <kleptog@svana.org>   http://svana.org/kleptog/
> From each according to his ability. To each according to his ability to litigate.
Attachment

Re: Definition of return types for own functions?

From
"A. Kretschmer"
Date:
am  Thu, dem 28.09.2006, um 12:31:37 +0200 mailte Martijn van Oosterhout folgendes:
> On Thu, Sep 28, 2006 at 10:15:19AM +0200, A. Kretschmer wrote:
> > am  Thu, dem 28.09.2006, um  9:46:29 +0200 mailte Matthias.Pitzl@izb.de folgendes:
> > > Hello all!
> > >
> > > Is it possible to define a complex return type like a record in a function
> > > without having some table around with the needed structure of the return
> > > values?
> >
> > Yes, you can define a new type:
> >
> > CREATE TYPE name AS
> >     ( attribute_name data_type [, ... ] )
>
> Also, in more recent versions (8.1 I think) you can use OUT parameters
> to create anonymous types.

Oh yes, thanks. A little example:

test=# create function foo(OUT b text, OUT i int) as $$begin b := 'foo'; i:=1; end; $$ language plpgsql;
CREATE FUNCTION
test=*# select * from foo();
  b  | i
-----+---
 foo | 1
(1 row)



Andreas
--
Andreas Kretschmer
Kontakt:  Heynitz: 035242/47215,   D1: 0160/7141639 (mehr: -> Header)
GnuPG-ID:   0x3FFF606C, privat 0x7F4584DA   http://wwwkeys.de.pgp.net
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Re: Definition of return types for own functions?

From
Lexington Luthor
Date:
Matthias.Pitzl@izb.de wrote:
> Is it possible to define a complex return type like a record in a function
> without having some table around with the needed structure of the return
> values?

Sure, you just have to specify the columns at select time instead (and
this is easy enough to wrap inside a view).

CREATE FUNCTION foo(TEXT) RETURNS SETOF RECORD AS '...' LANGUAGE 'plpgsql' ;

SELECT * FROM foo('bar') AS x(a,b,c,d) ;


Regards,
LL