How can i create n columns in postgresql? - postgresql

Question

I am trying to write a function that returns random start time (it must be between now and a week long) and an endtime. I wrote this function:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION random_start_end_time(n integer)
RETURNS TABLE (startime TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE, endtime TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE)
LANGUAGE 'plpgsql'
AS $BODY$
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY
SELECT NOW() + (random() * (NOW()+'7 days' - NOW())) as startime;
SELECT NOW() + (random() * (NOW()+'7 days' - NOW())) as endtime;
END;
$BODY$
I can't find out how to generate multiple columns. For example I want n=100 columns of random start time and end time to be generated.
In general I can't understand how I can fill an empty table (with this function I am going to fill a table later).
Any thoughts would be valuable.
Thank you.

Answer 1

Use RETURN NEXT to add a row to the result set of a table function and RETURN to end the function execution. You also have to decide if you want a function that returns two columns or two rows. Your case looks like you want to do something like:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION random_start_end_time(
OUT starttime TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE,
OUT endtime TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE
) RETURNS record
LANGUAGE sql AS
$BODY$
WITH start AS (
SELECT current_timestamp + random() * INTERVAL '7 days' as starttime
)
SELECT starttime,
starttime + random() * INTERVAL '7 days' as endtime
FROM start;
$BODY$;
Call it like
SELECT * FROM random_start_end_time();
If you really want to return several rows, that would be
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION random_start_end_time()
RETURNS SETOF timestamp with time zone
LANGUAGE plpgsql AS
$BODY$
BEGIN
RETURN NEXT current_timestamp + random() * INTERVAL '7 days';
RETURN NEXT current_timestamp + random() * INTERVAL '7 days';
RETURN; /* end the function */
END;
$BODY$;