returning a query result from dynamic query - postgresql

reading about how to make an SP that returns the results of a query it seems I must do this kind of thing (from tutorial site)
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION show_cities() RETURNS refcursor AS $$
DECLARE
ref refcursor; -- Declare a cursor variable
BEGIN
OPEN ref FOR SELECT city, state FROM cities; -- Open a cursor
RETURN ref; -- Return the cursor to the caller
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
OK, I get this, but I want to pass the SQL in as a paramter so I need to do (I think)
EXECUTE mysql ......
But I dont see how to make EXECUTE return a cursor
EDIT:
OK now I see that I misunderstood what the non dynamic case does. I expected to be able to do select show_cities() and have it do that same thing as SELECT city, state FROM cities, it does not. Of course now that I think about it this isnt surprising. I want to return the actual set of records.

In your case smth like:
t=# CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION data_of(_tbl_type anyelement)
RETURNS SETOF anyelement AS
$func$
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY EXECUTE format('
SELECT *
FROM %s -- pg_typeof returns regtype, quoted automatically
WHERE true /*or some filter in additional arguments or so */
ORDER BY true /*or some filter in additional arguments or so */'
, pg_typeof(_tbl_type))
;
END
$func$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
CREATE FUNCTION
would work:
t=# create table city(i serial, cn text);
CREATE TABLE
t=# insert into city(cn) values ('Moscow'), ('Barcelona'),('Visaginas');
INSERT 0 3
t=# SELECT * FROM data_of(NULL::city);
i | cn
---+-----------
1 | Moscow
2 | Barcelona
3 | Visaginas
(3 rows)
all credits to Erwin with his https://stackoverflow.com/a/11751557/5315974 which is one obligatory reading

Related

Query on Return Statement - PostgreSQL

I have this question, I was doing some migration from SQL Server to PostgreSQL 12.
The scenario, I am trying to accomplish:
The function should have a RETURN Statement, be it with SETOF 'tableType' or RETURN TABLE ( some number of columns )
The body starts with a count of records, if there is no record found based on input parameters, then simply Return Zero (0), else, return the entire set of record defined in the RETURN Statement.
The Equivalent part in SQL Server or Oracle is: They can just put a SELECT Statement inside a Procedure to accomplish this. But, its a kind of difficult in case of PostgreSQL.
Any suggestion, please.
What I could accomplish still now - If no record found, it will simply return NULL, may be using PERFORM, or may be selecting NULL as column name for the returning tableType columns.
I hope I am clear !
What I want is something like -
============================================================
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.get_some_data(
id integer)
RETURNS TABLE ( id_1 integer, name character varying )
LANGUAGE 'plpgsql'
AS $BODY$
DECLARE
p_id alias for $1;
v_cnt integer:=0;
BEGIN
SELECT COUNT(1) FROM public.exampleTable e
WHERE id::integer = e.id::integer;
IF v_cnt= 0 THEN
SELECT 0;
ELSE
SELECT
a.id, a.name
public.exampleTable a
where a.id = p_id;
END;
$BODY$;
If you just want to return a set of a single table, using returns setof some_table is indeed the easiest way. The most basic SQL function to do that would be:
create function get_data()
returns setof some_table
as
$$
select *
from some_table;
$$
language sql;
PL/pgSQL isn't really necessary to put a SELECT statement into a function, but if you need to do other things, you need to use RETURN QUERY in a PL/pgSQL function:
create function get_data()
returns setof some_table
as
$$
begin
return query
select *
from some_table;
end;
$$
language plpgsql;
A function as exactly one return type. You can't have a function that sometimes returns an integer and sometimes returns thousands of rows with a dozen columns.
The only thing you could do, if you insist on returning something is something like this:
create function get_data()
returns setof some_table
as
$$
begin
return query
select *
from some_table;
if not found then
return query
select (null::some_table).*;
end if;
end;
$$
language plpgsql;
But I would consider the above an extremely ugly and confusing (not to say stupid) solution. I certainly wouldn't let that pass through a code review.
The caller of the function can test if something was returned in the same way I implemented that ugly hack: check the found variable after using the function.
One more hack to get as close as possible to what you want. But I will repeat what others have told you: You cannot do what you want directly. Just because MS SQL Server lets you get away poor coding does not mean Postgres is obligated to do so. As the link by #a_horse_with_no_name implies converting code is easy, once you migrate how you think about the problem in the first place. The closest you can get is return a tuple with a 0 id. The following is one way.
create or replace function public.get_some_data(
p_id integer)
returns table ( id integer, name character varying )
language plpgsql
as $$
declare
v_at_least_one boolean = false;
v_exp_rec record;
begin
for v_exp_rec in
select a.id, a.name
from public.exampletable a
where a.id = p_id
union all
select 0,null
loop
if v_exp_rec.id::integer > 0
or (v_exp_rec.id::integer = 0 and not v_at_least_one)
then
id = v_exp_rec.id;
name = v_exp_rec.name;
return next;
v_at_least_one = true;
end if;
end loop ;
return;
end
$$;
But that is still just a hack and assumes there in not valid row with id=0. A much better approach would by for the calling routing to check what the function returns (it has to do that in one way or another anyway) and let the function just return the data found instead of making up data. That is that mindset shift. Doing that you can reduce this function to a simple select statement:
create or replace function public.get_some_data2(
p_id integer)
returns table ( id integer, name character varying )
language sql strict
as $$
select a.id, a.name
from public.exampletable a
where a.id = p_id;
$$;
Or one of the other solutions offered.

Postgres Stored procedure in select statement cannot get the datas

I am trying to get the data from the Database use function of select prison();.but i got error .Please advise me.
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION prison() RETURNS refcursor AS $$
DECLARE
ref refcursor;
BEGIN
OPEN ref FOR SELECT round,ben_sc,ben_st FROM prison_issue;
RETURN ref;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
and calling like this
select prison();
also i tried.but cannot executed the rows.
BEGIN;
SELECT prison();
-- Returns: <unnamed portal 2>
FETCH ALL IN "<unnamed portal 24>";
COMMIT;
There is no need for a PL/pgSQL function for this:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION prison()
RETURNS setof prison_issue
AS $$
SELECT * FROM prison_issue;
$$ LANGUAGE sql;
You also need to use:
select * from prison();
to retrieve the data, do not use select prison() (which only returns a single record, not multiple rows)
You didn't show us your definition of the table prison_issue if you don't want to return all columns you need something like this:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION prison()
RETURNS table (round integer, ben_sc text, ben_st text)
AS $$
SELECT SELECT round,ben_sc,ben_st FROM prison_issue;
$$ LANGUAGE sql;
You will need to adjust the part table (round integer, ben_sc text, ben_st text) to match the data type of the columns you select.
Below is an example code.I have assumed the data types.Replace with the real ones.
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION prison() RETURNS TABLE(round numeric,ben_sc character varying,ben_st character varying) AS $$
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY SELECT p.round,p.ben_sc,p.ben_st FROM prison_issue p;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Dynamic columns in SQL statement

I am trying to have a dynamic variable that I can specify different column's with (depending on some if statements). Explained in code, I am trying to replace this:
IF (TG_TABLE_NAME='this') THEN INSERT INTO table1 (name_id) VALUES id.NEW END IF;
IF (TG_TABLE_NAME='that') THEN INSERT INTO table1 (lastname_id) VALUES id.NEW END IF;
IF (TG_TABLE_NAME='another') THEN INSERT INTO table1 (age_id) VALUES id.NEW END IF;
With this:
DECLARE
varName COLUMN;
BEGIN
IF (TG_TABLE_NAME='this') THEN varName = 'name_id';
ELSE IF (TG_TABLE_NAME='that') THEN varName = 'lastname_id';
ELSE (TG_TABLE_NAME='another') THEN varName = 'age_id';
END IF;
INSERT INTO table1 (varName) VALUES id.NEW;
END;
The INSERT string is just an example, it's actually something longer. I am a beginner at pgSQL. I've seen some examples but I'm only getting more confused. If you can provide an answer that is also more safe from SQL injection that would be awesome.
One way to do what you're looking for is to compose your INSERT statement dynamically based on the named table. The following function approximates the logic you laid out in the question:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION smart_insert(table_name TEXT) RETURNS VOID AS $$
DECLARE
target TEXT;
statement TEXT;
BEGIN
CASE table_name
WHEN 'this' THEN target := 'name_id';
WHEN 'that' THEN target := 'lastname_id';
WHEN 'another' THEN target := 'age_id';
END CASE;
statement :=
'INSERT INTO '||table_name||'('||target||') VALUES (nextval(''id''));';
EXECUTE statement;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
Note that I'm using a sequence to populate these tables (the call to nextval). I'm not sure if that is your use case, but hopefully this example is extensible enough for you to modify it to fit your scenario. A contrived demo:
postgres=# SELECT smart_insert('this');
smart_insert
--------------
(1 row)
postgres=# SELECT smart_insert('that');
smart_insert
--------------
(1 row)
postgres=# SELECT name_id FROM this;
name_id
---------
101
(1 row)
postgres=# SELECT lastname_id FROM that;
lastname_id
-------------
102
(1 row)
Your example doesn't make a lot of sense. Probably over-simplified. Anyway, here is a trigger function for the requested functionality that inserts the new id in a selected column of a target table, depending on the triggering table:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION smart_insert(table_name TEXT)
RETURNS trigger AS
$func$
BEGIN
EXECUTE
'INSERT INTO table1 ('
|| CASE TG_TABLE_NAME
WHEN 'this' THEN 'name_id'
WHEN 'that' THEN 'lastname_id'
WHEN 'another' THEN 'age_id'
END CASE
||') VALUES ($1)'
USING NEW.id;
END
$func$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
To refer to the id column of the new row, use NEW.id not id.NEW.
To pass a value to dynamic code, use the USING clause of EXECUTE. This is faster and more elegant, avoids casting to text and back and also makes SQL injection impossible.
Don't use many variables and assignments in plpgsql, where this is comparatively expensive.
If the listed columns of the target table don't have non-default column defaults, you don't even need dynamic SQL:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION smart_insert(table_name TEXT)
RETURNS trigger AS
$func$
BEGIN
INSERT INTO table1 (name_id, lastname_id, age_id)
SELECT CASE WHEN TG_TABLE_NAME = 'this' THEN NEW.id END
, CASE WHEN TG_TABLE_NAME = 'that' THEN NEW.id END
, CASE WHEN TG_TABLE_NAME = 'another' THEN NEW.id END;
END
$func$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
A CASE expression without ELSE clause defaults to NULL, which is the default column default.
Both variants are safe against SQL injection.

How to return multiple rows from PL/pgSQL function?

I have spent good amount of time trying to figure it out and I haven't been able to resolve it. So, I need your help please.
I am trying to write a PL/pgSQL function that returns multiple rows. The function I wrote is shown below. But it is not working.
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION get_object_fields()
RETURNS SETOF RECORD
AS
$$
DECLARE result_record keyMetrics;
BEGIN
return QUERY SELECT department_id into result_record.visits
from fact_department_daily
where report_date='2013-06-07';
--return result_record;
END
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
SELECT * FROM get_object_fields;
It is returning this error:
ERROR: RETURN cannot have a parameter in function returning set;
use RETURN NEXT at or near "QUERY"
After fixing the bugs #Pavel pointed out, also define your return type properly, or you have to provide a column definition list with every call.
This call:
SELECT * FROM get_object_fields()
... assumes that Postgres knows how to expand *. Since you are returning anonymous records, you get an exception:
ERROR: a column definition list is required for functions returning "record"
One way (of several) to fix this is with RETURNS TABLE (Postgres 8.4+):
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION get_object_fields()
RETURNS TABLE (department_id int) AS
$func$
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY
SELECT department_id
FROM fact_department_daily
WHERE report_date = '2013-06-07';
END
$func$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
Works for SQL functions just the same.
Related:
PostgreSQL: ERROR: 42601: a column definition list is required for functions returning "record"
I see more bugs:
first, a SET RETURNING FUNCTIONS call has following syntax
SELECT * FROM get_object_fields()
second - RETURN QUERY forwards query result to output directly. You cannot store this result to variable - it is not possible ever in PostgreSQL now.
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY SELECT ....; -- result is forwarded to output directly
RETURN; -- there will not be any next result, finish execution
END;
third - these simple functions is better to implement in SQL languages
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION get_object_fields()
RETURNS SETOF RECORD AS $$
SELECT department_id WHERE ...
$$ LANGUAGE sql STABLE;
Here's one way
drop function if exists get_test_type();
drop type if exists test_comp;
drop type if exists test_type;
drop type if exists test_person;
create type test_type as (
foo int,
bar int
);
create type test_person as (
first_name text,
last_name text
);
create type test_comp as
(
prop_a test_type[],
prop_b test_person[]
);
create or replace function get_test_type()
returns test_comp
as $$
declare
a test_type[];
b test_person[];
x test_comp;
begin
a := array(
select row (m.message_id, m.message_id)
from message m
);
-- alternative 'strongly typed'
b := array[
row('Bob', 'Jones')::test_person,
row('Mike', 'Reid')::test_person
]::test_person[];
-- alternative 'loosely typed'
b := array[
row('Bob', 'Jones'),
row('Mike', 'Reid')
];
-- using a select
b := array (
select row ('Jake', 'Scott')
union all
select row ('Suraksha', 'Setty')
);
x := row(a, b);
return x;
end;
$$
language 'plpgsql' stable;
select * from get_test_type();
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION get_object_fields()
RETURNS table (department_id integer)
AS
$$
DECLARE result_record keyMetrics;
BEGIN
return QUERY
SELECT department_id
from fact_department_daily
where report_date='2013-06-07';
--return result_record;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
SELECT * FROM get_object_fields()

I want to have my pl/pgsql script output to the screen

I have the following script that I want output to the screen from.
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION randomnametest() RETURNS integer AS $$
DECLARE
rec RECORD;
BEGIN
FOR rec IN SELECT * FROM my_table LOOP
SELECT levenshtein('mystring',lower('rec.Name')) ORDER BY levenshtein;
END LOOP;
RETURN 1;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
I want to get the output of the levenshein() function in a table along with the rec.Name. How would I do that? Also, it is giving me an error about the line where I call levenshtein(), saying that I should use perform instead.
Assuming that you want to insert the function's return value and the rec.name into a different table. Here is what you can do (create the table new_tab first)-
SELECT levenshtein('mystring',lower(rec.Name)) AS L_val;
INSERT INTO new_tab (L_val, rec.name);
The usage above is demonstrated below.
I guess, you can use RAISE INFO 'This is %', rec.name; to view the values.
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION randomnametest() RETURNS integer AS $$
DECLARE
rec RECORD;
BEGIN
FOR rec IN SELECT * FROM my_table LOOP
SELECT levenshtein('mystring',lower(rec.Name))
AS L_val;
RAISE INFO '% - %', L_val, rec.name;
END LOOP;
RETURN 1;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
Note- the FROM clause is optional in case you select from a function in a select like netxval(sequence_name) and don't have any actual table to select from i.e. like SELECT nextval(sequence_name) AS next_value;, in Oracle terms it would be SELECT sequence_name.nextval FROM dual; or SELECT function() FROM dual;. There is no dual in postgreSQL.
I also think that the ORDER BY is not necessary since my assumption would be that your function levenshtein() will most likely return only one value at any point of time, and hence wouldn't have enough data to ORDER.
If you want the output from a plpgsql function like the title says:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION randomnametest(_mystring text)
RETURNS TABLE (l_dist int, name text) AS
$BODY$
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY
SELECT levenshtein(_mystring, lower(t.name)), t.name
FROM my_table t
ORDER BY 1;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
Declare the table with RETURNS TABLE.
Use RETURN QUERY to return records from the function.
Avoid naming conflicts between column names and OUT parameters (from the RETURNS TABLE clause) by table-qualifying column names in queries. OUT parameters are visible everywhere in the function body.
I made the string to compare to a parameter to the function to make this more useful.
There are other ways, but this is the most effective for the task. You need PostgreSQL 8.4 or later.
For a one-time use I would consider to just use a plain query (= function body without the RETURN QUERY above).