PostgreSQL Maestro online Help
Functions
PostgreSQL provides four kinds of functions: query language functions (functions written in SQL), procedural language functions (functions written in, for example, PL/pgSQL or PL/Tcl), internal functions, and C-language functions. Every kind of function can take base types, composite types, or combinations of these as arguments (parameters). In addition, every kind of function can return a base type or a composite type. Functions may also be defined to return sets of base or composite values.
Many kinds of functions can take or return certain pseudo-types (such as polymorphic types), but the available facilities vary.SQL Anywhere allows to define user-specific database functions. In an SQL statement, you can then use these user-defined database functions in the same way as any other predefined functions.
New Functions are created within Create Function Wizard. In order to run the wizard you should either
• | select the Object | Create Database Object... main menu item; |
• | select the Function icon in the Create Database Object dialog |
or
• | select the Functions list or any object from that list in the explorer tree; |
• | select the Create New Function... item from the popup menu |
or
• | open Schema Editor and the Functions tab there; |
• | press the Insert key or select the Create New Function item from the popup menu (alternatively, you may use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar). |
To create a new Function with the same properties as one of the existing Functions has:
• | select the Object | Duplicate Database Object... main menu item; |
• | follow the instructions of Duplicate Object Wizard. |
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Functions can be edited within FunctionEditor. In order to open the editor you should either
• | select the Function for editing in the explorer tree (type the first letters of the Function name for quick search); |
• | select the Edit Function item from the popup menu |
or
• | open Schema Editor and the Functions tab there; |
• | select the Function to edit; |
• | press the Enter key or select the Edit Function item from the popup menu (alternatively, you may use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar). |
You can change the name of the Function using the Rename Function dialog:
• | select the Function to rename in the explorer tree; |
• | select the Rename Function item from the popup menu. |
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To execute the Function:
• | select the Function in the explorer tree (type the first letters of the Function name for quick search); |
• | select the Edit Function... item from the popup menu; |
• | execute the Function using the Execute link of the Navigation Bar |
or
• | open Schema Editor and the Functions tab there; |
• | select the Function to execute; |
• | press the Enter key or select the Edit Function item from the popup menu, or use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar; |
• | execute the Function using the Execute link of the Navigation bar. |
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To drop a Function:
• | select the Function to drop in the explorer tree; |
• | select the Drop Function item from the popup menu |
or
• | open Schema Editor and the Functions tab there; |
• | select the Function to drop; |
• | press the Delete key or select the Drop Function item from the popup menu (alternatively, you may use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar) |
and confirm dropping in the dialog window.
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