Re: SQL works but same function is confused

Thanks Tom and Adrian - Here are my SQL and the function:

SELECT category, v_status as status, count (tool_id) AS tool_count
FROM
(SELECT distinct category, tool_id, 'active' as v_status
FROM tools
WHERE time >= 123456
UNION
SELECT distinct e1.category, e1.tool_id, 'inactive' as v_status
FROM tools e1
WHERE not exists
(SELECT e2.category, e2.tool_id
FROM tools e2
WHERE e2.sim_time >= 123456
AND e2.category = e1.category
AND e2.tool_id = e1.tool_id)
) AS derived_table
GROUP BY category, Status

And here is the function:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION get_status
RETURNS TABLE (category SMALLINT, status TEXT, tool_count BIGINT) AS
$BODY$

#variable_conflict use_variable
DECLARE
v_status TEXT;
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY SELECT category, v_status as status, count (tool_id) AS tool_count
FROM
(SELECT distinct category, tool_id, 'active' as v_status
FROM tools
WHERE time >= 123456
UNION
SELECT distinct e1.category, e1.tool_id, 'inactive' as v_status
FROM tools e1
WHERE not exists
(SELECT e2.category, e2.tool_id
FROM tools e2
WHERE e2.sim_time >= 123456
AND e2.category = e1.category
AND e2.tool_id = e1.tool_id)
) AS derivedTable
GROUP BY category, Status;

END; $BODY$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Lane [mailto:tgl(at)sss(dot)pgh(dot)pa(dot)us]
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2014 7:21 PM
To: Bui, Michelle P
Cc: pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Re: [GENERAL] SQL works but same function is confused

"Bui, Michelle P" <michelle(dot)p(dot)bui(at)boeing(dot)com> writes:
> I have this query that when executed as a SQL statement, it works perfect!

OK ...

> I used <<block>> before Declare section and try using block.v_status
> but this is not allowed (has syntax error).

That should work (in the sense of not getting a syntax error), but since you've not shown us exactly what you wrote, it's impossible to say what you did wrong. However, that's mostly beside the point, because ...

> When I use #variable_conflict use_variable, there is no error anymore, but the resulted Status field is null. Seemed like Postgresql does not assign the v_status as we wish.

According to the above, the behavior you want is use_column. Why are you trying to get it to use the variable when that's not what you want?

regards, tom lane