function returning array

I am trying to return an array from a function and don't seem to be having
luck. The function seems to work fine, but if I do assignment to an array
variable, I get null in the array elements

DECLARE
results varchar[];
tmpv varchar;
BEGIN
-- now call func that returns varchar[]
results := parseString(''abc,def,ghi'','','');
tmpv := results[1];
RAISE NOTICE '' tmpv = % '',tmpv; -- tmpv will be null.

END;

I found reference to this sort of thing not working, but the reference was
from several years ago, so I'm not sure if that is still the case or if I am
doing something wrong.

Do I need to go with returning a set instead?

Dennis S
pg-user(at)calico-consulting(dot)com