Postgres function to return Table into variables - sql

Question

How can I capture different columns into different variables like so (note this is only pseudocode so I am assuming it will cause errors. Example taken from here)
create or replace function get_film (
p_pattern varchar
)
returns table (
film_title varchar,
film_release_year int
)
language plpgsql
as $$
begin
return query
select
title,
release_year::integer
from
film
where
title ilike p_pattern;
end;$$
create or replace function get_film_into_variables (
p_pattern varchar
)
returns null
language plpgsql
as $$
declare
v_title varchar,
v_release_year integer
begin
SELECT
get_film (p_pattern)
INTO
v_title,
v_release_year;
end;$$

Answer 1

Assuming you have some purpose for the variables after retrieving them not just ending the function your "get_film_into_variables" is almost there. But first let's backup just a bit. A function that returns a table does just that, you can use the results just like a table stored on disk (it just goes away after query or calling function ends). To that end only a slight change to the "get_film_into_variables" function is required. The "get_film" becomes the object of the FROM clause. Also change the returns null, to returns void. So
create or replace function get_film_into_variables (
p_pattern varchar
)
returns void
language plpgsql
as $$
declare
v_title varchar;
v_release_year integer;
begin
select *
from get_film (p_pattern)
INTO
v_title,
v_release_year;
end;
$$;
The above works for a single row returned by a function returning table. However for a return of multiple rows you process the results of the table returning function just lake you would an actual table - with a cursor.
create or replace
function get_film_into_variables2(p_pattern varchar)
returns void
language plpgsql
as $$
declare
k_message_template constant text = 'The film "%s" was released in %s.';
v_title varchar;
v_release_year integer;
v_film_message varchar;
c_film cursor (c_pattern varchar) for
select * from get_film (c_pattern);
begin
open c_film (p_pattern);
loop
fetch c_film
into v_title
, v_release_year;
exit when not found;
v_film_message = format( k_message_template,v_title,v_release_year::text);
raise notice using
message = v_film_message;
end loop;
end;
$$;
BTW: the get_film function can be turned into a SQL function. See fiddle here. For demo purposes get_film_into_variable routines return a message.