Function with SQL query has no destination for result data - sql

Question

I am trying to create a function that returns a SELECTed resultset.
When I call my postgres function like this select * from tst_dates_func() I get an error as shown below:
ERROR: query has no destination for result data
HINT: If you want to discard the results of a SELECT, use PERFORM instead.
CONTEXT: PL/pgSQL function "tst_dates_func" line 3 at SQL statement
********** Error **********
ERROR: query has no destination for result data
SQL state: 42601
Hint: If you want to discard the results of a SELECT, use PERFORM instead.
Context: PL/pgSQL function "tst_dates_func" line 3 at SQL statement
Here is the function I created:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION tst_dates_func()
RETURNS TABLE( date_value date, date_id int, date_desc varchar) as
$BODY$
BEGIN
select a.date_value, a.date_id, a.date_desc from dates_tbl a;
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;
I am not sure why I am getting the above error. I would like to run select * from tst_dates_func();
and get data back. Or further join the result set if needed. What is the problem here?

Answer 1

Do it as plain SQL
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION tst_dates_func()
RETURNS TABLE( date_value date, date_id int, date_desc varchar) as
$BODY$
select a.date_value, a.date_id, a.date_desc from dates_tbl a;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE sql;
If you really need plpgsql use return query
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION tst_dates_func()
RETURNS TABLE( date_value date, date_id int, date_desc varchar) as
$BODY$
BEGIN
perform SELECT dblink_connect('remote_db');
return query
select a.date_value, a.date_id, a.date_desc from dates_tbl a;
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Answer 2

In PLPGSQL - use RETURN QUERY
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION tst_dates_func()
RETURNS TABLE( date_value date, date_id int, date_desc varchar) as
$BODY$
BEGIN
RETURN QUERY (select a.date_value, a.date_id, a.date_desc from dates_tbl a);
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Answer 3

I couldn't do it as plain SQL as I needed to enter some data into a database for further processing and wanted to create a variable. Or at least I did not figure out the correct syntax for that. And the accepted answer had code I did not need, such as connecting to the database, as I ran this from inside pgAdmin with a connection setup already. I also had to drop the function when I made edits to it.
I was using this for inserting a geometry for intersection. A different use case and example could help someone else. This also shows how to then view this data and use it just like a table.
-- Get a geojson shape inside of postgres for further use
DROP FUNCTION fun();
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION fun()
RETURNS TABLE (geometry geometry) AS
$BODY$
DECLARE geojson TEXT;
BEGIN
geojson := '{
"type":"Polygon",
"coordinates":[[[-90.9516399548092,39.8942337977775],[-90.9513913202472,39.8936939306154],[-90.9522805177147,39.8937108246505],[-90.9549542293894,39.8937616571416],[-90.954948768846,39.8945506794343],[-90.9531755591848,39.894492766522],[-90.9531770788457,39.8942868819087],[-90.9516399548092,39.8942337977775]]],
"crs":{"type":"name","properties":{"name":"EPSG:4326"}},
}';
return query (SELECT ST_GeomFromGeoJSON(geojson) AS geometry);
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;
-- View test insert
SELECT * FROM fun()