PLS-307 error - makes no sense

From: <Jared.Still_at_radisys.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 12:58:29 -0700
Message-ID: <F001.00375F86.20010823130932@fatcity.com>

Dear List,

First off, this is kind of long, so don't start reading unless you have some time. :)

I've run into this before, and now I can't remember how to resolve it.

( database is 8.1.7.0 )

The Signature of a procedure or function is made up of:

1. function or procedure name
2. data types of arguments
3. mode of arguments ( IN, OUT, IN OUT )
4. return value in the case of a function

There are some other special cases, but this is enough for this discussion.

The documentataion is quite clear on one thing; changing the name of an argument will *not* change the signature.

Here's some code to demonstrate

---

create or replace package ftest
is

   function login(

      username_in varchar2
      , password_in varchar2

) return boolean;

   function login(

      username_in varchar2
      , password_in varchar2

) return varchar2;

end;
/

show errors package ftest

create or replace package body ftest
is

   function login(

      username_in varchar2
      , password_in varchar2

) return boolean

   is
   begin

      return true;
   end;

   function login(

      username_in varchar2
      , password_in varchar2

) return varchar2

   is

      login_success boolean := false;
   begin

      login_success :=  login(
         username_in
         , password_in
      );

      if login_success then
         return 'LOGIN';
      else
         return 'NOLOGIN';
      end if;

   end;

end;
/

show errors package body ftest

---

Try to compile this and you will get :

Errors for PACKAGE BODY FTEST:

LINE/COL

---

ERROR

---

21/3
PL/SQL: Statement ignored

21/21
PLS-00307: too many declarations of 'LOGIN' match this call

The signatures of these two function are different: one returns a boolean and the other returns a varchar. The login() function that returns a varchar
should be able to call a function of the same name and arguments that returns a boolean. But it doesn't work.

The code below does work. Notice the two changes. The login() function that returns a boolean now has a prefix of 'b_' on it's input arguments.

The login() function that returns a varchar now uses named parameters to call the login() function that returns a boolean.

Both of these changes are necessary to make this work.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Jared

---

create or replace package ftest
is

   function login(

      b_username_in varchar2
      , b_password_in varchar2

) return boolean;

   function login(

      username_in varchar2
      , password_in varchar2

) return varchar2;

end;
/

show errors package ftest

create or replace package body ftest
is

   function login(

      b_username_in varchar2
      , b_password_in varchar2

) return boolean

   is
   begin

      return true;
   end;

   function login(

      username_in varchar2
      , password_in varchar2

) return varchar2

   is

      login_success boolean := false;
   begin

      login_success :=  login(
         b_username_in => username_in
         , b_password_in => password_in
      );

      if login_success then
         return 'LOGIN';
      else
         return 'NOLOGIN';
      end if;

   end;

end;
/

show errors package body ftest

---

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-- 
Author: 
  INET: Jared.Still_at_radisys.com

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Received on Thu Aug 23 2001 - 14:58:29 CDT