sql plus max function query

Max function query

select max(start_date)
from accounts
where ........etc....

If there are no rows to satisfy the above query sql plus does not say 'No Rows Selected'.

If I ran the above query without the max function 'No Rows Selected' is displayed.

The problem is that if the above query is set up in a cursor then %notfound would not work, therefore processing would continue without testing whether any rows have been found.

I know that putting NVL(max(start_date,sysdate)) would work, but can anybody tell me why the max function works differently.

Thanks in anticipation,

SDG -----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==---------- http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own Received on Mon Feb 01 1999 - 03:35:04 CST