Re: pl/sql function

"Sybrand Bakker" <postbus_at_sybrandb.demon.nl> wrote in message news:<ujnb1jl1k4ap4a_at_corp.supernews.com>...
> "Tim Cross" <tcross_at_nospam.une.edu.au> wrote in message
> news:8765z88tn4.fsf_at_blind-bat.une.edu.au...
> > "Peter" <depend3_at_yahoo.com> writes:
> >
> > > Is it possible to return two values when you write a function without
> > > concat? If yes, how do you do this?
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > >
> > As far as I know, you can only return one "thing" - however that
> > "thing" could be a record which contains multiple other "things" - so
> > if you need to return two (or more) distinct values, define a record
> > which represents the values to be returned, put those values in the
> > record and return that.
> >
> > Alternatively, make one of the values you want to return an IN OUT
> > parameter to the function call and put one value in that parameter and
> > return the other.
> >
> > Tim
> > --
> >
>
> The latter of which is definitely programming with side-effects, and as this
> usually results in hard-to-debug programs, should be considered bad
> programming practice. If you want to make a gordian knot of your programs,.
> fine with me, but please don't recommend this to others.
>
> Regards

Care to elaborate on this. Are you saying that using OUT parameters in a function is a "bad programming practice"?

Besides not being able to use in a select statement...I am curious as to what other "side-effects" are you referring to?

//Rauf Sarwar Received on Mon Jul 22 2002 - 17:43:59 CDT