How to log on from within a function ?

Hi folks,

I am trying to validate a user from within a function. In SQL and SQL*Plus I can state:
Connect user/passwd_at_database;

However, when using the keyword 'connect' in the function below it won't compile. I will receive an error stating: PLS-00103: Encountered the symbol "Connect" when expecting one of thefollowing: begin, declare,exit, for.....

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION itc_sm_authenticate (user_id VARCHAR, passwd VARCHAR) return VARCHAR AS
test_val REAL; /* not really needed, just following somesyntactical examples */
BEGIN
   connect user_id/passwd_at_db_x; /* this doesn't seem to be a valid statement */

   return user_id; /* valid login returns the submitted user_id */ EXCEPTION
 WHEN LOGIN_DENIED THEN
 return NULL; /* Exception thrown by bad login, returns NULL */ END itc_sm_authenticate;

I'm trying to trap a bad login via LOGIN_DENIED exception and return the user_id for a valid login. How can I "test" a logon from within a function?

Any help is appreciated.

Chris :-)
cermlich_at_swri.edu Received on Thu Feb 10 2000 - 09:26:20 CST