How to return 4 variables by one return statement

Question

Hello Experts
I’m trying to develop & run a function which will collect data from 2 difference tables. I accomplished it and stores all the information which I need in 4 variables. Now as we all know that function must has to return but I don’t know how to return all these 4 variable using 1 return. Can please somebody show me how I can return 4 variables.
For reference here is my code
create or replace function TOT_PURCH_SF (id_shopper in bb_basket.idshopper%type)
return VARCHAR2
as
cursor cur_bb_basket is
select idshopper, total
from bb_basket;
cursor cur_bb_shopper is
select firstname, lastname
from bb_shopper
where idshopper = id_shopper;
v_idshopper VARCHAR2(4);
v_total bb_basket.total%type;
v_gtotal bb_basket.total%type := 0;
v_fname bb_shopper.firstname%type;
v_lname bb_shopper.lastname%type;
v_result VARCHAR2(200);
begin
if not (cur_bb_basket%isopen) then
open cur_bb_basket;
end if;
loop
fetch cur_bb_basket into v_idshopper, v_total;
if (v_idshopper = id_shopper) then
v_gtotal := v_gtotal + v_total;
dbms_output.put_line('Shopper Info: '|| v_idshopper ||', '|| v_total);
--exit;   
end if;
exit when cur_bb_basket%NOTFOUND;
end loop;
-- dbms_output.put_line('Shopper ID:'|| v_idshopper || ', TOTAL:' || v_gtotal);
close cur_bb_basket;
open cur_bb_shopper;
fetch cur_bb_shopper into v_fname, v_lname;
close cur_bb_shopper;
dbms_output.put_line('Shopper ID:'|| v_idshopper || ', TOTAL:' || v_gtotal);
dbms_output.put_line('FIRST NAME: '|| v_fname ||' LAST NAME: '|| v_lname);
-- return (dbms_output.put_line('Shopper ID:'|| v_idshopper || ', TOTAL:' || v_gtotal));
return 'test';
end;
Thanks a lot in advance

Answer 1

Hi,
If you want more than one variable returned by something, used a procedure with this variables declared as output variables. You only need to declare the procedure and keep the internal logic (with minimal changes).
Your code modified (please remove dead code):
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE TOT_PURCH_SF(id_shopper  IN bb_basket.idshopper%TYPE,
                                         p_idshopper OUT VARCHAR2,
                                         p_gtotal    OUT bb_basket.total%TYPE,
                                         p_fname     OUT bb_shopper.firstname%TYPE,
                                         p_lname     OUT bb_shopper.lastname%TYPE) AS
   CURSOR cur_bb_basket IS
      SELECT idshopper,
             total
        FROM bb_basket;
   CURSOR cur_bb_shopper IS
      SELECT firstname,
             lastname
        FROM bb_shopper
       WHERE idshopper = id_shopper;
   v_idshopper VARCHAR2(4);
   v_total     bb_basket.total%TYPE;
   v_gtotal    bb_basket.total%TYPE := 0;
   v_fname     bb_shopper.firstname%TYPE;
   v_lname     bb_shopper.lastname%TYPE;
   v_result    VARCHAR2(200);
BEGIN
   IF NOT (cur_bb_basket%ISOPEN) THEN
      OPEN cur_bb_basket;
   END IF;
   LOOP
      FETCH cur_bb_basket
         INTO v_idshopper, v_total;
      IF (v_idshopper = id_shopper) THEN
         v_gtotal := v_gtotal + v_total;
         dbms_output.put_line('Shopper Info: ' || v_idshopper || ', ' || v_total);
         --exit;
      END IF;
      EXIT WHEN cur_bb_basket%NOTFOUND;
   END LOOP;
   -- dbms_output.put_line('Shopper ID:'|| v_idshopper || ', TOTAL:' || v_gtotal);
   CLOSE cur_bb_basket;
   OPEN cur_bb_shopper;
   FETCH cur_bb_shopper
      INTO v_fname, v_lname;
   CLOSE cur_bb_shopper;
   --dbms_output.put_line('Shopper ID:' || v_idshopper || ', TOTAL:' || v_gtotal);
   --dbms_output.put_line('FIRST NAME: ' || v_fname || ' LAST NAME: ' || v_lname);
   -- return (dbms_output.put_line('Shopper ID:'|| v_idshopper || ', TOTAL:' || v_gtotal));
   --RETURN 'test';
   p_idshopper := v_idshopper;
   p_gtotal    := v_gtotal;
   p_fname     := v_fname;
   p_lname     := v_lname;
END;Regards,
Tip: to post formatted code, please enclose it between {noformat}{noformat} tags (start and end tags are the same) :)
Edited by: Walter Fernández on Mar 3, 2009 8:19 PM - Adding procedure (not tested)...
Edited by: Walter Fernández on Mar 3, 2009 8:20 PM - Adding useful tip...