Need a column based off a PL/SQL cursor, how to do this?

Question

Oracle9i Enterprise Edition Release 9.2.0.8.0 - 64bit Production
With the Real Application Testing option
JServer Release 9.2.0.8.0 - Production
Report Builder 10.1.2.2.0
ORACLE Server Release 10.1.0.5.0
Oracle Procedure Builder 10.1.2.2.0
Oracle ORACLE PL/SQL V10.1.0.5.0 - Production
Oracle CORE     10.1.0.5.0     Production
Hi,
I am trying to create a fairly basic report but in the initial data model query, I have one column that is built based off of a PL/SQL cursor. How do I add this into my report? I have tried to create a function under Program Units and reference the function in my select statement for the data model however it keeps saying it is an invalid identifier, and I assume its looking in our database and not the function I created inside the report.
This is what it looks like:
SELECT   a.id,
         b.name,
         F_GET_GENERIC_NAME(b.code) "Generic Name",
         c.strength...and the function i want it to use in my report:
FUNCTION F_GET_GENERIC_NAME (in_code varchar2) RETURN VARCHAR2 IS
BEGIN
DECLARE
generic_name table.column%TYPE;
CURSOR cs_get_generic_name IS
SELECT /*+ USE_HASH (AR) */ desc
FROM  a_ref AR, ai_ic AC    
WHERE AC.code = in_code
AND   AC.code = AR.code
ORDER BY sort_nbr;
BEGIN
       generic_name := '';
          FOR v_get_generic_name IN cs_get_generic_name
          LOOP
             generic_name := generic_name || RTRIM(v_get_generic_name.desc)
                                 || '/' || ' ';
          END LOOP;
          generic_name := SUBSTR(generic_name, 1,(NVL(LENGTH(generic_name), 0) - 2));
RETURN generic_name;
END;
END;
    Any suggestions? Should I just create the function in the database?

Answer 1

I am trying to do it through a formula column but am encountering the following problem.
I've created a formula column in my data model where I want the column to be (inside the group).
Inside the PL/SQL for the column I reference the function that I had previously created with the following:
function CF_Generic_nameFormula return Char is
begin
     F_GET_GENERIC_NAME(:code);
end;However it won't let me compile, giving the error that "F_GET_GENERIC_NAME is not a procedure or is undefined." Is there something else that I am missing?
EDIT: Nevermind, i missed something simple like putting a return in front of the function call.
Edited by: a small rabbit on Nov 3, 2009 10:43 AM
Edited by: a small rabbit on Nov 3, 2009 10:44 AM