Using an own function in a select how can i set that the function run once?

Question

Hi
Using an own function in a select how can i set that the function run once, not in every row?
Please help me
Thanks
Viktor

Answer 1

Something like this ?
SQL> select * from dept;
    DEPTNO DNAME                          LOC
        10 ACCOUNTING                     NEW YORK
        20 RESEARCH                       DALLAS
        30 SALES                          CHICAGO
        40 OPERATIONS                     BOSTON
SQL> create or replace function ret_name (deptnum in number) return varchar2
  2  is
  3     name    varchar2(50);
  4  begin
  5     select dname into name
  6     from dept
  7     where deptno=deptnum;
  8     return name;
  9  exception
10     when no_data_found then
11             return('Not existent deptno');
12* end;
SQL> /
Function created.
SQL> select deptno, decode(rownum,1,ret_name(deptno),null) dname from dept;
    DEPTNO DNAME
        10 ACCOUNTING
        20
        30
        40
SQL>