PostgreSQL · Execute

Call a function: a value, rows, an effect

Calling a function, in three scenarios: one value (Value<T>()); rows (ResultSets[0]); a function run for its effect (void: no rows). A function is the same ArxProcedureExpression with Function: ARX sends SELECT * FROM instead of CALL. To filter, order or page a function's rows like a table, Retrieve reads it as a row source (RetrieveMultiple's RealCase6, Advanced8).

Set up for this page

The scenarios build on the sample application: SampleContext.cs (the dbContext every sample is given); SampleOutput.cs (Step and Show, which print); SampleContext.Application.cs (dbContext.Service, the application's ARX service); SampleCatalog.cs (the tables' ids, keys, lookups and display names).

Before scenario 1 the sample runs this, so the service and the rows the scenarios use are there:

Set up
var account = new ArxEntity("account");
account["name"] = "Function Fabrics";
account["account_number"] = "ACC-E301";
var accountId = await service.CreateAsync(account);
foreach (var (first, title) in new[] { ("Fran", "Buyer"), ("Finn", "Engineer"), ("Faye", "Director") })
{
    var contact = new ArxEntity("contact");
    contact["first_name"] = first;
    contact["last_name"] = "Fn-E301";
    contact["job_title"] = title;
    contact["account_id"] = new ArxEntityReference("account", accountId);
    await service.CreateAsync(contact);
}

1 One value

fn_contact_count(p_account_id) returns a bigint.

Already in scope: service (ArxPgDbService), accountId (ArxRecordId)

C#
var function = new ArxProcedureExpression("fn_contact_count") { ProcedureType = ArxProcedureType.Function };
function.AddParameter("p_account_id", accountId.AsInt64());

var count = (await service.ExecuteAsync(function)).Value<long>();
Console.WriteLine($"{count} contacts");

Check it in the database

SQL

Run it in any SQL tool connected to the database, after the code has run.

SELECT fn_contact_count(a.id)
FROM account a
WHERE a.account_number = 'ACC-E301';

Expect: 3.

2 Rows

fn_contacts_named(p_last_name) returns a table: its rows are the first result set.

Already in scope: service (ArxPgDbService)

C#
var function = new ArxProcedureExpression("fn_contacts_named") { ProcedureType = ArxProcedureType.Function };
function.AddParameter("Fn-E301");

var rows = (await service.ExecuteAsync(function)).ResultSets[0];
Console.WriteLine(string.Join(", ", rows.Entities.Select(x => $"{x["first_name"]} ({x["job_title"]})")));

Check it in the database

SQL

Run it in any SQL tool connected to the database, after the code has run.

SELECT first_name, job_title
FROM fn_contacts_named('Fn-E301');

Expect: 3 rows: Faye Director, Finn Engineer, Fran Buyer.

3 A function run for its effect

fn_touch_account returns void: it's run for what it does, and returns no rows.

Already in scope: service (ArxPgDbService), accountId (ArxRecordId)

C#
var function = new ArxProcedureExpression("fn_touch_account") { ProcedureType = ArxProcedureType.Function };
function.AddParameter(accountId.AsInt64());

var result = await service.ExecuteAsync(function);
Console.WriteLine($"rows returned: {result.ResultSets[0].Entities.Count}");

Check it in the database

SQL

Run it in any SQL tool connected to the database, after the code has run.

SELECT modified_on IS NOT NULL AS touched
FROM account
WHERE account_number = 'ACC-E301';

Expect: t.

Run the complete sample

The code above comes from one program, built in a fresh project and run against the database. To run it yourself, here is every file and step.

The program, its files and how to run it

Run it locally

  1. .NET SDK: .NET SDK 10.0.100 or later 10.0.x (target net10.0).
  2. Create the project:
    Terminal
    dotnet new console -n ArxSample -f net10.0
    cd ArxSample
  3. Install the packages:
    Terminal
    dotnet add package ARX.SDK.PostgreSql --version 1.0.0-rc.1
  4. Database: a PostgreSQL 16 (tested with 16.15) database with the sample schema.
  5. Configuration: set ARX_SAMPLES_POSTGRESQL to its connection string. Nothing is hard-coded.
  6. Source code: add the files of the sample application this sample uses (SampleContext.cs, SampleOutput.cs, SampleContext.Application.cs, SampleCatalog.cs), then replace Program.cs and add the other file below, with the file names shown.
  7. Run it:
    Terminal
    dotnet run
  8. Expected output: below.

The files

Program.cs

Runs the sample. Generated for this page; it reads the connection string from the environment.

using ArxSamples.PostgreSql;
using ArxSamples.PostgreSql.Operations.Execute.Basics;

// The connection string comes from the environment, never from the code (see "Configure the connection").
var connectionString = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ARX_SAMPLES_POSTGRESQL")
    ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Set the ARX_SAMPLES_POSTGRESQL environment variable to your PostgreSQL connection string.");

await new Basic3_CallAFunction().RunAsync(new SampleContext(connectionString));
Basic3_CallAFunction.cs

The sample, as it is in the repository.

using ARX.SDK.Query;
using ARX.SDK.Services;
using static ArxSamples.PostgreSql.SampleOutput;

namespace ArxSamples.PostgreSql.Operations.Execute.Basics;

/// <summary>
/// Calling a function, in three scenarios: one value (<c>Value&lt;T&gt;()</c>); rows (<c>ResultSets[0]</c>); a function
/// run for its effect (<c>void</c>: no rows). A function is the same <see cref="ArxProcedureExpression"/> with
/// <see cref="ArxProcedureType.Function"/>: ARX sends <c>SELECT * FROM</c> instead of <c>CALL</c>. To filter, order or page a
/// function's rows like a table, Retrieve reads it as a row source (RetrieveMultiple's RealCase6, Advanced8).
/// </summary>
public sealed class Basic3_CallAFunction : ISample
{
    public string Name => "execute-basics-3-call-a-function";

    public string Title => "Call a function: a value, rows, an effect";

    public async Task RunAsync(SampleContext dbContext)
    {
        var account = new ArxEntity("account");
        account["name"] = "Function Fabrics";
        account["account_number"] = "ACC-E301";
        var accountId = await dbContext.Service.CreateAsync(account);

        foreach (var (first, title) in new[] { ("Fran", "Buyer"), ("Finn", "Engineer"), ("Faye", "Director") })
        {
            var contact = new ArxEntity("contact");
            contact["first_name"] = first;
            contact["last_name"] = "Fn-E301";
            contact["job_title"] = title;
            contact["account_id"] = new ArxEntityReference("account", accountId);
            await dbContext.Service.CreateAsync(contact);
        }

        await Scenario1_OneValueAsync(dbContext, accountId);

        await Scenario2_RowsAsync(dbContext);

        await Scenario3_AnEffectAsync(dbContext, accountId);
    }

    /// <summary>1. <c>fn_contact_count(p_account_id)</c> returns a bigint.</summary>
    private static async Task Scenario1_OneValueAsync(SampleContext dbContext, ArxRecordId accountId)
    {
        Step("1. One value");

        var function = new ArxProcedureExpression("fn_contact_count") { ProcedureType = ArxProcedureType.Function };
        function.AddParameter("p_account_id", accountId.AsInt64());

        var count = (await dbContext.Service.ExecuteAsync(function)).Value<long>();
        Show($"{count} contacts");

        /* ===========================================================
         * [DIRECT QUERY CHECK]
         * -----------------------------------------------------------
         * SELECT fn_contact_count(a.id)
         * FROM account a
         * WHERE a.account_number = 'ACC-E301';
         * -- Expect: 3.
         * ===========================================================
         */
    }

    /// <summary>2. <c>fn_contacts_named(p_last_name)</c> returns a table: its rows are the first result set.</summary>
    private static async Task Scenario2_RowsAsync(SampleContext dbContext)
    {
        Step("2. Rows");

        var function = new ArxProcedureExpression("fn_contacts_named") { ProcedureType = ArxProcedureType.Function };
        function.AddParameter("Fn-E301");

        var rows = (await dbContext.Service.ExecuteAsync(function)).ResultSets[0];
        Show(string.Join(", ", rows.Entities.Select(x => $"{x["first_name"]} ({x["job_title"]})")));

        /* ===========================================================
         * [DIRECT QUERY CHECK]
         * -----------------------------------------------------------
         * SELECT first_name, job_title
         * FROM fn_contacts_named('Fn-E301');
         * -- Expect: 3 rows: Faye Director, Finn Engineer, Fran Buyer.
         * ===========================================================
         */
    }

    /// <summary>3. <c>fn_touch_account</c> returns <c>void</c>: it's run for what it does, and returns no rows.</summary>
    private static async Task Scenario3_AnEffectAsync(SampleContext dbContext, ArxRecordId accountId)
    {
        Step("3. A function run for its effect");

        var function = new ArxProcedureExpression("fn_touch_account") { ProcedureType = ArxProcedureType.Function };
        function.AddParameter(accountId.AsInt64());

        var result = await dbContext.Service.ExecuteAsync(function);
        Show($"rows returned: {result.ResultSets[0].Entities.Count}");

        /* ===========================================================
         * [DIRECT QUERY CHECK]
         * -----------------------------------------------------------
         * SELECT modified_on IS NOT NULL AS touched
         * FROM account
         * WHERE account_number = 'ACC-E301';
         * -- Expect: t.
         * ===========================================================
         */
    }
}

Expected output

What dotnet run printed when the sample was verified, on a freshly created sample schema. Ids differ when the tables already hold rows.

Output
  > 1. One value
      3 contacts
  > 2. Rows
      Faye (Director), Finn (Engineer), Fran (Buyer)
  > 3. A function run for its effect
      rows returned: 0