Simple question about running a function.

Good afternoon all,

I want to test a function. I have \timing on.

There are two ways of doing this - either use lots of data or run it many times.

I'm using psql.

I wish to run my function many times. So, a small dummy function is here:

create or replace function test_fn()
returns VOID as $$
DECLARE
BEGIN
  FOR r IN 1..10000 LOOP

    SELECT ('a string');

  END LOOP;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Compiles no problems - CREATE FUNCTION is returned as expected.

So, I try:

SELECT test_fn();

but receive the error:

ERROR:  query has no destination for result data
HINT:  If you want to discard the results of a SELECT, use PERFORM instead.
CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function test_fn() line 6 at SQL statement

So, I searched and found

DO $$ BEGIN
    PERFORM test_fn();
END $$;

but when I run this, I receive the same error - i.e. use PERFORM instead.

I tried

PERFORM test_fn();

and receive the error:

ERROR:  syntax error at or near "PERFORM"
LINE 1: PERFORM test_fn();



So, could somebody please tell me how to run a function like this?

Any pointers to references/URLs and especially the documentation would be great - I did search but couldn't find
anything.

A general overview of the "philosophy" underlying this would be helpful - I'm just not "getting" it?

rgs,

SQLP!