## Reducing SQL overheads via "inline" stored functions

    SELECT H.emp_no,    E.emp_name, 
           H.hist_type, T.type_desc, 
           count(*)  
    From   history_type T,
           emp E,
           emp_history H
    Where  H.emp_no     = E.emp_no
    And    H.hist_type  = T.hist_type
    Group
        By H.emp_no, E.emp_name, H.hist_type, T.type_desc ;


## This statement's performance may be improved via an inline function call.

    FUNCTION Lookup_Hist_Type (typ IN number) return varchar2
    AS
      tdesc   varchar2(30);
      CURSOR  C1 IS
      SELECT  type_desc 
      FROM    history_type
      WHERE   hist_type = typ;
    BEGIN
      Open  C1;
      Fetch C1 into tdesc;
      Close C1;
      return (nvl(tdesc,’?’));
    END;

    FUNCTION Lookup_Emp (emp IN number) return varchar2
    AS
      ename   varchar2(30);
      CURSOR  C1 IS
      SELECT  emp_name 
      FROM    emp
      WHERE   emp_no = emp;
    BEGIN
      Open  C1;
      Fetch C1 into ename;
      Close C1;
      return (nvl(ename,’?’));
    END;


    SELECT H.emp_no,    Lookup_Emp(H.emp_no), 
           H.hist_type, Lookup_Hist_Type(H.hist_type), 
           count(*)  
    FROM   emp_history H
    GROUP
        BY H.emp_no, H.hist_type;