PL/PGSQL Function problem.

RedHat 6.2 /Postgres 6.53
I'm still very new at PL/PGSQL but I have looked thru all the 
documentation I could find before sending this in.


I have a function that I would like to be able to apply to multiple 
tables without having to duplicate the code. I would like to be able 
to pass in the table name I would like to apply the function to. I 
cannot seem to get this to work.  Below is what I have so far.  I 
would like to be able to have

computers_equal(comp_one,comp_two,comp_table_one,comp_table_two);

I cannot seem to find a way to pass in a text string to be used in 
the select into statements.

Anyone got any ideas on how I fix this other that writing a function 
for all the permutations (ordered_parts vs used_parts , ordered_parts 
vs  new_parts, used_parts vs ordered_parts, new_parts vs 
ordered_parts,new_parts vs used_parts, used_parts vs ordered_parts)

Any advice would be appreciated.




create table ordered_parts
(computer_number int4,part_number int4
);

create table used_parts
(computer_number int4,part_number int4
);

create tabel new_parts
(computer_number int4,part_number int4
);

insert into ordered_parts values(1,401);
insert into ordered_parts values(1,402);

insert into used_parts values(2,401);
insert into used_parts values(2,402);
insert into used_parts values(3,401);
insert into used_parts values(3,403);

insert into new_parts values(4,401);
insert into new_parts values(4,402);
insert into new_parts values(5,401);
insert into new_parts values(5,403);


CREATE FUNCTION computers_equal(int4 , int4) RETURNS bool AS 'DECLARE    true CONSTANT bool DEFAULT ''t'';    false
CONSTANTbool DEFAULT ''f'';    parts_list RECORD;BEGIN    SELECT INTO parts_list part_number,part_label from 
 
ordered_parts where computer_number = $1 except select 
part_number,part_label from used_parts where computer_number= $2;    IF NOT FOUND THEN        -- now test the reverse
        SELECT INTO parts_list 
 
part_number,part_label from used_parts  where computer_number = $2 
except select part_number,part_label from ordered_parts where 
computer_number= $1;        IF NOT FOUND THEN            RETURN true;        ELSE            RETURN false;        END
IF;
    ELSE        RETURN false;    END IF;
END;
' LANGUAGE 'plpgsql';

--This will list all the comptuers that match
select distinct on computer_number computer_number from used_parts 
where computers_equal(1,computer_number) and computer_number!=1;

/*
--this doesn't work
CREATE FUNCTION computers_equal(int4 , int4,text,text) RETURNS bool AS 'DECLARE    true CONSTANT bool DEFAULT ''t'';
falseCONSTANT bool DEFAULT ''f'';    parts_list RECORD;BEGIN    SELECT INTO parts_list part_number,part_label from $3 
 
where computer_number = $1 except select part_number,part_label from 
$4 where computer_number= $2;    IF NOT FOUND THEN        -- now test the reverse            SELECT INTO parts_list 
part_number,part_label from $4  where computer_number = $2 except 
select part_number,part_label from $3 where computer_number= $1;        IF NOT FOUND THEN            RETURN true;
ELSE            RETURN false;        END IF;
 
    ELSE        RETURN false;    END IF;
END;
' LANGUAGE 'plpgsql';
select distinct on computer_number computer_number from used_parts 
where computers_equal(1,computer_number,ordered_parts,used_parts) and 
computer_number!=1;
*/
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