mysql error (#1064) stored procedure creation error

Question

I'm trying to create a stored procedure but i keep getting error:

#1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'NOT DETERMINISTIC CONTAINS SQL SQL SECURITY DEFINER COMMENT '' B' at line 3

My SQL is as follows:

DELIMITER $$
CREATE FUNCTION `prodcat_descendants` (idcat INTEGER(11) )
    RETURNS VARCHAR
    NOT DETERMINISTIC
    CONTAINS SQL
    SQL SECURITY DEFINER
    COMMENT ''
BEGIN
   RETURN (select GROUP_CONCAT(DISTINCT id_category SEPARATOR ',') from cms_prodcategories where id_parent=idcat and active='1');
END$$

I've tried to include DELIMITER but no result. I guess the problem might be in the quotes. Can someone point me out the solution? Thanks!

MySQL version 5.5

Answer 1

You need a varchar length on the return statement of the procedure something as

RETURNS VARCHAR(1024)

So the procedure becomes

DELIMITER $$
CREATE FUNCTION `prodcat_descendants` (idcat INTEGER(11) )
    RETURNS VARCHAR(1024)
    NOT DETERMINISTIC
    CONTAINS SQL
    SQL SECURITY DEFINER
    COMMENT ''
BEGIN
   RETURN (select GROUP_CONCAT(DISTINCT id_category SEPARATOR ',') from cms_prodcategories where id_parent=idcat and active='1');
END; $$