SQL function ... this one is for SQL gurus

I'm posting this for a co-worker ...

He's trying to create a SQL user defined function ...

-----
create function historicIntOperand(issueID integer, atom integer,
    historic timestamp)
    returns integer
    language SQL
    specific historicIntOperand
    reads sql data
begin atomic
    return (
        select IntOperand into foo from IssueDeltas
            join IssueDeltaAtoms on IssueDeltas.ID =
IssueDeltaAtoms.ParentID
            where (IssueDeltas.ParentID = issueID
            and CreatedDate <= historic
            and AtomID = atom)
            order by CreatedDate DESC
            fetch first 1 row only);
end

-----

The problem is this ...

Return takes an expression.
Well, an expression is allowed to be (scalar subselect),
so we need () around the select.
Then we get an error when it hits the keyword ORDER.
A scalar subselect is a subselect.  It is not a select statement.
A select statement is a fullselect which can be followed by an orderby;
but a subselect may not have an order by!

The specific error we're getting is: [SQL0199] Keyword ORDER not
expected. Valid tokens: ) UNION.

We're using V5R3.

Any suggestions?


Thanks!

david