Question

Given the following Java which is loaded into the database using loadjava:

package grassie.example;

public class Example {

    public static String test(){
        return "Hello World!";
    }
}

And given the following Oracle Stored Function:

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION TEST_FUNCTION RETURN VARCHAR2
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'grassie.example.Example.test() RETURN java.lang.String';

Why does the function not compile with the following error?:

Error(3,1): PLS-00311: the declaration of "grassie.example.Example.test() RETURN java.lang.String" is incomplete or malformed

Oracle client is 9.2.0.8.0, database is 9.2.0.8.0. Using SQL Developer 2.1.0.63

edit: Ammended my question based on answers below.

To further clarify, I created this simple test class and function because I am having problems with more complicated Java and stored functions, which accept and return various parameter types.

Answer 1

Get rid of the empty parentheses in the function declaration:

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION TEST_FUNCTION RETURN VARCHAR2
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'grassie.example.Example.test() RETURN java.lang.String';

Update:

Java keywords should be lowercase. Try replacing RETURN with return in the NAME clause.