title: PL / SQL Function to return varchar2 / numbers
body: <p>I have this PL / SQL function that accepts the name of a student (f_name). The function then displays all of the information for the given student from a premade table called students. The table contains 5 columns, 2 number type, and 3 varchar2 type. If the name isn't found in the table an error message is returned. My code so far is </p>
  
  <pre><code>CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION studentName(
      f_name IN VARCHAR2)
    RETURN
  IS
    v_test students%rowtype;
    CURSOR c1
    IS
      SELECT * FROM students WHERE first_name = f_name;
  BEGIN
    OPEN c1;
    FETCH c1 INTO v_test;
    IF c1%notfound THEN
      v_test := NULL;
    END IF;
  CLOSE c1;
  RETURN v_test;
  END;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I keep getting:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>PLS-00382: expression is of wrong type </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I believe from my initial return varchar2 statement. How do I allow the return to accept both varchar2 type and number type?</p>