19. The method set forth in claim 14 wherein the step of making the SQL string is optional and the method further comprises the step performed when the step of making the SQL string is not performed of: executing the table function when the SQL statement is executed.
14. A method executed by a relational database management system of the type wherein a table function returns a set of result rows which are represented in an SQL statement by a container for the table function, the relational database management system executing on a processor that has access to a storage device and the method comprising the steps of: receiving the SQL statement; making an SQL string which does not include the table function and which, when executed, will return a set of result rows which is equivalent to the set of result rows returned by the container function; and rewriting the SQL statement such that the container is replaced with the SQL string prior to executing the SQL statement.