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.
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. 23. The method set forth in claim 14 wherein: in the step of receiving the SQL statement, the container is a parameterized view that is defined using the table function.