Why are my set-returning function's columns concatenated when used in a PostgreSQL query, and how can I resolve this?

Concatenated Columns in Record Returned from Function

This issue arises when attempting to execute a query utilizing a set-returning function within another query, resulting in all function-returned columns being concatenated into a single column.

Function Declaration

The following Postgres function, account_servicetier_for_day, takes in an account ID and a day and returns historical data:

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION account_servicetier_for_day(_accountid integer, _day timestamp without time zone) RETURNS setof account_dsl_history_info AS
$BODY$
DECLARE _accountingrow record;
BEGIN
  Return Query
  Select * From account_dsl_history_info
  Where accountid = _accountid And timestamp <= _day + interval '1 day - 1 millisecond'
  Order By timestamp Desc 
  Limit 1;
END;
$BODY$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Issue: Concatenated Columns

When the function is executed directly, it returns the expected result with separate columns. However, when used within a query, the columns are concatenated into one:

Select
    '2014-08-12' As day, 0 As inbytes, 0 As outbytes, acct.username, acct.accountid, acct.userid,
    account_servicetier_for_day(acct.accountid, '2014-08-12')
From account_tab acct
Where acct.isdsl = 1
    And acct.dslservicetypeid Is Not Null
    And acct.accountid Not In (Select accountid From dailyaccounting_tab Where Day = '2014-08-12')
Order By acct.username

Solution: SQL Decomposition

To decompose the function-returned record into individual columns, use the SQL syntax:

SELECT * FROM account_servicetier_for_day(20424, '2014-08-12');

Postgres 9.3 or Newer

For Postgres 9.3 and later, the query can be rewritten using JOIN LATERAL:

SELECT '2014-08-12' AS day, 0 AS inbytes, 0 AS outbytes
     , a.username, a.accountid, a.userid
     , f.*   -- but avoid duplicate column names!
FROM   account_tab a
     , account_servicetier_for_day(a.accountid, '2014-08-12') f  -- <-- HERE
WHERE  a.isdsl = 1
AND    a.dslservicetypeid IS NOT NULL
AND    NOT EXISTS (
   SELECT FROM dailyaccounting_tab
   WHERE  day = '2014-08-12'
   AND    accountid = a.accountid
   )
ORDER  BY a.username;

Postgres 9.2 or Older

For Postgres 9.2 or older, use a subquery to call the set-returning function and decompose the record in the outer query:

SELECT '2014-08-12' AS day, 0 AS inbytes, 0 AS outbytes
     , a.username, a.accountid, a.userid
     , (a.rec).*   -- but be wary of duplicate column names!
FROM  (
   SELECT *, account_servicetier_for_day(a.accountid, '2014-08-12') AS rec
   FROM   account_tab a
   WHERE  a.isdsl = 1
   AND    a.dslservicetypeid Is Not Null
   AND    NOT EXISTS (
       SELECT FROM dailyaccounting_tab
       WHERE  day = '2014-08-12'
       AND    accountid = a.accountid
      )
   ) a
ORDER  BY a.username;

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