SQL & PL/SQL

i have a function that returns a rowtype. below is a simplified version:

create or replace function "GETC"
return mytable%rowtype
is
rec mytable%rowtype;
begin
rec.rowid := 1;
return rec;
end;

eventually i'll want to call this from java. but for now i'd settle for calling it from the XE web front end (and sqlplus).

SQLPLUS: i try to call it from sqlplus by first declaring a variable where i can store the return:

var a mytable%rowtype;

it instantly stops me saying that i can only declare a var of a particular type. so what do i do?

XE interface: i tried various ways to call getc(), but they were all unsuccessful. what should i be doing?

thanks so much for your time.
marko