returning SETOF RECORD

populate_record_worker in jsonfuncs.c says this:

if (get_call_result_type(fcinfo, NULL, &tupdesc) != TYPEFUNC_COMPOSITE)
ereport(ERROR,
(errcode(ERRCODE_FEATURE_NOT_SUPPORTED),
errmsg("function returning record called in context "
"that cannot accept type record"),
errhint("Try calling the function in the FROM clause "
"using a column definition list.")));

dblink.c has a similar incantation.

Is there any reasonable alternative? That is, if you have a function
returning SETOF record, and the details of the record type aren't
specified, is there anything you can do other than error out like
this?

Thanks,

--
Robert Haas
EnterpriseDB: http://www.enterprisedb.com
The Enterprise PostgreSQL Company