RETURN_VALUES ??? done... What have I gained?

General question...

-using an ADOSTOREDPROC component... is there any reason why I should use
something else, say ADOQuery ???? With adodataset I was getting an error
about a result set and didn't see anywhere where I had the opportunity to
Execproc vs Open... (did I miss something there?)

-the only advantage I see is that I'm not trying to return a dataset when
all I need is a stinkin value, amount, string, what-have-you... there is
nothing especially clean and simple about it... so... (the question)
(FINALLY!)... Did I really gain anything??? (other then some tiny sense of
accomplishment)

That is a serious question by the way... is it somehow more effecient to
retrieve one value/result when that is all you need?

***for the inquiring mind***
stored proc:
CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.getPayments @meetingCode char(6), @guestID char(10),
@total money OUTPUT AS
/* used to retreive the payments made by a member*/
select @total = sum(amount)
from payments
where (meetingCode= @meetingCode) and (guestid = @guestid)
RETURN
GO

call in a function:
function Tdm.GetPayments: currency;
begin
result := 0.00; //default
if adodsMeeting.Active then //a meeting is opened
begin

with ADOSP do
begin
close;
Prepared := false;
Parameters.Clear;

ProcedureName := 'getPayments';

Parameters.CreateParameter('meetingCode',ftString,pdInput,6,
trim(adodsGuests.Fieldbyname('meetingCode').AsString));
Parameters.CreateParameter('guestID',ftString,pdInput,10,
trim(adodsGuests.Fieldbyname('guestid').AsString));
Parameters.CreateParameter('total',ftCurrency,pdOutput,10,0);

prepared := true;
ExecProc;

if varisnull(Parameters.ParamByName('total').Value) then
result := 0.00
else
result := Parameters.ParamByName('total').Value;
end;
end;
end;


ps... thanx Ron noone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx your notes helped tremendously... I
find microsoft help to be a little criptic.


.