Full table scan issue with optional params

Question

Hi
I have following problem when writing PL/SQL queries for optional search conditions in the SQL statements
for ex: if there's a select querty with 3 contions as follows
select .......
from
table1 t1 join...
teble2 t2 join
where
( :param1 = -1 or t1.col1 = :param1)
and
( :param2 = -1 or t2.col1 = :param2)
this is mainly to support optional search conditions such as param1 and param2 where when any of those params are option it is passed as -1 so that condition of where clause becomes true and has no filtering.
However once we use this way even the contion columns are indexed those are not used but full scan happens.
if we write dynamic SQL (i.e removing condition check section totally from where clause dynamically based on the value of the param) then the query performs as usual. other option is to duplicate the same query in if ... then.. else block for different values of param1 and param2 .. in that case we would end up with huge SP..
so what's the solution for this kind of scenario... do we have to end up with dynamic SQL (string concatanation to build the query at runtime with required conditions)
Please help me on this. Normally what is the usual approach for such selection query since most search pages have this option to ommit several selection criterias if necessary... so it should be very common problem
Thanks
-Rasika

Answer 1

Hello
Have a look at this link to asktom It shows how to specify a dynamic where clause AND use bind variables in the resulting SQL statement.
HTH
David