Function-based Index and an OR-condition in the WHERE-clause

Question

We have some problems with functin-based indexes and
the or-condition in a where-clause.
(We use oracle 8i (8.1.7))
create table TPERSON(ID number(10),NAME varchar2(20),...);
create index I_NORMAL_TPERSON_NAME on TPERSON(NAME);
create index I_FUNCTION_TPERSON_NAME on TPERSON(UPPER(NAME));
The following two statements run very fast on a large table
and the execution-plan asure the usage of the indexes
(-while the session is appropriate configured and the table is analyzed):
1)     select count(ID) FROM TPERSON where upper(NAME) like 'MIL%';
2)     select count(ID) from TPERSON where NAME like 'Mil%' or (3=5);
In particular we see that a normal index is used while the where-clause contains
an OR-CONDITION.
But if we try the similarly select-statement
3)     select count(ID) FROM TPERSON where upper(NAME) like 'MIL%' or (3=5);
the CBO will not use the function-index.
(This behavior we only expect with views but not with indexes.)
We ask for an advice like an hint, which enable the CBO-usage
of function-based indexes in connection with OR.
This problem seems to be artificial because it contains this dummy logic:
     or (3=5).
This steams from an prepared statement, where this kind of boolean
flag reduce the amount of different select-statements needed for
covering the hole business-logic, while using bind-variables for the
concrete query-parameters.
A more realistic (still boild down) version of our prepared select-statement run in
SQL Plus:
define x_name = 'MIL%';
define x_firstname = '';
select * FROM TPERSON
where (upper(NAME) like '&x_name' or ( '&x_name' = ''))
and (upper(FIRSTNAME) like '&x_firstname' or ('&x_firstname' = ''))
and ...;
In particular we dont refernce the tablecolumn , but the QUERY-Parameter
yield the second boolean value in the or-condition.
The problem is that this condition ('&x_name' = '') dont use any index.
thanks a lot for spending your time with this problem

Answer 1

Try
SELECT /*+ RULE */
as your hint. I don't have the book with me, but this last weekend I read a section about your very problem. The book was a Oracle Press gold cover about Oracle 8i Performance tuning. If you e-mail me I can quote you the chapter when I get home Friday.