Function-based index with OR in the wher-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 I_FUNCTION_TPERSON_NAME and we have a full table scan in the execution-plan.
(This behavior we only expect with views but not with indexes.)
We ask for an advice like a 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 select-statement is:
select * FROM TPERSON
where (upper(NAME) like 'MIL%' or (NAME is null))
and (upper(FIRSTNAME) like 'MICH% or (FIRSTNAME is null))
and ...;
thank you for time..
email: [email protected]

Answer 1

In the realistic statement you write :
select * FROM TPERSON
where (upper(NAME) like 'MIL%' or (NAME is null))
and (upper(FIRSTNAME) like 'MICH% or (FIRSTNAME is null))
and ...;
as far as i know, NULL values are not indexed, "or (NAME is NULL)" have to generate a full table scan.
HTH
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 I_FUNCTION_TPERSON_NAME and we have a full table scan in the execution-plan.
(This behavior we only expect with views but not with indexes.)
We ask for an advice like a 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 select-statement is:
select * FROM TPERSON
where (upper(NAME) like 'MIL%' or (NAME is null))
and (upper(FIRSTNAME) like 'MICH% or (FIRSTNAME is null))
and ...;
thank you for time..
email: [email protected]