How to fix different execution plan for different bind variable values?

Question

Please find the below query. The execution plan is fine. The problem That I am facing is in some cases for different bind variable values execution plan gets changed and degrades performance. I have used 6 tables here and all of the tables have histogram on all columns. Database version is Oracle 10g and the value of method_opt is 'For all columns size auto'
SELECT l.LineNumber INTO :b0
FROM Lines l ,LineVersions lv ,Statuses s
WHERE (((((((((((l.serviceContractId=:b1 AND l.LineId<>:b2)
AND lv.LineId=l.LineId) AND lv.StatusId=s.StatusId)
AND s.Code IN ('EPR','ERE','EEP','ERP','PRP','PRD','AAC'))
AND NOT (s.CODE='AAC' AND lv.activeto<TO_DATE(:b3,:b4)))
AND lv.EquipmentDetailId=:b5) AND lv.RouteDetailId=:b6)
AND (lv.cargoDetailId=:b7 OR lv.cargoDetailId IN
(SELECT i_cd1.cargoDetailId
FROM CargoDetails i_cd1 ,CargoDetails i_cd2 ,CargoCommodities i_cc1 ,
CargoCommodities i_cc2 WHERE
((((((i_cd2.cargoDetailId=:b7 AND i_cd1.cargoDetailId<>:b7)
AND i_cd1.ServiceContractId=:b1) AND i_cd1.cargoTypeId=i_cd2.cargoTypeId)
AND i_cc1.cargoDetailId=i_cd1.cargoDetailId)
AND i_cc2.cargoDetailId=i_cd2.cargoDetailId)
AND i_cc1.commodityId=i_cc2.commodityId))))
AND ((lv.customerGroupId IS NULL AND :b11=0) OR lv.customerGroupId IN
(SELECT cgm1.customerGroupId
FROM CustomerGroupMembers cgm1 ,CustomerGroupMembers cgm2 ,CustomerGroups cg1
WHERE (((cgm2.customerGroupId=:b11 AND cgm1.customerNoId=cgm2.customerNoId)
AND cg1.CustomerGroupId=cgm1.CustomerGroupId)
AND cg1.ServiceContractId=l.ServiceContractId)))) AND lv.linetype='C')
AND ROWNUM=1)
After searching in several blogs I have found the below solutions. Please see it and let me know it is correct or not
Solution 1:-Get rid of histogram that does nothing but messes up execution plan by giving below command
exec dbms_stats.gather_table_stats(owner, tablename, method_opt => 'for all columns size 1', cascade => true);
As 6 tables are there I need to execute above command 6 times.
Solution 2:- Use stored outline. Not sure how to get the best execution plan.
I am looking for answers ASAP. Thanks in advance

Answer 1

As you have probably read, bind variables and histograms do not mix well.
Histograms suggest that you have skew in your data such that different values should get different plans
Bind variables exist so that SQL with different supplied values can be shared.
Mix the two together and at parse time with bind variable peeking you get plans for specific values shared for all values.
The solutions you have mentioned are the common approaches, together with a third - use literals not binds if you've got data skew (i.e. your histograms are justified) and don't want shared SQL.
I would have thought that getting rid of some of these histograms may be the right approach if you're none of your application SQL is using literals to benefit from them.
Can you confirm your version of Oracle.
Further reading:
http://jonathanlewis.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/philosophy-1/
http://structureddata.org/2008/03/26/choosing-an-optimal-stats-gathering-strategy/
http://richardfoote.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/dbms_stats-method_opt-default-behaviour-changed-in-10g-be-careful/