Sounds like prefetching at work - I think it has been on by default since 8i or 9i: http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/appdev.920/a96584/oci04sql. htm#428255 Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message or attachments hereto. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of this company shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l