Hi Tim, Norman Dunbar. Contract Oracle DBA. Rivers House, Leeds. Internal : 7 28 2051 External : 0113 231 2051 >>> "Tim Onions" <att755@xxxxxxxxxxx> 01/10/06 02:42pm >>> <SNIP> >> So what am I missing, why does 10g require less LIO? It clearly is much >> quicker whatever it is doing. In addition to Connor's comments, Oracle 10g also has FAST DUAL access. This is where there are zero LIOs to access dual when you don't specify the actual contents of the row in DUAL. SELECT * FROM DUAL or SELECT DUMMY FROM DUAL will incurr LIO, but SELECT SYSDATE FROM DUAL or SELECT USER FROM DUAL etc will have zero LIO. Cheers, Norman. Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. If we have sent you information and you wish to use it please read our terms and conditions which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find out more about the Environment Agency at www.environment-agency.gov.uk -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l