George, I agree with Nuno - developers are wrong. As long as there is an index on the child column (either PK or a non-unique index), then it does not matter. As a test, have your friend try and create the additional index. Oracle may stop him/her saying that the column is already indexed. If the index is created, run a simple explain plan against a query using the child table. The PK/unique index will *always* be used before the non-unique index. Good Luck! Tom -----Original Message----- From: Leonard, George [mailto:GLeonard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 4:51 AM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: Desplace, Laura Subject: Referential indexes Hi all Got this query from a developer, or actually they are actually arguing with the DBA team. Table A - master, acc number field also only column in PK Table B - Child, acc Number Field acc number is the first column in PK, PK contains 2 more columns. DBA's are saying we don't need a normal non unique stand alone index on the acc Number field for table B. Developers want a separate index, COMMENT? George =20________________________________________________ George Leonard Oracle Database Administrator New Dawn Technologies @ Wesbank E-mail:gleonard@xxxxxxxxxxxxx =20 You Have The Obligation to Inform One Honestly of the risk, And As a Person You Are Committed to Educate Yourself to the Total Risk In Any Activity! Once Informed & Totally Aware of the Risk, Every Fool Has the Right to Kill or Injure Themselves as They See Fit! =20 ge/oracle-l _________________________________________________________________________= __________________________ The views expressed in this email are, unless otherwise stated, those of = the author and not those of the FirstRand Banking Group an Authorised Financial Service Provider o= r its management. The information in this e-mail is confidential and is intended solely for= =20the addressee. Access to this e-mail by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribut= ion or any action taken or=20 omitted in reliance on this, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Whilst all reasonable steps are taken to ensure the accuracy and integrit= y of information and data=20 transmitted electronically and to preserve the confidentiality thereof, n= o liability or=20 responsibility whatsoever is accepted if information or data is, for what= ever reason, corrupted=20 or does not reach its intended destination. =20 ________________________________ -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l