Isn't this some kind of bad attempt to build dynamic search? If yes then look at this asktom thread how to do that properly: http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/asktom/f?p=100:11:0::NO::P11_QUESTION_ID:1288401763279 Gints Plivna http://www.gplivna.eu 2007/11/27, Robin Li <rli@xxxxxxx>: > -- Hi all, > > Can someone shed some light on how to tune this sql statement? Oracle > version 10.2 -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l