yes indeeded. I should have also added that the table was 4.2 millions rows and CF was 3.4 millions so that a quick estimation of this ratio, one must expect around 400 table blocks access, but the executions with autotrace on showed that Oracle found everything, root block, branch, index and table blocks in 7 blocks. This is a direct perversion of the ASSM way to insert rows. The result is that you can't trust what you see. bp _____ From: Allen, Brandon [mailto:Brandon.Allen@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Thursday, 19 October, 2006 6:55 PM To: Polarski, Bernard; oracle-l Subject: RE: What is left of explain plan with ASSM? Doesn't card=568 mean 568 *rows*, not 568 blocks? _____ From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Polarski, Bernard Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 4:52 AM To: oracle-l Subject: What is left of explain plan with ASSM? Note the prediction of 568 table block access in contrast of the reality. 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.