I sent this to a couple DBAs, which warranted it to be posted for comment. Do you know why this is? Shouldn't a CHAR field size 15 return all the records where the field is 15 spaces when requested? Should it not return all rows if <> anything but 15 spaces? Oracle 11.2.0.1 Field is CHAR(15) NOT NULL Min(length(activity)), max(length(activity)) = 15 714196 + 3744244 = total rows in table. select count(*) SIXTEEN from lawcrp.mmdist where activity = ' '; SIXTEEN ---------- 3744244 select count(*) FIFTEEN from lawcrp.mmdist where activity = ' '; FIFTEEN ---------- 3744244 select count(*) FOURTEEN from lawcrp.mmdist where activity = ' '; FOURTEEN ---------- THIRTEEN, TWELVE, ELEVEN, ... THREE, TWO, 3744244 select count(*) ONE from lawcrp.mmdist where activity = ' '; ONE ---------- 3744244 select count(*) ZERO from lawcrp.mmdist where activity = ''; ZERO ---------- 0 select count(*) "<> ZERO" from lawcrp.mmdist where activity <> ''; <> ZERO ---------- 0 select count(*) "<> ONE" from lawcrp.mmdist where activity <> ' '; <> ONE ---------- 714196 select count(*) "<> TWO" from lawcrp.mmdist where activity <> ' '; <> TWO ---------- THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, ... THIRTEEN, FOURTEEN, 714196 select count(*) "<> FIFTEEN" from lawcrp.mmdist where activity <> ' '; <> FIFTEEN ---------- 714196 select count(*) "<> SIXTEEN" from lawcrp.mmdist where activity <> ' '; <> SIXTEEN ---------- 714196 Joel Patterson Database Administrator 904 727-2546 -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l