You have a compressed HB histogram - one with popular values - if dba_tab_columns.num_buckets < max(dba_histograms.endpoint_number). There is a slim theoretical chance that that condition is true for a frequency histogram, however, in general num_buckets = 1 ( = max(endpoint_number) ==> no histogram num_buckets = num_distinct-1 ==> frequency histogram num_buckets = max(endpoint_number) ==> HB histogram without popular values ( this includes case one, treating the entire value range as one big bucket) num_buckets < max(endpoint_number) ==> HB histogram with popular values At 06:33 AM 8/3/2004, you wrote: >How to identify if the actual number of buckets is different from the value >shown in NUM_BUCKETS column of USER_TAB_COLUMNS? > >Thanks & regards, >Charu. Regards Wolfgang Breitling Centrex Consulting Corporation www.centrexcc.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------