problems with formatting...resending again... well, I have a different experience - at least at 10.2.0.2/Linux...bindvariable length do count in v$sql_shared_cursor... GB@xxxxxx > var b varchar2(100); GB@xxxxxx > select /* goran2 */ count(9) from brisi where instanceid# = :b; COUNT(9) ---------- 0 GB@xxxxxx > var b varchar2(200); GB@xxxxxx > select /* goran2 */ count(9) from brisi where instanceid# = :b; COUNT(9) ---------- 0 GB@xxxxxx > select sql_text, version_count, sql_id 2 from v$sqlarea 3 where sql_text like '%goran2%' 4 ; SQL_TEXT VERSION_COUNT SQL_ID ------------------------------ ------------- ------------- select /* goran2 */ count(9) f 2 dv7phzzypq13t rom brisi where instanceid# = :b select sql_text, version_count 1 ghqmf9yaw3ju6 , sql_id from v$sqlarea where 1=1 and sql_text like '%goran2 %' GB@xxxxxx > select sa.sql_text, sc.bind_mismatch, sc.child_number 2 from v$sql_shared_cursor sc, v$sqlarea sa 3 where sc.sql_id = 'dv7phzzypq13t' 4 and sc.sql_id = sa.sql_id 5 ; SQL_TEXT B CHILD_NUMBER ------------------------------ - ------------ select /* goran2 */ count(9) f N 0 rom brisi where instanceid# = :b select /* goran2 */ count(9) f Y 1 rom brisi where instanceid# = :b GB@xxxxxx > spool off