According to the explain plan, the queries went back to 'SORT (GROUP BY)' immediately. But I didn't run an extended trace to verify the execution was actually doing that. select count(distinct plan_hash_value) from v$sql_plan where operation = 'HASH' and options = 'GROUP BY'; ----------- 0 Rows Chris Taylor Sr. Oracle DBA Ingram Barge Company Nashville, TN 37205 Office: 615-517-3355 Cell: 615-354-4799 Email: chris.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ________________________________ From: Allen, Brandon [mailto:Brandon.Allen@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 9:49 AM To: Taylor, Chris David; oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: _gby_hash_aggregation_enabled=false When you set it, did it stop the query from using HASH GROUP BY? If you don't mind, could you please check and see what you get from the following query: select count(distinct plan_hash_value) from v$sql_plan where operation = 'HASH' and options = 'GROUP BY'; Thanks, Brandon ________________________________ From: Taylor, Chris David [mailto:Chris.Taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Well I was going to say we had set it and have not experienced any problems. 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.