Jim,

> Bad attitude, Dmitry. If I had listened to the old farts pontificating
> on how database systems have to be designed, we'd never have had
> Interbase.

Very self-critical ;-)

> Argue your gut until your mind tells it that is wrong
> (or vice versa).

Yes, I agree. But my current knowledge of the engine doesn't let me to have
long discussions on how it must be implemented better, especially with you.
It seems I should know more about index trees implementation in IB as well
as common data/index paging mechanisms, so it is necessary for me to take a
deep look at the source to make myself ready for such research. I only hope
the clouds of my daily job will thin away and I shall have a bit of free
time for this.

Best regards,
Dmitry