Adam,

> I believe (and correct me if I am wrong) that the locate function on
>a query component is processed by the application. That means that
>the database will have to return all the records to the application,
>and the component can then do a search for it. Even if the component
>does use some form of binary search on the dataset, you have already
>paid a performance penalty, especially if the database is on a
>different machine and you have network speed to factor in.

Narf. That would be plain horrible. If that's true, I'll have a loong
time changing all the searches on my app to do selects insead of locates.

hmm.. suddenly I got that "OMGIF" feeling about my app and me.

>
> The like operator will automatically try and use the available index.
>
> select name
> from employee
> where name like 'A%'
>
> will use the index on 'name', but
>
> select name
> from employee
> where name like '%a'
>
> can not use the index, and so doesn't.

Any known way so the <like '%a'> can use an index? Or simply it just
can't use it? My users like to do wierd searches and I've already seen
them doing this kind of search. :-)

>
> Hope that helps

Thanks a lot.

Andrew