Jim C. Nasby wrote:
On Fri, Mar 24, 2006 at 11:25:35AM -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
<pet-peeve>
If you only want to know if something exists, do NOT use count!


test$#     (select * from test_dates t1
test$#       where EXISTS ( select * from test_dates t2
test$#                   where (t1.from_date, t1.to_date) overlaps
test$#                            (t2.from_date, t2.to_date)) )$$;


On a small dataset you may not notice much difference, but you'll
certainly see it on a large dataset.
</pet-peeve>

Certainly true, I keep telling people here at work. But I was kind of wondering why you'd "select * from" inside "exists", if you're not going to use those values.

I tend to write "where exists (select 1 from", but now I'm curious whether the planner handles this for you or if there's actually a difference in meaning?

I assume it's always better to not let the planner decide these kind of things. Try to write what you really want, instead of waving hands in the general direction and make the planner decide what you mean ;)

Well, this is getting awfully pet-peevish, of course...

--
Alban Hertroys
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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