Query Performance through Views

It appears that Informix Online 5.00 makes some rather mindless assumptions about query optimization under the "create view" statement. It essentially ignores any indexes it might be able to use based upon what columns are selected when accessing the view. With "set explain on" the engine spits out the same grossly inefficient query plan regardless of what columns I specify in my query. In the example query attached below two column values are specified which comprise a composite key (shift_date & shift) which are the best path to the data but OnLine completely ignores this information, grinds through the tables in a sequential search, then filters for the values I specified. It takes eons. (Query plan "estimated cost" = 9578). The exact same query posted directly against the tables comes back instantaneously. (Query plan "estimated cost" = 24). I believe the query against the View should net the same performance. Also: I "update statistics" daily. My questions are: 1. How do I get Informix to use the optimal query path under a view? Does 5.01/.02 have the same behavior? 2. Having just bet the farm on the suitability of building a Data Warehouse centered around Informix Views, did I just make a colossal blunder? Ken Miles Hewlett Packard Vancouver Division kenm@vcd.hp.com **************************************************************** The sqexplain.out file looks like this: QUERY: ------ create view "informix".test_results (product_number,test_station,line_number,shift_date,shift,test_result,test_symptom_id,quantity) as select distinct x0.hp_item_nr ,x1.name ,x1.line ,x0.shift_date ,x0.shift ,x0.result_type ,x0.symptom_id ,x0.symptom_count from production:"informix".hp_item_defect x0 ,printer_prod:"gap".equipment_group x1 where (x0.equipment_id = x1.equipment_id ) with check option; Estimated Cost: 9578 Estimated # of Rows Returned: 9502 1) production:informix.hp_item_defect: SEQUENTIAL SCAN 2) printer_prod:gap.equipment_group: INDEX PATH (1) Index Keys: equipment_id Lower Index Filter: printer_prod:gap.equipment_group.equipment_id = production:informix.hp_item_defect.equipment_id QUERY: ------ select shift_date,shift,test_station,product_number,test_symptom_id , quantity from test_results where (product_number = 'C2144A' or product_number = 'C2144D') and shift_date = '11/8/93' and shift = 'V' Estimated Cost: 2 Estimated # of Rows Returned: 1 1) (Temp Table For View): SEQUENTIAL SCAN Filters: (((Temp Table For View).product_number = 'C2144A' OR (Temp Table For View).product_number = 'C2144D' ) AND ((Temp Table For View).shift_date = '11/8/93' AND (Temp Table For View).shift = 'V' ) )