Help! View Optimization

I am on a project that is using Informix. We have many tables, some of which are VERY large (approx. 1 - 2 million records) (approx. 60 tables). We are using Views quite extensively. We use them to get a boiled down view of the data and then we apply select critera to the view. Some of these views are joining 7 or 8 tables (and of course one of the tables (or more) in the view will be one of the monster tables). I am trying to find out how we can optimize these views. Two questions are: 1. can this be done within Informix and 2. can this be done in code if #1 is impossible? Things are running very slow, if at all, right now. Logic would suggest that we apply the select criteria to the tables first (particularly the large ones) and then do the join, probably followed by some final select criteria. We have not tried this yet. Comments or suggestions? I would like to stay out of the code as much as possible on this one, but if thats the only way this project will fly... Thanks in advance, E-Mail or Post replies Chris Russell (chrisr@acatst01.cos.titan.com)