14 Managing Extended Statistics

DBMS_STATS enables you to collect extended statistics, which are statistics that can improve cardinality estimates when multiple predicates exist on different columns of a table, or when predicates use expressions.

An extension is either a column group or an expression. Column group statistics can improve cardinality estimates when multiple columns from the same table occur together in a SQL statement. Expression statistics improves optimizer estimates when predicates use expressions, for example, built-in or user-defined functions.

Note:

You cannot create extended statistics on virtual columns.

This chapter contains the following topics:

See Also:

Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for a list of restrictions on virtual columns

14.1 Managing Column Group Statistics

A column group is a set of columns that is treated as a unit.

Essentially, a column group is a virtual column. By gathering statistics on a column group, the optimizer can more accurately determine the cardinality estimate when a query groups these columns together.

The following sections provide an overview of column group statistics, and explain how to manage them manually:

See Also:

Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference to learn about the DBMS_STATS package

14.1.1 About Statistics on Column Groups

Individual column statistics are useful for determining the selectivity of a single predicate in a WHERE clause.

When the WHERE clause includes multiple predicates on different columns from the same table, individual column statistics do not show the relationship between the columns. This is the problem solved by a column group.

The optimizer calculates the selectivity of the predicates independently, and then combines them. However, if a correlation between the individual columns exists, then the optimizer cannot take it into account when determining a cardinality estimate, which it creates by multiplying the selectivity of each table predicate by the number of rows.

The following graphic contrasts two ways of gathering statistics on the cust_state_province and country_id columns of the sh.customers table. The diagram shows DBMS_STATS collecting statistics on each column individually and on the group. The column group has a system-generated name.

Figure 14-1 Column Group Statistics

Description of Figure 14-1 follows
Description of "Figure 14-1 Column Group Statistics"

Note:

The optimizer uses column group statistics for equality predicates, inlist predicates, and for estimating the GROUP BY cardinality.

This section contains the following topics:

14.1.1.1 Why Column Group Statistics Are Needed: Example

This example demonstrates how column group statistics enable the optimizer to give a more accurate cardinality estimate.

The following query of the DBA_TAB_COL_STATISTICS table shows information about statistics that have been gathered on the columns cust_state_province and country_id from the sh.customers table:

COL COLUMN_NAME FORMAT a20
COL NDV FORMAT 999

SELECT COLUMN_NAME, NUM_DISTINCT AS "NDV", HISTOGRAM
FROM   DBA_TAB_COL_STATISTICS
WHERE  OWNER = 'SH'
AND    TABLE_NAME = 'CUSTOMERS'
AND    COLUMN_NAME IN ('CUST_STATE_PROVINCE', 'COUNTRY_ID');

Sample output is as follows:

COLUMN_NAME                 NDV HISTOGRAM
-------------------- ---------- ---------------
CUST_STATE_PROVINCE         145 FREQUENCY
COUNTRY_ID                   19 FREQUENCY

As shown in the following query, 3341 customers reside in California:

SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM   sh.customers 
WHERE  cust_state_province = 'CA';

 COUNT(*)
----------
    3341

Consider an explain plan for a query of customers in the state CA and in the country with ID 52790 (USA):

EXPLAIN PLAN FOR
  SELECT *
  FROM   sh.customers
  WHERE  cust_state_province = 'CA'
  AND    country_id=52790;
 
Explained.
 
sys@PROD> SELECT * FROM TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY);
 
PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan hash value: 1683234692
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Id  | Operation         | Name      | Rows  | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time     |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   0 | SELECT STATEMENT  |           |   128 | 24192 |   442   (7)| 00:00:06 |
|*  1 |  TABLE ACCESS FULL| CUSTOMERS |   128 | 24192 |   442   (7)| 00:00:06 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Predicate Information (identified by operation id):
---------------------------------------------------
 
PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   1 - filter("CUST_STATE_PROVINCE"='CA' AND "COUNTRY_ID"=52790)
 
13 rows selected.

Based on the single-column statistics for the country_id and cust_state_province columns, the optimizer estimates that the query of California customers in the USA will return 128 rows. In fact, 3341 customers reside in California, but the optimizer does not know that the state of California is in the country of the USA, and so greatly underestimates cardinality by assuming that both predicates reduce the number of returned rows.

You can make the optimizer aware of the real-world relationship between values in country_id and cust_state_province by gathering column group statistics. These statistics enable the optimizer to give a more accurate cardinality estimate.

14.1.1.2 Automatic and Manual Column Group Statistics

Oracle Database can create column group statistics either automatically or manually.

The optimizer can use SQL plan directives to generate a more optimal plan. If the DBMS_STATS preference AUTO_STAT_EXTENSIONS is set to ON (by default it is OFF), then a SQL plan directive can automatically trigger the creation of column group statistics based on usage of predicates in the workload. You can set AUTO_STAT_EXTENSIONS with the SET_TABLE_PREFS, SET_GLOBAL_PREFS, or SET_SCHEMA_PREFS procedures.

When you want to manage column group statistics manually, then use DBMS_STATS as follows:

  • Detect column groups

  • Create previously detected column groups

  • Create column groups manually and gather column group statistics

14.1.1.3 User Interface for Column Group Statistics

Several DBMS_STATS program units have preferences that are relevant for column groups.

Table 14-1 DBMS_STATS APIs Relevant for Column Groups

Program Unit or Preference Description
SEED_COL_USAGE Procedure

Iterates over the SQL statements in the specified workload, compiles them, and then seeds column usage information for the columns that appear in these statements.

To determine the appropriate column groups, the database must observe a representative workload. You do not need to run the queries themselves during the monitoring period. Instead, you can run EXPLAIN PLAN for some longer-running queries in your workload to ensure that the database is recording column group information for these queries.

REPORT_COL_USAGE Function

Generates a report that lists the columns that were seen in filter predicates, join predicates, and GROUP BY clauses in the workload.

You can use this function to review column usage information recorded for a specific table.

CREATE_EXTENDED_STATS Function

Creates extensions, which are either column groups or expressions. The database gathers statistics for the extension when either a user-generated or automatic statistics gathering job gathers statistics for the table.

AUTO_STAT_EXTENSIONS Preference Controls the automatic creation of extensions, including column groups, when optimizer statistics are gathered. Set this preference using SET_TABLE_PREFS, SET_SCHEMA_PREFS, or SET_GLOBAL_PREFS.

When AUTO_STAT_EXTENSIONS is set to OFF (default), the database does not create column group statistics automatically. To create extensions, you must execute the CREATE_EXTENDED_STATS function or specify extended statistics explicitly in the METHOD_OPT parameter in the DBMS_STATS API.

When set to ON, a SQL plan directive can trigger the creation of column group statistics automatically based on usage of columns in the predicates in the workload.

14.1.2 Detecting Useful Column Groups for a Specific Workload

You can use DBMS_STATS.SEED_COL_USAGE and REPORT_COL_USAGE to determine which column groups are required for a table based on a specified workload.

This technique is useful when you do not know which extended statistics to create. This technique does not work for expression statistics.

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes the following:

  • Cardinality estimates have been incorrect for queries of the sh.customers_test table (created from the customers table) that use predicates referencing the columns country_id and cust_state_province.

  • You want the database to monitor your workload for 5 minutes (300 seconds).

  • You want the database to determine which column groups are needed automatically.

To detect column groups:

  1. Start SQL*Plus or SQL Developer, and log in to the database as user sh.

  2. Create the customers_test table and gather statistics for it:

    DROP TABLE customers_test;
    CREATE TABLE customers_test AS SELECT * FROM customer;
    EXEC DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS(user, 'customers_test');
    
  3. Enable workload monitoring.

    In a different SQL*Plus session, connect as SYS and run the following PL/SQL program to enable monitoring for 300 seconds:

    BEGIN
      DBMS_STATS.SEED_COL_USAGE(null,null,300);
    END;
    /
    
  4. As user sh, run explain plans for two queries in the workload.

    The following examples show the explain plans for two queries on the customers_test table:

    EXPLAIN PLAN FOR
      SELECT *
      FROM   customers_test
      WHERE  cust_city = 'Los Angeles'
      AND    cust_state_province = 'CA'
      AND    country_id = 52790;
     
    SELECT PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT 
    FROM   TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY('plan_table', null,'basic rows'));
     
    EXPLAIN PLAN FOR
      SELECT   country_id, cust_state_province, count(cust_city)
      FROM     customers_test
      GROUP BY country_id, cust_state_province;
     
    SELECT PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT 
    FROM   TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY('plan_table', null,'basic rows'));
    

    Sample output appears below:

    PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Plan hash value: 4115398853
     
    ----------------------------------------------------
    | Id  | Operation         | Name           | Rows  |
    ----------------------------------------------------
    |   0 | SELECT STATEMENT  |                |     1 |
    |   1 |  TABLE ACCESS FULL| CUSTOMERS_TEST |     1 |
    ----------------------------------------------------
     
    8 rows selected.
     
    PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Plan hash value: 3050654408
     
    -----------------------------------------------------
    | Id  | Operation          | Name           | Rows  |
    -----------------------------------------------------
    |   0 | SELECT STATEMENT   |                |  1949 |
    |   1 |  HASH GROUP BY     |                |  1949 |
    |   2 |   TABLE ACCESS FULL| CUSTOMERS_TEST | 55500 |
    -----------------------------------------------------
     
    9 rows selected.
    

    The first plan shows a cardinality of 1 row for a query that returns 932 rows. The second plan shows a cardinality of 1949 rows for a query that returns 145 rows.

  5. Optionally, review the column usage information recorded for the table.

    Call the DBMS_STATS.REPORT_COL_USAGE function to generate a report:

    SET LONG 100000
    SET LINES 120
    SET PAGES 0
    SELECT DBMS_STATS.REPORT_COL_USAGE(user, 'customers_test')
    FROM   DUAL;
    

    The report appears below:

    LEGEND:
    .......
     
    EQ         : Used in single table EQuality predicate
    RANGE      : Used in single table RANGE predicate
    LIKE       : Used in single table LIKE predicate
    NULL       : Used in single table is (not) NULL predicate
    EQ_JOIN    : Used in EQuality JOIN predicate
    NONEQ_JOIN : Used in NON EQuality JOIN predicate
    FILTER     : Used in single table FILTER predicate
    JOIN       : Used in JOIN predicate
    GROUP_BY   : Used in GROUP BY expression
    ...........................................................................
     
    ###########################################################################
     
    COLUMN USAGE REPORT FOR SH.CUSTOMERS_TEST
    .........................................
     
    1. COUNTRY_ID                          : EQ
    2. CUST_CITY                           : EQ
    3. CUST_STATE_PROVINCE                 : EQ
    4. (CUST_CITY, CUST_STATE_PROVINCE,
        COUNTRY_ID)                        : FILTER
    5. (CUST_STATE_PROVINCE, COUNTRY_ID)   : GROUP_BY
    ###########################################################################
    

    In the preceding report, the first three columns were used in equality predicates in the first monitored query:

    ...
    WHERE  cust_city = 'Los Angeles'
    AND    cust_state_province = 'CA'
    AND    country_id = 52790;
    

    All three columns appeared in the same WHERE clause, so the report shows them as a group filter. In the second query, two columns appeared in the GROUP BY clause, so the report labels them as GROUP_BY. The sets of columns in the FILTER and GROUP_BY report are candidates for column groups.

See Also:

14.1.3 Creating Column Groups Detected During Workload Monitoring

You can use the DBMS_STATS.CREATE_EXTENDED_STATS function to create column groups that were detected previously by executing DBMS_STATS.SEED_COL_USAGE.

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes that you have performed the steps in "Detecting Useful Column Groups for a Specific Workload".

To create column groups:

  1. Create column groups for the customers_test table based on the usage information captured during the monitoring window.

    For example, run the following query:

    SELECT DBMS_STATS.CREATE_EXTENDED_STATS(user, 'customers_test') FROM DUAL;
    

    Sample output appears below:

    ###########################################################################
    EXTENSIONS FOR SH.CUSTOMERS_TEST
    ................................
    1. (CUST_CITY, CUST_STATE_PROVINCE,
        COUNTRY_ID)                     :SYS_STUMZ$C3AIHLPBROI#SKA58H_N created
    2. (CUST_STATE_PROVINCE, COUNTRY_ID):SYS_STU#S#WF25Z#QAHIHE#MOFFMM_ created
    ###########################################################################
    

    The database created two column groups for customers_test: one column group for the filter predicate and one group for the GROUP BY operation.

  2. Regather table statistics.

    Run GATHER_TABLE_STATS to regather the statistics for customers_test:

    EXEC DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS(user,'customers_test');
    
  3. As user sh, run explain plans for two queries in the workload.

    Check the USER_TAB_COL_STATISTICS view to determine which additional statistics were created by the database:

    SELECT COLUMN_NAME, NUM_DISTINCT, HISTOGRAM
    FROM   USER_TAB_COL_STATISTICS
    WHERE  TABLE_NAME = 'CUSTOMERS_TEST'
    ORDER BY 1;
    

    Partial sample output appears below:

    CUST_CITY                               620 HEIGHT BALANCED
    ...
    SYS_STU#S#WF25Z#QAHIHE#MOFFMM_          145 NONE
    SYS_STUMZ$C3AIHLPBROI#SKA58H_N          620 HEIGHT BALANCED
    

    This example shows the two column group names returned from the DBMS_STATS.CREATE_EXTENDED_STATS function. The column group created on CUST_CITY, CUST_STATE_PROVINCE, and COUNTRY_ID has a height-balanced histogram.

  4. Explain the plans again.

    The following examples show the explain plans for two queries on the customers_test table:

    EXPLAIN PLAN FOR
      SELECT *
      FROM   customers_test
      WHERE  cust_city = 'Los Angeles'
      AND    cust_state_province = 'CA'
      AND    country_id = 52790;
     
    SELECT PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT 
    FROM   TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY('plan_table', null,'basic rows'));
     
    EXPLAIN PLAN FOR
      SELECT   country_id, cust_state_province, count(cust_city)
      FROM     customers_test
      GROUP BY country_id, cust_state_province;
     
    SELECT PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT 
    FROM   TABLE(DBMS_XPLAN.DISPLAY('plan_table', null,'basic rows'));
    

    The new plans show more accurate cardinality estimates:

    ----------------------------------------------------
    | Id  | Operation         | Name           | Rows  |
    ----------------------------------------------------
    |   0 | SELECT STATEMENT  |                |  1093 |
    |   1 |  TABLE ACCESS FULL| CUSTOMERS_TEST |  1093 |
    ----------------------------------------------------
     
    8 rows selected.
     
    Plan hash value: 3050654408
     
    -----------------------------------------------------
    | Id  | Operation          | Name           | Rows  |
    -----------------------------------------------------
    |   0 | SELECT STATEMENT   |                |   145 |
    |   1 |  HASH GROUP BY     |                |   145 |
    |   2 |   TABLE ACCESS FULL| CUSTOMERS_TEST | 55500 |
    -----------------------------------------------------
    9 rows selected.

See Also:

Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference to learn about the DBMS_STATS package

14.1.4 Creating and Gathering Statistics on Column Groups Manually

In some cases, you may know the column group that you want to create.

The METHOD_OPT argument of the DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS function can create and gather statistics on a column group automatically. You can create a new column group by specifying the group of columns using FOR COLUMNS.

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes the following:

  • You want to create a column group for the cust_state_province and country_id columns in the customers table in sh schema.

  • You want to gather statistics (including histograms) on the entire table and the new column group.

To create a column group and gather statistics for this group:

  1. In SQL*Plus, log in to the database as the sh user.

  2. Create the column group and gather statistics.

    For example, execute the following PL/SQL program:

    BEGIN
      DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS( 'sh','customers',
      METHOD_OPT => 'FOR ALL COLUMNS SIZE SKEWONLY ' ||
                    'FOR COLUMNS SIZE SKEWONLY (cust_state_province,country_id)' );
    END;
    /

See Also:

Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference to learn about the DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS procedure

14.1.5 Displaying Column Group Information

To obtain the name of a column group, use the DBMS_STATS.SHOW_EXTENDED_STATS_NAME function or a database view.

You can also use views to obtain information such as the number of distinct values, and whether the column group has a histogram.

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes the following:

  • You created a column group for the cust_state_province and country_id columns in the customers table in sh schema.

  • You want to determine the column group name, the number of distinct values, and whether a histogram has been created for a column group.

To monitor a column group:

  1. Start SQL*Plus and connect to the database as the sh user.

  2. To determine the column group name, do one of the following.

    • Execute the SHOW_EXTENDED_STATS_NAME function.

      For example, run the following PL/SQL program:

      SELECT SYS.DBMS_STATS.SHOW_EXTENDED_STATS_NAME( 'sh','customers',
             '(cust_state_province,country_id)' ) col_group_name 
      FROM   DUAL;
      

      The output is similar to the following:

      COL_GROUP_NAME
      ----------------
      SYS_STU#S#WF25Z#QAHIHE#MOFFMM_
      
    • Query the USER_STAT_EXTENSIONS view.

      For example, run the following query:

      SELECT EXTENSION_NAME, EXTENSION 
      FROM   USER_STAT_EXTENSIONS 
      WHERE  TABLE_NAME='CUSTOMERS';
      
      EXTENSION_NAME                     EXTENSION
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      SYS_STU#S#WF25Z#QAHIHE#MOFFMM_     ("CUST_STATE_PROVINCE","COUNTRY_ID")
      
  3. Query the number of distinct values and find whether a histogram has been created for a column group.

    For example, run the following query:

    SELECT e.EXTENSION col_group, t.NUM_DISTINCT, t.HISTOGRAM
    FROM   USER_STAT_EXTENSIONS e, USER_TAB_COL_STATISTICS t
    WHERE  e.EXTENSION_NAME=t.COLUMN_NAME
    AND    e.TABLE_NAME=t.TABLE_NAME
    AND    t.TABLE_NAME='CUSTOMERS';
    
    COL_GROUP                             NUM_DISTINCT        HISTOGRAM
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    ("COUNTRY_ID","CUST_STATE_PROVINCE")  145                 FREQUENCY

See Also:

Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference to learn about the DBMS_STATS.SHOW_EXTENDED_STATS_NAME function

14.1.6 Dropping a Column Group

Use the DBMS_STATS.DROP_EXTENDED_STATS function to delete a column group from a table.

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes the following:

  • You created a column group for the cust_state_province and country_id columns in the customers table in sh schema.

  • You want to drop the column group.

To drop a column group:

  1. Start SQL*Plus and connect to the database as the sh user.

  2. Drop the column group.

    For example, the following PL/SQL program deletes a column group from the customers table:

    BEGIN
      DBMS_STATS.DROP_EXTENDED_STATS( 'sh', 'customers', 
                                      '(cust_state_province, country_id)' );
    END;
    /

See Also:

Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference to learn about the DBMS_STATS.DROP_EXTENDED_STATS function

14.2 Managing Expression Statistics

The type of extended statistics known as expression statistics improve optimizer estimates when a WHERE clause has predicates that use expressions.

This section contains the following topics:

14.2.1 About Expression Statistics

For an expression in the form (function(col)=constant) applied to a WHERE clause column, the optimizer does not know how this function affects predicate cardinality unless a function-based index exists. However, you can gather expression statistics on the expression(function(col) itself.

The following graphic shows the optimizer using statistics to generate a plan for a query that uses a function. The top shows the optimizer checking statistics for the column. The bottom shows the optimizer checking statistics corresponding to the expression used in the query. The expression statistics yield more accurate estimates.

Figure 14-2 Expression Statistics

Description of Figure 14-2 follows
Description of "Figure 14-2 Expression Statistics"

As shown in Figure 14-2, when expression statistics are not available, the optimizer can produce suboptimal plans.

This section contains the following topics:

See Also:

Oracle Database SQL Language Reference to learn about SQL functions

14.2.1.1 When Expression Statistics Are Useful: Example

The following query of the sh.customers table shows that 3341 customers are in the state of California:

sys@PROD> SELECT COUNT(*) FROM sh.customers WHERE cust_state_province='CA';
 
  COUNT(*)
----------
      3341

Consider the plan for the same query with the LOWER() function applied:

sys@PROD> EXPLAIN PLAN FOR
  2  SELECT * FROM sh.customers WHERE LOWER(cust_state_province)='ca';
Explained.

sys@PROD> select * from table(dbms_xplan.display);

PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan hash value: 2008213504

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Id  | Operation         | Name      | Rows  | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time     |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   0 | SELECT STATEMENT  |           |   555 |   108K|   406   (1)| 00:00:05 |
|*  1 |  TABLE ACCESS FULL| CUSTOMERS |   555 |   108K|   406   (1)| 00:00:05 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Predicate Information (identified by operation id):
---------------------------------------------------

   1 - filter(LOWER("CUST_STATE_PROVINCE")='ca')

Because no expression statistics exist for LOWER(cust_state_province)='ca', the optimizer estimate is significantly off. You can use DBMS_STATS procedures to correct these estimates.

14.2.2 Creating Expression Statistics

You can use DBMS_STATS to create statistics for a user-specified expression.

You can use either of the following program units:

  • GATHER_TABLE_STATS procedure

  • CREATE_EXTENDED_STATISTICS function followed by the GATHER_TABLE_STATS procedure

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes the following:

  • Selectivity estimates are inaccurate for queries of sh.customers that use the UPPER(cust_state_province) function.

  • You want to gather statistics on the UPPER(cust_state_province) expression.

To create expression statistics:

  1. Start SQL*Plus and connect to the database as the sh user.

  2. Gather table statistics.

    For example, run the following command, specifying the function in the method_opt argument:

    BEGIN
      DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS( 
        'sh'
    ,   'customers'
    ,   method_opt => 'FOR ALL COLUMNS SIZE SKEWONLY ' || 
                      'FOR COLUMNS (LOWER(cust_state_province)) SIZE SKEWONLY' 
    );
    END;

See Also:

Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference to learn about the DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS procedure

14.2.3 Displaying Expression Statistics

To obtain information about expression statistics, use the database view DBA_STAT_EXTENSIONS and the DBMS_STATS.SHOW_EXTENDED_STATS_NAME function.

You can also use views to obtain information such as the number of distinct values, and whether the column group has a histogram.

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes the following:

  • You created extended statistics for the LOWER(cust_state_province) expression.

  • You want to determine the column group name, the number of distinct values, and whether a histogram has been created for a column group.

To monitor expression statistics:

  1. Start SQL*Plus and connect to the database as the sh user.

  2. Query the name and definition of the statistics extension.

    For example, run the following query:

    COL EXTENSION_NAME FORMAT a30
    COL EXTENSION FORMAT a35
    
    SELECT EXTENSION_NAME, EXTENSION
    FROM   USER_STAT_EXTENSIONS
    WHERE  TABLE_NAME='CUSTOMERS';
    

    Sample output appears as follows:

    EXTENSION_NAME                 EXTENSION
    ------------------------------ ------------------------------
    SYS_STUBPHJSBRKOIK9O2YV3W8HOUE (LOWER("CUST_STATE_PROVINCE"))
    
  3. Query the number of distinct values and find whether a histogram has been created for the expression.

    For example, run the following query:

    SELECT e.EXTENSION expression, t.NUM_DISTINCT, t.HISTOGRAM
    FROM   USER_STAT_EXTENSIONS e, USER_TAB_COL_STATISTICS t
    WHERE  e.EXTENSION_NAME=t.COLUMN_NAME
    AND    e.TABLE_NAME=t.TABLE_NAME
    AND    t.TABLE_NAME='CUSTOMERS';
    
    EXPRESSION                            NUM_DISTINCT        HISTOGRAM
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    (LOWER("CUST_STATE_PROVINCE"))        145                 FREQUENCY

See Also:

14.2.4 Dropping Expression Statistics

To delete a column group from a table, use the DBMS_STATS.DROP_EXTENDED_STATS function.

Assumptions

This tutorial assumes the following:

  • You created extended statistics for the LOWER(cust_state_province) expression.

  • You want to drop the expression statistics.

To drop expression statistics:

  1. Start SQL*Plus and connect to the database as the sh user.

  2. Drop the column group.

    For example, the following PL/SQL program deletes a column group from the customers table:

    BEGIN
      DBMS_STATS.DROP_EXTENDED_STATS(
        'sh'
    ,   'customers'
    ,   '(LOWER(cust_state_province))'
    );
    END;
    /

See Also:

Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference to learn about the DBMS_STATS.DROP_EXTENDED_STATS procedure