Query using SeqScan instead of IndexScan

Hi,

I have a query that is using a sequential scan instead of an index
scan. I've turned off sequential scans and it is in fact faster with
the index scan.

Here's my before and after.

Before:

ssdev=# SET enable_seqscan TO DEFAULT;
ssdev=# explain analyze select cp.product_id
from category_product cp, product_attribute_value pav
where cp.category_id = 1001082 and cp.product_id = pav.product_id;

QUERY PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Hash Join (cost=25.52..52140.59 rows=5139 width=4) (actual
time=4.521..2580.520 rows=19695 loops=1)
Hash Cond: ("outer".product_id = "inner".product_id)
-> Seq Scan on product_attribute_value pav (cost=0.00..40127.12
rows=2387312 width=4) (actual time=0.039..1469.295 rows=2385846 loops=1)
-> Hash (cost=23.10..23.10 rows=970 width=4) (actual
time=2.267..2.267 rows=1140 loops=1)
-> Index Scan using x_category_product__category_id_fk_idx
on category_product cp (cost=0.00..23.10 rows=970 width=4) (actual
time=0.122..1.395 rows=1140 loops=1)
Index Cond: (category_id = 1001082)
Total runtime: 2584.221 ms
(7 rows)

After:

ssdev=# SET enable_seqscan TO false;
ssdev=# explain analyze select cp.product_id
from category_product cp, product_attribute_value pav
where cp.category_id = 1001082 and cp.product_id = pav.product_id;

QUERY PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Nested Loop (cost=0.00..157425.22 rows=5139 width=4) (actual
time=0.373..71.177 rows=19695 loops=1)
-> Index Scan using x_category_product__category_id_fk_idx on
category_product cp (cost=0.00..23.10 rows=970 width=4) (actual
time=0.129..1.438 rows=1140 loops=1)
Index Cond: (category_id = 1001082)
-> Index Scan using product_attribute_value__product_id_fk_idx
on product_attribute_value pav (cost=0.00..161.51 rows=61 width=4)
(actual time=0.016..0.053 rows=17 loops=1140)
Index Cond: ("outer".product_id = pav.product_id)
Total runtime: 74.747 ms
(6 rows)

There's quite a big difference in speed there. 2584.221 ms vs. 74.747
ms.

Any ideas what I can do to improve this without turning sequential
scanning off?

Thanks,

____________________________________________________________________
Brendan Duddridge | CTO | 403-277-5591 x24 | brendan(at)clickspace(dot)com

ClickSpace Interactive Inc.
Suite L100, 239 - 10th Ave. SE
Calgary, AB T2G 0V9

http://www.clickspace.com