views:

333

answers:

2

This query takes too long...

explain analyze

select 

c.company_rec_id, 
c.the_company_code ,
c.company

from 
tlist t

-- it is questionable why this query become fast when using left join, the most natural query is inner join...
join mlist m using(mlist_rec_id)
join parcel_application ord_app using(parcel_application_rec_id)
join parcel ord using(parcel_rec_id)
join company c on c.company_rec_id = ord.client_rec_id
-- ...questionable

where 
(
    'cadmium' = ''

    or

    exists
    (
    select * 
        from mlist_detail md
        where 
            md.mlist_rec_id = m.mlist_rec_id        
            and exists
            (
                select *
                from mlist_detail_parameter mdp            
                join parameter p using(parameter_rec_id)
                where mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id = md.mlist_detail_rec_id            
                    and to_tsvector(extract_words(p.parameter)) @@ plainto_tsquery(extract_words('cadmium'))       
            )

    )
)
group by c.company_rec_id, 
    c.the_company_code, c.company

...here's the execution plan:

"HashAggregate  (cost=3791153.43..3791156.38 rows=295 width=71) (actual time=222284.340..222284.357 rows=84 loops=1)"
"  ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..3791139.81 rows=1816 width=71) (actual time=421.412..222282.253 rows=715 loops=1)"
"        ->  Merge Join  (cost=0.00..3790598.03 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=421.395..222273.876 rows=715 loops=1)"
"              Merge Cond: ((ord_app.parcel_rec_id)::text = (ord.parcel_rec_id)::text)"
"              ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..3790229.12 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=421.371..222264.556 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                    ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..3789062.60 rows=1816 width=74) (actual time=421.346..222250.614 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                          ->  Index Scan using fki_parcel_application__parcel on parcel_application ord_app  (cost=0.00..508.50 rows=3218 width=74) (actual time=0.019..6.952 rows=3218 loops=1)"
"                          ->  Index Scan using fki_mlist__parcel_application on mlist m  (cost=0.00..1177.29 rows=1 width=74) (actual time=66.900..69.060 rows=0 loops=3218)"
"                                Index Cond: ((m.parcel_application_rec_id)::text = (ord_app.parcel_application_rec_id)::text)"
"                                Filter: (alternatives: SubPlan 1 or hashed SubPlan 2)"
"                                SubPlan 1"
"                                  ->  Nested Loop Semi Join  (cost=3.49..5870.46 rows=5 width=0) (actual time=61.189..61.189 rows=0 loops=3631)"
"                                        Join Filter: ((md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                        ->  Index Scan using fki_mlist_detail__mlist on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..24.31 rows=5 width=37) (actual time=0.014..0.023 rows=4 loops=3631)"
"                                              Index Cond: ((mlist_rec_id)::text = ($0)::text)"
"                                        ->  Hash Join  (cost=3.49..1163.57 rows=676 width=37) (actual time=0.004..16.045 rows=1865 loops=13473)"
"                                              Hash Cond: ((mdp.parameter_rec_id)::text = (p.parameter_rec_id)::text)"
"                                              ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..1013.87 rows=37187 width=74) (actual time=0.001..5.935 rows=36353 loops=13473)"
"                                              ->  Hash  (cost=3.48..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=1.646..1.646 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                    ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=1.397..1.642 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                          Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                                SubPlan 2"
"                                  ->  Hash Join  (cost=1180.47..3241.32 rows=15198 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                        Hash Cond: ((md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                        ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..1987.79 rows=17679 width=74) (never executed)"
"                                        ->  Hash  (cost=1172.02..1172.02 rows=676 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                              ->  HashAggregate  (cost=1165.26..1172.02 rows=676 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                                    ->  Hash Join  (cost=3.49..1163.57 rows=676 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                                          Hash Cond: ((mdp.parameter_rec_id)::text = (p.parameter_rec_id)::text)"
"                                                          ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..1013.87 rows=37187 width=74) (never executed)"
"                                                          ->  Hash  (cost=3.48..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                                                ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                                                      Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                    ->  Index Scan using fki_tlist__mlist on tlist t  (cost=0.00..0.63 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=0.015..0.015 rows=1 loops=715)"
"                          Index Cond: ((t.mlist_rec_id)::text = (m.mlist_rec_id)::text)"
"              ->  Index Scan using pk_parcel on parcel ord  (cost=0.00..338.49 rows=3087 width=74) (actual time=0.008..3.312 rows=3146 loops=1)"
"        ->  Index Scan using pk_company on company c  (cost=0.00..0.29 rows=1 width=71) (actual time=0.009..0.009 rows=1 loops=715)"
"              Index Cond: ((c.company_rec_id)::text = (ord.client_rec_id)::text)"
"Total runtime: 222284.584 ms"

When I convert it to left join...

explain analyze

select 

c.company_rec_id, 
c.the_company_code ,
c.company

from 
tlist t

-- it is questionable why this query become fast when using left join, the most natural query is inner join...
left join mlist m using(mlist_rec_id)
left join parcel_application ord_app using(parcel_application_rec_id)
left join parcel ord using(parcel_rec_id)
left join company c on c.company_rec_id = ord.client_rec_id
-- ...questionable

where 
(
    'cadmium' = ''

    or

    exists
    (
        select * 
        from mlist_detail md
        where 
            md.mlist_rec_id = m.mlist_rec_id        
            and exists
            (
                select *
                from mlist_detail_parameter mdp            
                join parameter p using(parameter_rec_id)
                where mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id = md.mlist_detail_rec_id            
                    and to_tsvector(extract_words(p.parameter)) @@ plainto_tsquery(extract_words('cadmium'))            
            )

    )
)
group by c.company_rec_id, 
    c.the_company_code, c.company

...it become fast:

"HashAggregate  (cost=4276494.40..4276497.35 rows=295 width=71) (actual time=71.299..71.309 rows=84 loops=1)"
"  ->  Nested Loop Left Join  (cost=0.00..4276480.78 rows=1816 width=71) (actual time=35.271..70.776 rows=715 loops=1)"
"        ->  Nested Loop Left Join  (cost=0.00..4275939.00 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=35.260..66.157 rows=715 loops=1)"
"              ->  Nested Loop Left Join  (cost=0.00..4275263.92 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=35.243..60.185 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                    ->  Merge Left Join  (cost=0.00..4274523.56 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=35.226..54.834 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                          Merge Cond: ((t.mlist_rec_id)::text = (m.mlist_rec_id)::text)"
"                          Filter: (alternatives: SubPlan 1 or hashed SubPlan 2)"
"                          ->  Index Scan using fki_tlist__mlist on tlist t  (cost=0.00..710.72 rows=3631 width=37) (actual time=0.011..1.947 rows=3631 loops=1)"
"                          ->  Index Scan using pk_mlist on mlist m  (cost=0.00..482.71 rows=3631 width=74) (actual time=0.008..1.829 rows=3631 loops=1)"
"                          SubPlan 1"
"                            ->  Nested Loop Semi Join  (cost=3.49..5870.46 rows=5 width=0) (never executed)"
"                                  Join Filter: ((md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                  ->  Index Scan using fki_mlist_detail__mlist on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..24.31 rows=5 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                        Index Cond: ((mlist_rec_id)::text = ($0)::text)"
"                                  ->  Hash Join  (cost=3.49..1163.57 rows=676 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                        Hash Cond: ((mdp.parameter_rec_id)::text = (p.parameter_rec_id)::text)"
"                                        ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..1013.87 rows=37187 width=74) (never executed)"
"                                        ->  Hash  (cost=3.48..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                              ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                                    Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                          SubPlan 2"
"                            ->  Hash Join  (cost=1180.47..3241.32 rows=15198 width=37) (actual time=16.478..34.359 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                  Hash Cond: ((md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                  ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..1987.79 rows=17679 width=74) (actual time=0.004..3.013 rows=17679 loops=1)"
"                                  ->  Hash  (cost=1172.02..1172.02 rows=676 width=37) (actual time=16.461..16.461 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                        ->  HashAggregate  (cost=1165.26..1172.02 rows=676 width=37) (actual time=15.790..16.037 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                              ->  Hash Join  (cost=3.49..1163.57 rows=676 width=37) (actual time=1.613..15.037 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                                    Hash Cond: ((mdp.parameter_rec_id)::text = (p.parameter_rec_id)::text)"
"                                                    ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..1013.87 rows=37187 width=74) (actual time=0.002..4.624 rows=37187 loops=1)"
"                                                    ->  Hash  (cost=3.48..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=1.593..1.593 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                          ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=1.311..1.588 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                                Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                    ->  Index Scan using pk_parcel_application on parcel_application ord_app  (cost=0.00..0.40 rows=1 width=74) (actual time=0.007..0.007 rows=1 loops=715)"
"                          Index Cond: ((m.parcel_application_rec_id)::text = (ord_app.parcel_application_rec_id)::text)"
"              ->  Index Scan using pk_parcel on parcel ord  (cost=0.00..0.36 rows=1 width=74) (actual time=0.007..0.008 rows=1 loops=715)"
"                    Index Cond: ((ord_app.parcel_rec_id)::text = (ord.parcel_rec_id)::text)"
"        ->  Index Scan using pk_company on company c  (cost=0.00..0.29 rows=1 width=71) (actual time=0.006..0.006 rows=1 loops=715)"
"              Index Cond: ((c.company_rec_id)::text = (ord.client_rec_id)::text)"
"Total runtime: 71.504 ms"

It works with its natural query (i.e. INNER JOIN) if I do this (note the superfluous EXISTS between mlist_detail_parameter and parameter table)...

explain analyze
select 

c.company_rec_id, 
c.the_company_code ,
c.company

from 
tlist t

join mlist m using(mlist_rec_id)
join parcel_application ord_app using(parcel_application_rec_id)
join parcel ord using(parcel_rec_id)
join company c on c.company_rec_id = ord.client_rec_id

where 
(
    'cadmium' = ''

    or

    exists
    (
        select * 
        from mlist_detail md
        where 
            md.mlist_rec_id = m.mlist_rec_id        
            and exists
            (
                select * from mlist_detail_parameter mdp
                where mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id = md.mlist_detail_rec_id
                    -- Notice that there is no joining of parameter TO mlist_detail_parameter; We use EXISTS instead, which looks very superfluous
                    and exists
                    (
                        select * from parameter p
                        where parameter_rec_id = mdp.parameter_rec_id
                        and to_tsvector(extract_words(p.parameter)) @@ plainto_tsquery(extract_words('cadmium'))
                    )

            )

    )
)

group by c.company_rec_id, 
    c.the_company_code, c.company

..., it works:

"HashAggregate  (cost=76424.17..76427.12 rows=295 width=71) (actual time=398.906..398.932 rows=84 loops=1)"
"  ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..76410.55 rows=1816 width=71) (actual time=52.529..398.171 rows=715 loops=1)"
"        ->  Merge Join  (cost=0.00..75868.77 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=45.106..385.128 rows=715 loops=1)"
"              Merge Cond: ((ord_app.parcel_rec_id)::text = (ord.parcel_rec_id)::text)"
"              ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..75499.86 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=41.745..374.833 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                    ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..74333.34 rows=1816 width=74) (actual time=31.483..302.607 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                          ->  Index Scan using fki_parcel_application__parcel on parcel_application ord_app  (cost=0.00..508.50 rows=3218 width=74) (actual time=2.459..5.797 rows=3218 loops=1)"
"                          ->  Index Scan using fki_mlist__parcel_application on mlist m  (cost=0.00..22.93 rows=1 width=74) (actual time=0.089..0.092 rows=0 loops=3218)"
"                                Index Cond: ((m.parcel_application_rec_id)::text = (ord_app.parcel_application_rec_id)::text)"
"                                Filter: (alternatives: SubPlan 3 or hashed SubPlan 6)"
"                                SubPlan 3"
"                                  ->  Nested Loop Semi Join  (cost=0.00..112.64 rows=5 width=0) (actual time=0.071..0.071 rows=0 loops=3631)"
"                                        ->  Index Scan using fki_mlist_detail__mlist on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..24.31 rows=5 width=37) (actual time=0.019..0.023 rows=4 loops=3631)"
"                                              Index Cond: ((mlist_rec_id)::text = ($0)::text)"
"                                        ->  Index Scan using fki_mlist_detail_parameter__mlist_detail on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..19.63 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=0.012..0.012 rows=0 loops=13473)"
"                                              Index Cond: ((mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                              Filter: (alternatives: SubPlan 1 or hashed SubPlan 2)"
"                                              SubPlan 1"
"                                                ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.67 rows=1 width=0) (never executed)"
"                                                      Filter: (((parameter_rec_id)::text = ($1)::text) AND (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text)))"
"                                              SubPlan 2"
"                                                ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=1.475..1.774 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                      Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                                SubPlan 6"
"                                  ->  Nested Loop Semi Join  (cost=0.00..128665.02 rows=15198 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                        ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..1987.79 rows=17679 width=74) (never executed)"
"                                        ->  Index Scan using fki_mlist_detail_parameter__mlist_detail on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..7.83 rows=1 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                              Index Cond: ((mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                              Filter: (alternatives: SubPlan 4 or hashed SubPlan 5)"
"                                              SubPlan 4"
"                                                ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.67 rows=1 width=0) (never executed)"
"                                                      Filter: (((parameter_rec_id)::text = ($1)::text) AND (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text)))"
"                                              SubPlan 5"
"                                                ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (never executed)"
"                                                      Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                    ->  Index Scan using fki_tlist__mlist on tlist t  (cost=0.00..0.63 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=0.100..0.100 rows=1 loops=715)"
"                          Index Cond: ((t.mlist_rec_id)::text = (m.mlist_rec_id)::text)"
"              ->  Index Scan using pk_parcel on parcel ord  (cost=0.00..338.49 rows=3087 width=74) (actual time=3.277..5.920 rows=3146 loops=1)"
"        ->  Index Scan using pk_company on company c  (cost=0.00..0.29 rows=1 width=71) (actual time=0.017..0.017 rows=1 loops=715)"
"              Index Cond: ((c.company_rec_id)::text = (ord.client_rec_id)::text)"
"Total runtime: 399.649 ms"

Even though that is fast, i think it is not natural to use superfluous EXISTS...

and exists
(
    select * from mlist_detail_parameter mdp
    where mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id = md.mlist_detail_rec_id

    -- Notice that there is no joining of parameter to mlist_detail_parameter, we use EXISTS instead
    and exists -- SUPERFLUOUS
    (
        select * from parameter p
        where parameter_rec_id = mdp.parameter_rec_id
        and to_tsvector(extract_words(p.parameter)) @@ plainto_tsquery(extract_words('cadmium'))
    )

)

..., when join will do:

and exists
(
   select *
    from mlist_detail_parameter mdp            
    join parameter p using(parameter_rec_id)
    where mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id = md.mlist_detail_rec_id          
    and to_tsvector(extract_words(p.parameter)) @@ plainto_tsquery(extract_words('cadmium'))
)

My question is why the most natural query(i.e. using INNER JOIN (instead of LEFT JOIN)) is very slow. I can opt to use the query without LEFT JOINs but I must use superfluous EXISTS on mlist_detail_parameter and parameter tables, instead of using straight joining.

The sweetest performance spot I found is to just use LEFT JOINs, but I think applying LEFT JOINs blindly could lead me to Cargo Cult Programming

[EDIT: 2010-07-06]

Darn, I'm a fan of IN query now, I converted the EXISTS query to IN query, it is staggering fast now.

This query...

explain analyze

select 

c.company_rec_id, 
c.the_company_code ,
c.company

from 
tlist t

-- it is questionable why this query become fast when using left join, the most natural query is inner join...
join mlist m using(mlist_rec_id)
join parcel_application ord_app using(parcel_application_rec_id)
join parcel ord using(parcel_rec_id)
join company c on c.company_rec_id = ord.client_rec_id
-- ...questionable

where 
(
    'cadmium' = ''

    or

    mlist_rec_id in 
    (
        select mlist_rec_id
        from mlist_detail md
        where 
            mlist_detail_rec_id in             
            (
                select mlist_detail_rec_id
                from mlist_detail_parameter mdp            
                join parameter p using(parameter_rec_id)
                where to_tsvector(extract_words(p.parameter)) @@ plainto_tsquery(extract_words('cadmium'))       
            )

    )
)
group by c.company_rec_id, 
    c.the_company_code, c.company

...has this execution plan(0.037 second):

"HashAggregate  (cost=4045.22..4048.17 rows=295 width=71) (actual time=37.117..37.128 rows=84 loops=1)"
"  ->  Hash Join  (cost=3734.44..4031.60 rows=1816 width=71) (actual time=33.610..36.650 rows=715 loops=1)"
"        Hash Cond: ((ord.client_rec_id)::text = (c.company_rec_id)::text)"
"        ->  Hash Join  (cost=3718.80..3990.99 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=33.448..36.150 rows=715 loops=1)"
"              Hash Cond: ((ord_app.parcel_rec_id)::text = (ord.parcel_rec_id)::text)"
"              ->  Hash Join  (cost=3601.34..3844.02 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=32.096..34.360 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                    Hash Cond: ((m.parcel_application_rec_id)::text = (ord_app.parcel_application_rec_id)::text)"
"                    ->  Hash Join  (cost=3438.94..3652.11 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=30.578..32.370 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                          Hash Cond: ((t.mlist_rec_id)::text = (m.mlist_rec_id)::text)"
"                          ->  Seq Scan on tlist t  (cost=3278.24..3459.63 rows=1816 width=37) (actual time=28.930..30.219 rows=715 loops=1)"
"                                Filter: (hashed SubPlan 1)"
"                                SubPlan 1"
"                                  ->  Hash Join  (cost=1179.63..3240.24 rows=15201 width=37) (actual time=17.259..27.282 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                        Hash Cond: ((md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                        ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..1987.79 rows=17679 width=74) (actual time=0.002..4.160 rows=17679 loops=1)"
"                                        ->  Hash  (cost=1171.48..1171.48 rows=652 width=37) (actual time=17.236..17.236 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                              ->  HashAggregate  (cost=1164.96..1171.48 rows=652 width=37) (actual time=16.290..16.692 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                                    ->  Hash Join  (cost=3.49..1163.33 rows=652 width=37) (actual time=0.868..15.420 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                                          Hash Cond: ((mdp.parameter_rec_id)::text = (p.parameter_rec_id)::text)"
"                                                          ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..1013.87 rows=37187 width=74) (actual time=0.002..5.397 rows=37187 loops=1)"
"                                                          ->  Hash  (cost=3.48..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=0.850..0.850 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                                ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=0.719..0.848 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                                      Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                          ->  Hash  (cost=115.31..115.31 rows=3631 width=74) (actual time=1.632..1.632 rows=3631 loops=1)"
"                                ->  Seq Scan on mlist m  (cost=0.00..115.31 rows=3631 width=74) (actual time=0.002..0.569 rows=3631 loops=1)"
"                    ->  Hash  (cost=122.18..122.18 rows=3218 width=74) (actual time=1.507..1.507 rows=3218 loops=1)"
"                          ->  Seq Scan on parcel_application ord_app  (cost=0.00..122.18 rows=3218 width=74) (actual time=0.002..0.531 rows=3218 loops=1)"
"              ->  Hash  (cost=78.87..78.87 rows=3087 width=74) (actual time=1.345..1.345 rows=3087 loops=1)"
"                    ->  Seq Scan on parcel ord  (cost=0.00..78.87 rows=3087 width=74) (actual time=0.002..0.469 rows=3087 loops=1)"
"        ->  Hash  (cost=11.95..11.95 rows=295 width=71) (actual time=0.155..0.155 rows=295 loops=1)"
"              ->  Seq Scan on company c  (cost=0.00..11.95 rows=295 width=71) (actual time=0.003..0.063 rows=295 loops=1)"
"Total runtime: 37.240 ms"

Some thoughts. I think, more than anything else, Postgresql just did a bad optimization on EXISTS clause, I don't expect that EXISTS clause to be very inherently slower than IN. In fact, I remember I optimized a non-peformant query before(I think that was 8.3 or 8.2) by converting the IN clauses to EXISTS clauses

+3  A: 

Is your query essentially the following (this is hard to ask as a comment):

select 

c.company_rec_id, 
c.the_company_code,
c.company

from 

company c 

where

exists (
    select *
    from parameter p
    join mlist_detail_parameter mdp on mdp.parameter_rec_id = p.parameter_rec_id
    join mlist_detail md            on md.mlist_detail_rec_id = mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id
    join mlist m                    on m.mlist_rec_id = md.mlist_rec_id

    join parcel_application ord_app on ord_app.parcel_application_rec_id = m.parcel_application_rec_id
    join parcel ord                 on ord.parcel_rec_id = ord_app.parcel_rec_id

    join tlist t                    on t.mlist_rec_id = m.mlist_rec_id

    where
        ord.client_rec_id = c.company_rec_id
    and to_tsvector(extract_words(p.parameter)) @@ plainto_tsquery(extract_words('cadmium'))
)

[EDIT: 2010-07-06, added by Michael Buen]

"Hash Join  (cost=2152.94..2172.52 rows=232 width=71) (actual time=71.106..71.207 rows=84 loops=1)"
"  Hash Cond: ((c.company_rec_id)::text = (ord.client_rec_id)::text)"
"  ->  Seq Scan on company c  (cost=0.00..11.95 rows=295 width=71) (actual time=0.004..0.030 rows=295 loops=1)"
"  ->  Hash  (cost=2150.04..2150.04 rows=232 width=37) (actual time=71.077..71.077 rows=84 loops=1)"
"        ->  HashAggregate  (cost=2147.72..2150.04 rows=232 width=37) (actual time=71.033..71.040 rows=84 loops=1)"
"              ->  Nested Loop  (cost=1783.22..2146.09 rows=652 width=37) (actual time=51.029..70.187 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                    ->  Hash Join  (cost=1783.22..1938.61 rows=652 width=111) (actual time=51.014..55.913 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                          Hash Cond: ((ord_app.parcel_rec_id)::text = (ord.parcel_rec_id)::text)"
"                          ->  Hash Join  (cost=1665.76..1810.55 rows=652 width=111) (actual time=48.360..52.004 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                Hash Cond: ((ord_app.parcel_application_rec_id)::text = (m.parcel_application_rec_id)::text)"
"                                ->  Seq Scan on parcel_application ord_app  (cost=0.00..122.18 rows=3218 width=74) (actual time=0.003..1.485 rows=3218 loops=1)"
"                                ->  Hash  (cost=1657.61..1657.61 rows=652 width=111) (actual time=48.331..48.331 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                      ->  Hash Join  (cost=164.19..1657.61 rows=652 width=111) (actual time=4.755..46.122 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                            Hash Cond: ((md.mlist_rec_id)::text = (m.mlist_rec_id)::text)"
"                                            ->  Nested Loop  (cost=3.49..1485.51 rows=652 width=37) (actual time=1.638..40.974 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                                  ->  Hash Join  (cost=3.49..1163.33 rows=652 width=37) (actual time=1.590..18.090 rows=1918 loops=1)"
"                                                        Hash Cond: ((mdp.parameter_rec_id)::text = (p.parameter_rec_id)::text)"
"                                                        ->  Seq Scan on mlist_detail_parameter mdp  (cost=0.00..1013.87 rows=37187 width=74) (actual time=0.003..5.499 rows=37187 loops=1)"
"                                                        ->  Hash  (cost=3.48..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=1.568..1.568 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                              ->  Seq Scan on parameter p  (cost=0.00..3.48 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=1.324..1.564 rows=1 loops=1)"
"                                                                    Filter: (to_tsvector(regexp_replace((parameter)::text, '[\\(\\)\\!\\.\\/,\\-\\?]+'::text, ' '::text, 'g'::text)) @@ plainto_tsquery('cadmium'::text))"
"                                                  ->  Index Scan using pk_mlist_detail on mlist_detail md  (cost=0.00..0.48 rows=1 width=74) (actual time=0.011..0.011 rows=1 loops=1918)"
"                                                        Index Cond: ((md.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text = (mdp.mlist_detail_rec_id)::text)"
"                                            ->  Hash  (cost=115.31..115.31 rows=3631 width=74) (actual time=3.096..3.096 rows=3631 loops=1)"
"                                                  ->  Seq Scan on mlist m  (cost=0.00..115.31 rows=3631 width=74) (actual time=0.003..0.994 rows=3631 loops=1)"
"                          ->  Hash  (cost=78.87..78.87 rows=3087 width=74) (actual time=2.640..2.640 rows=3087 loops=1)"
"                                ->  Seq Scan on parcel ord  (cost=0.00..78.87 rows=3087 width=74) (actual time=0.004..0.876 rows=3087 loops=1)"
"                    ->  Index Scan using fki_tlist__mlist on tlist t  (cost=0.00..0.31 rows=1 width=37) (actual time=0.006..0.006 rows=1 loops=1918)"
"                          Index Cond: ((t.mlist_rec_id)::text = (m.mlist_rec_id)::text)"
"Total runtime: 71.373 ms"
Stephen Denne
hmm.. your answer is also fast (between 0.06 to 0.08 second), but not as fast as IN version (0.03 to 0.05 second). +1 nonetheless, your answer works. Your answer is semantically the same with my query here. Eventhough, I cannot use your query on my actual code, I refactor my original query so it can be used on two(or more) modules, I need the ord_app on outside of subquery, I have some modules that do some sort of GROUP_CONCAT on ord_app. I wish I could +2 you for taking time to deduce the intent of my code, and writing an actual query for that :-)
Michael Buen
@Michael, I'd be interested in the explain analyze of this query - can you edit this answer to include it?
Stephen Denne
+3  A: 

(as directed, I'm putting part of my comment in an answer as it solved the problem)

Convert the EXISTS expressions into IN expressions.

This works better in this instance because the query will now be effectively evaluated from the "inside out" starting with the query that contains your most limiting factor: the full text search lookup. That query is going to return a small set of rows that can be looked up directly against the primary key of the outer query (WHERE x in (SELECT X...)) as opposed to calling the "inner" query once per value of the outer query (or for all values in your original case, if I am reading it correctly). The EXISTS method here results in Nested Loops (one evaluation of one query for each value in another) vs the IN method using Hash Joins (a much more efficient execution method in many, if not most, cases.

Notice that with the EXISTS method, there are four Nested Loops that execute with each running at least 3,000 times. That cost adds up. While it's not a direct comparison, you can treat Nested Loops like you would FOR loops in application code: each time you invoke an inner loop, your big-O estimate goes up an order of magnitude: O(n) to O(n^2) to O(n^3), etc.

Hash Join is more like a map, where two arrays are stepped through at the same time and an operation is performed on both. This is roughly linear (O(n)). Think of these being nested as additive so it would go O(n) to O(2n) to O(3n), etc.

Yeah, yeah, I know it's not quite the same thing, but the point is that having multiple nested loops usually indicates a slow query plan and comparing the two big-O style makes it easier to recognize, I believe.

Nested Loops and EXISTS are not evil, per se, but for most cases where there is a base filter condition that ultimately effects everything (for example, the full text search in the question), an IN expression (or, in some cases, a proper JOIN) yields a much more efficient plan.

Matthew Wood