hi, i have a strange problem. when i sanitize my inputs the index is not used any more. details: i use mssql 2005 i have a query like this: //NOT USING THE INDEX! String queryStr = "select * from USER_ING_EOM with (index(NON_CLUSTERD_INDEX_MAIL)) "; queryStr += " where MAIL=? "; final Query query = session.createSQLQuery(queryStr); query.setText(0, content.getManagerEmail1()); final List result = query.list(); //USING THE INDEX FINE! String queryStr = "select * from USER_ING_EOM with (index(NON_CLUSTERD_INDEX_MAIL)) "; queryStr += " where MAIL='" + content.getManagerEmail1(); final Query query = session.createSQLQuery(queryStr); query.setText(0, content.getManagerEmail1()); final List result = query.list(); first i had hsql but that was not using the index either. could it be that the sanitizing makes it unpossible for mssql 2005 to use the index? thanks tibi