Weekly Dynamic:Default SmartLists and Table Scans

This week’s tip is courtesy of John from Sta-Home Health. When you select a default SmartList that starts with an asterisk (*) SQL server does a table scan to pull the information because the default queries don’t contain a where clause. The only limit is in the number of records returned because of a limit set in the Search box or Default SmartList setup.

For companies with an underpowered SQL server or with users who like queries that take down the system, and option is to create a new SmartList with a search criteria by default and save this with a name like *Use This Default. (Don’t laugh, there were stories at the GPUG Summit of users taking down GP with a crazily inefficient SmartList, especially one built with SmartList Builder.