>>>>Then perhaps you should reconsider Naomis suggestion of a filtered index if those selects happen often.
>>>>Filtered-Indexed Selects should both be similary fast (as the index materializes the set)
>>>>and still a little bit faster than a normal index on a smallint column
>>>>and all much faster than unindexed ones
>>>>with slight speed advantage to the smallint in case of updating/refshuffling the values.
>>>>
>>>>regards
>>>>
>>>>thomas
>>>
>>>Thank you for your suggestion. And I will keep it in mind if or ever my app will be designed for SQL 2008 only.
>>
>>sorry, missed the version ;-)
>
>Not a problem. Sooner or later MSFT will drop support for SQL 2005 (just like they did for VFP <g>) and we will all be using SQL Server 2008.


I doubt it.
Not that MS will drop the support, but to make people start using new SQL Server :-)
Here many firms continue using 2000. Can't make them upgrade. Their reason is:

Than works GREAT!!!
Why should I spend money for new one?
I don't care if this will make your life easier ;-)))))))