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>Now, compare all these rules with the relative primitive rule in VFP: "if there is an index, use it".

Well I'd guess that that is a big reason why it is called Rushmore optimization (not the Rushmore part as a name, but as a qualifier).

I'd say that we get excellent mileage out of VFP's primitive "optimization" stratgey, especially given the simplicity of it all.

The other strategies require significant maintenance and can also get in the way in special cases. Indeed, if VFP had other optimization capabilites (other than index-based) I'd guess that it wouldn't have the wide usage it has today.

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