alternative to select count(*) : do i need to ?

[Quoted] [Quoted] I am mostly programming in Pro*C 8.0.5.0.0 with an [Quoted] oracle 8.0.5 database (on aix 4.2.1.0). I have read some posts on this forum and on some web pages that are saying that it's bad programming to do a :

select count(*) from mytable where criteria

Most of the time I use count(*) to know if there is zero, one or more than one record matching my criteria.

Is it really "bad programming" ?
[Quoted] If yes, is why ?
What are the alternatives ?

Thanks a lot, Received on Fri Dec 17 1999 - 17:02:28 CET