How do I perform predicate pushdown optimization in IRIS embedded SQL with dynamic joins? Body:

To optimize predicate pushdown in IRIS embedded SQL with dynamic joins, follow these best practices:

1. Use of Optimized Joins and Filters

• Ensure that the filter conditions applied in your SQL query involve fields indexed in the database. Proper indexing facilitates predicate pushdown by allowing the SQL optimizer to apply filters at the storage level instead of memory.
• Avoid overly complicated WHERE clauses or joins that may impede the optimizer's ability to simplify and push down predicates efficiently [1][2].

2. Leverage the %SQL.Statement Class for Dynamic Queries

• When writing dynamic queries, prepare your statements explicitly, and use bound parameters (?) to ensure that filter values can be pushed down to the database engine. For example:
  objectscript
SET sql = "SELECT Name, Age FROM Person WHERE Age > ?"
SET stmt = ##class(%SQL.Statement).%New()
SET status = stmt.%Prepare(sql)
  This approach ensures that runtime conditions in the query are evaluated close to the data source [3][1].

3. Optimizer Hints for Complex Joins

• Use SQL optimization hints like %INORDER, %FIRSTTABLE, or %NOFLATTEN to guide the optimizer in determining the sequence of table processing and hint at optimal join strategies for your queries.
• For example, using %NOFLATTEN prevents subquery flattening and keeps filters within the subquery context, which can aid predicate pushdown:
  sql
SELECT Name, Home_Zip FROM Sample.Person
WHERE Home_Zip IN
(SELECT Office_Zip FROM %NOFLATTEN Sample.Employee) [2].

4. Query Plans and Statistics

• Always analyze the "Query Plan" to verify whether conditions are being pushed down or if optimization can be improved. Tools like EXPLAIN or "Show Plan" in the Management Portal can provide insights on how filters are executed [4][1].

5. Minimize Data Movement

• Avoid fetching large intermediate datasets only to post-process them in ObjectScript. Instead, perform all filtering (particularly resource-intensive filtering) within the SQL statement itself [1].

By adhering to these strategies, you can maximize the performance of your dynamic SQL queries by forcing filter execution closer to the data storage layer.

Sources: