Hi Jeff/Jason,

First of all thank to you guys, for propmptly replying to the Query.

I checked out the Execution plan on your suggestion (i generally dont do it, but from now onwards i will firstly look at it always) and found that the index scan was taking too much time.

i created a table with proper indexes and now the Query time has been reduced to 9 seconds from a magnanimous 2 mins 45 sec.

i am still trying on certain more areas to make it more effective.

Thanks a lot again for all your suggestion and replies.

--Gaurav