Ok, this might be a dumb question, but if I specify the physical order of the records on the insert, then why is the index so vital? If I select * from this table a billion times, is there ever a chance that it will return the records in any other order than the physical order, in the absence of an index? Is it that without the index, the update statement does not necessarily run by physical order? Sorry for asking so many questions on this one, but this little baby always intrigues me, and I always look for chances to use it. I can always manage to get it to work by trying everything until it does, but I still only "get it" just a little.