"replacing the view with a table that is populated overnight would result in a big boost in performance."

This seems to work

Declare @a as float

set @a = 20050908.0

select cast(cast(cast(@a as int) as varchar(8)) as datetime)

No.

If I understood correctly, he created a perm table using this query, but query from the perm table, it takes longer than the view even with correct indexes on the...

"Now if only Ireland had a decent striker"??????????

Why would you need to change the views?

Or you adding only a row or a column as well?

Is this row to be hidden in the application?

Here's one good explanation.

P. Sniffing

I usually just tell the guys to make a local copy of all the parameters and use those in the query. ...

Not gonna happen with anything else than a trace or s shitload of recoding.

Start a trace with the profiler that checks the the words update and the table name. Make sure it inserts into a table and you're good to go.

That'll solve your problem.

What did you find on parmaeter sniffing?

What else did you do?

HTH.

Check out parameter sniffing in the search section of this site, you'll see lots of solutions to this problem.

Try running this : DBCC FREEPROCCACHE

Then retest the query.