> PostgreSQL elects not to use them. I assume, because it most > likely needs to traverse the entire table anyway. > > if i change: / substr(t0.code,1,2) not in > ('14','15','16','17')/ > to (removing the NOT): / substr(t0.code,1,2) in > ('14','15','16','17')/ > > it uses the index, but it's not the query that needs to be > run anymore. If this is the only query that you're having problems with, you might be helped with a partial index - depending on how much 14-17 really filters. Try something like: CREATE INDEX foo ON src.src_faktuur_verrsec (id) WHERE substr(t0.code,1,2) not in ('14','15','16','17') AND (substr(t0.correctie,4,1) <> '1' OR t0.correctie is null) That index shuold be usable for the JOIN while filtering out all the unnecessary rows before you even get tehre. In the same way, if it filters a lot of rows, you might want to try CREATE INDEX foo ON src.src_faktuur_verricht (id) WHERE EXTRACT(YEAR from t1.datum) > 2004 But this kind of requires that the partial indexes actually drop significant amounts of the table. If not, then they'll be of no help. //Magnus