SQL: How can I estimate the number of rows returned before actua lly executing the query?

SQL: How can I estimate the number of rows returned before actua lly executing the query?

 

  

all,

this is for a custom application written in VB, oracle 8.1.6.2, solaris....

We want to tell the users that their query will return 17 million rows
before they execute it; is the only way to select count(*) from (select....)
???

Or is there something tricky I can do with Outlines? Or???

thanks,
mary
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