cursor_sharing=force init parameter, measuring benefits ?


cursor_sharing=force init parameter, measuring benefits ?

Hi,
If my initialisation parameter cursor_sharing is set to force. What would be the best way to find out how much it is being utilised ? i.e. how do I find out how many times it is actually replacing literals with bind variables in the system and whatever else it does?

Is the 'best' way to count how many times a literal has been swapped by counting 'shared_flag2' fields which are set to 256 in the v$sql_bind_data view ????

I have done this and have a very low number..Does this mean I am not getting much use from having cursor_sharing=force and should go back to 'EXACT' ?

Also, if i look in v$sql_bind_metadata and look at the column bind_name, there are many differnt bind variables starting with 'SYS_B....' which represent different system assigned binds..what is actually representing? can you give me any more details please?

Thanks.