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How many rows in a table before using a...
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How many rows in a table before using a clustered index?
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Stueyd
Stueyd
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 5:57 AM
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Hi All,
I've just inherited a database and whilst doing a health check discovered about 300 tables that don't have clustered indexes.
Now anything with zero rows I will ignore and anything with 20,000 rows and above I will immediately investigate to see about slapping on a clustered index.
What about the others?
Is there a "rule of thumb" ? Eg: Any table with more than 1,000 rows could benefit from a clustered index?
What's the tipping point where there's so few rows it's not worth it?
Cheers!
Post #1380302
sanket kokane
sanket kokane
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 6:55 AM
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you should have clustered index on every table .
that is what they called as best practice.
data is not organized properly in heap tables (tables without clustered index)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh213609.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc917672.aspx
http://www.simple-talk.com/blogs/2007/12/17/should-you-always-use-a-clustered-index/
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Post #1380335
Stueyd
Stueyd
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 7:06 AM
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Thanks for the textbook answer. Not!
Yeah, that's what it says "in the manual", but the reality is that there is a point below which a Clustered Index is more of an overhead than a help.
Anyone got a rough rule of thumb for what that point is?
1,000 rows? 5,000 rows?
Post #1380339
GilaMonster
GilaMonster
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 7:07 AM
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Stueyd (11/2/2012)
What's the tipping point where there's so few rows it's not worth it?
0.
Every table should have a clustered index unless you have a good reason otherwise (low row count is not a good reason)
but the reality is that there is a point below which a Clustered Index is more of an overhead than a help.
No, there isn't.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008, MVP
SQL In The Wild
: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
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Post #1380340
Stewart "Arturius" Campbell
Stewart "Arturius" Campbell
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 7:07 AM
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Having a clustered index on every table is almost always a good idea.
However, using a clustered index just for the sake of having a clustered index on a table is not.
Clustered indexes are best suited for those columns most frequently used in range-based searches.
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Post #1380341
NuNn DaddY
NuNn DaddY
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 7:09 AM
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Here is a link to the MSDN for Clustered Index Design Specifications which may help you better understand what columns you should use for your clustered index.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190639%28v=sql.105%29.aspx
Also, you may want to consider taking a look at the "Stairway to SQL Server Indexes" which explains both clustered and nonclustered indexes
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/stairway/72399/
Post #1380342
GilaMonster
GilaMonster
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 7:15 AM
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Stewart "Arturius" Campbell (11/2/2012)
Clustered indexes are best suited for those columns most frequently used in range-based searches.
I would tend to disagree with that, but that's just me.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008, MVP
SQL In The Wild
: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
Post #1380346
sanket kokane
sanket kokane
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 7:18 AM
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Me too !!
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Post #1380347
GSquared
GSquared
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 7:22 AM
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GilaMonster (11/2/2012)
Stewart "Arturius" Campbell (11/2/2012)
Clustered indexes are best suited for those columns most frequently used in range-based searches.
I would tend to disagree with that, but that's just me.
Not just you.
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Post #1380350
Steve Jones - SSC Editor
Steve Jones - SSC Editor
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 9:48 AM
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I would always have a clustered index. Unless I had a really good reason not to have one. I'd read some of the articles mentioned, especially any by Gail on indexing to help decide what column(s) to use in the index.
Other indexes may or may not help, depending on the size of the table.
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Post #1380471
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