Indexing a SQL Server database in some respects is considered both an art and a science. Since this is the case, what are some considerations when designing indexes for a new database or an existing one in production? Are these the same types of steps or not? Do any best practices really exist when it comes to indexing? Where does indexing fall in the priority list from an application or production support perspective?  Read more...

Optimize SQL Server non-clustered indexes and queries by considering index fields, compound indexes and SQL Server statistics' impact on non-clustered indexes.  Read more...

One of the new features found in SQL Server 2005 is the ability to add additional columns, called Included Columns, to a non-clustered index. This article will explain the advantages of using included columns and what impact they will have on your database.  Read more...

Find why SQL Server clustered index design should be narrow and static and how clustered indexes affect many-to-many tables to improve database performance.  Read more...

Indexes directly affect the performance of database applications. This article uses analogies to describe how indexes work. The estimated execution plan feature of the Query Window is utilized to compare the performance of two queries in a batch.  Read more...

Do you use the maintenance plans or hate them? Wish they would do more? Curious about how they work under the hood? Cmon, you gotta read this one! Trust us, it's not another "how-to" article! Well, maybe just a little bit!   Read more...

A monster book at 980 pages, it's written in 'how-to' format and has a ton of good material. Andy gave it the once over for us and reports back - see what he thinks!   Read more...

Quite a while back Andy wrote an article about why not using primary keys and clustered indexes was a worst practice. Chris weighs in this week with a great article that gives some more in depth info on clustered indexes and why he thinks they should be used on every table.   Read more...

This white paper discusses the basics of indexes, such as density and selectivity, effects of many versus few indexes, long versus short keys, covering indexes, and how the SQL Server optimizer chooses indexes  Read more...

Do you use the maintenance plans or hate them? Wish they would do more? Curious about how they work under the hood? Cmon, you gotta read this one! Trust us, it's not another "how-to" article! Well, maybe just a little bit!   Read more...

One of the new features found in SQL Server 2005 is the ability to add additional columns, called Included Columns, to a non-clustered index. This article will explain the advantages of using included columns and what impact they will have on your database.  Read more...

Quite a while back Andy wrote an article about why not using primary keys and clustered indexes was a worst practice. Chris weighs in this week with a great article that gives some more in depth info on clustered indexes and why he thinks they should be used on every table.   Read more...

Do you use the maintenance plans or hate them? Wish they would do more? Curious about how they work under the hood? Cmon, you gotta read this one! Trust us, it's not another "how-to" article! Well, maybe just a little bit!   Read more...