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When INCLUDE Columns Quietly Inflate Your Transaction Logs

In this article, I wanted to test a common assumption we DBAs make – that adding INCLUDE columns to indexes is harmless. I created a FULL recovery test database with a realistic wide Orders table containing extra large VARCHAR columns to simulate an ERP workload. I ran updates and measured transaction log backup sizes before and after adding INCLUDE columns to a nonclustered index. The results shocked me. The update without INCLUDE columns generated a 10 MB log backup, while the same update with INCLUDE columns produced over 170 MB – a 17x increase in log volume. I explain why this happens: INCLUDE columns are physically stored in index leaf rows, so updates affecting them write bigger log records. I also clarify that updating key columns generates even more log than INCLUDE updates because it involves row movement (delete + insert), but INCLUDE updates still cost more log than if those columns weren’t indexed at all. The takeaway is clear – INCLUDE columns are powerful, but they silently increase transaction log generation, impacting backup sizes, replication lag, and DR readiness. Always measure their real cost before deploying to production.

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2025-07-18

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SQLServerCentral Article

Getting In: Running External Code in a Locked-Down PaaS

In Part 1, I explored how to bend SQL Server Agent to our will and peek under the hood of Azure SQL Managed Instance (SQL MI), gaining full OS access to the container (all without relying on xp_cmdshell). But once I realized what kind of door I'd opened, curiosity pushed us further, tempting us to […]

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2025-07-17 (first published: )

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SQLServerCentral Article

Cassandra Springboot Integration With Redis

Article Overview In this article we will learn how to integrate a Spring boot application with Apache Cassandra database and Redis cache. This is an extension to one of our previous articles which demonstrates the steps to set up Apache Cassandra and how to integrate is with Springboot, link shared below. https://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/cassandra-springboot-integration In this tutorial […]

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2025-07-14 (first published: )

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SQLServerCentral Article

Revolutionizing Efficiency: The Power of Custom Automation Software Development

With the ever-increasing pace of the digital era, companies are continuously looking for opportunities to enhance efficiency, cut costs, and optimize operations. The most viable way to accomplish these is through Custom Automation Software Development.

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2025-07-11

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SQLServerCentral Article

SQL Server 2022 Build List

This is a list of the builds for SQL Server 2022. There are other build lists available here. A list of all the builds that I can find and install on my Build VM. If you find a build not listed here, please let the webmaster know (webmaster at sqlservercentral.com). All builds are listed in reverse […]

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2025-07-11 (first published: )

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Question of the Day

The Updated Columns List

I have this table in SQL Server 2022:

CREATE TABLE CustomerLarge
  (CustomerID               INT NOT NULL IDENTITY(1, 1) CONSTRAINT CustomerLargePK PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
 , CustomerName             VARCHAR(20)
 , CustomerContactFirstName VARCHAR(40)
 , CustomerContactLastName  VARCHAR(40)
 , Address                  VARCHAR(20)
 , Address2                 VARCHAR(20)
 , City                     VARCHAR(20)
 , CountryCode              CHAR(3)
 , Postal                   VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
If I check the columns_updated() function return in a trigger, what is the data returned?

See possible answers