Index Types

  • Hugo Kornelis (7/5/2012)


    Steve Cullen (7/5/2012)


    Correct answers = 1 ???

    This must be one of those Monty Python type questions:

    Q: What is your name?

    A: Steve Cullen

    Q: What is your quest?

    A: I seek knowledge and wisdom about SQL Server.

    Q: How many index types in SQL 2012 are there?

    A: 10. No 12. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.................

    A terrible question that were best removed from the site and forgotten soon - if not for the above post in the discussion, which makes up for everything! 😉

    Seriously. We had a similar question a few months back on the number of index types in SQL2008 or SQL2008R2. And while that one did not have two conflicting answers ticked, it did spur a lot of discussion because the whole subject is too much of a grey area.

    The list given in Books Online is far too vague. Some "types" are mutually exclusive, others are not. Various combinations are possible. If "unique", "nonclustered", "with included columns", "on computed columns" and "fitered" are seperate index types, than how about a unique nonclustered filtered index on computed columns and with included columns? How about an index on a combination of computed and non computed columns? How about an index that includes computed columns?

    And if minor variations on nonclustered indexes are counted as different types, then why are all types of xml indexes (primary, path seconday, value secondary, and property secondary) not counted?

    If you want to test knowledge of index types, you should include a list of existing and non-existing index types and let the reader pick the "correct" ones.

    (In fact, I think I am going to submit a few questions of that type right now!)

    You are right...

  • I attempted to answer the question. I got wrong answer too.

    What I have learned from the question is that, I can learn much more from the mistakes. There are many mistakes and failures I have experienced before I could make a little success.

    One point does not matter here, but it could be extremely important in other places.

    Thanks editor, You have done a great job!

  • My guess is that the other of the question wanted to make 2 "correct answers".

    Meaning that if you selected 10 it is correct, or if you select 12 it is correct. However, this site uses the AND constraint, not the OR. 🙂

    (and on top of that, he mistakenly took 12 instead of 8)

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
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  • Just attempted this one today - selected 10, got it 'wrong' apparently it was a multiple choice with one right answer expected plus one guess. My day can only get better..

    Luckily there are not that many questions like this one to cause annoyance.

  • One would expect that database designers and programmers would have expertise in logic. That being so, why was the answer deemed to be "10, 12"?

    You cannot have two answers to a question of this type. It must be one or the other.

    Please review the logic of the question, make the answer match that logic and award the points to all those who answered "10".

    Kenneth Spencer

    You never know: reading my book: "All about your computer" might just tell you something you never knew!
    lulu.com/kaspencer

  • "but for the sake of the question, we will go with the BOL answer" ...

    So the answer was 10 after all and we didn't all get it wrong.

    QA of questions required?

  • NARF

  • skanker (7/6/2012)


    Just attempted this one today - selected 10, got it 'wrong' apparently it was a multiple choice with one right answer expected plus one guess. My day can only get better..

    Luckily there are not that many questions like this one to cause annoyance.

    +1 I'm still confused how the count works out with two answers.... *sigh*



    --Mark Tassin
    MCITP - SQL Server DBA
    Proud member of the Anti-RBAR alliance.
    For help with Performance click this link[/url]
    For tips on how to post your problems[/url]

  • Points back, Steve?

  • KWymore (7/6/2012)


    Points back, Steve?

    I think you just figured how to get them back yourself. 😉

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  • Sean Lange (7/6/2012)


    KWymore (7/6/2012)


    Points back, Steve?

    I think you just figured how to get them back yourself. 😉

    Nah that gets you a point post... if you look at your correctness percentage, that's still not affected 🙁



    --Mark Tassin
    MCITP - SQL Server DBA
    Proud member of the Anti-RBAR alliance.
    For help with Performance click this link[/url]
    For tips on how to post your problems[/url]

  • mtassin (7/6/2012)


    Sean Lange (7/6/2012)


    KWymore (7/6/2012)


    Points back, Steve?

    I think you just figured how to get them back yourself. 😉

    Nah that gets you a point post... if you look at your correctness percentage, that's still not affected 🙁

    True enough although I don't think a single point would make much difference with the amount of questions I have answered. 😛

    _______________________________________________________________

    Need help? Help us help you.

    Read the article at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/ for best practices on asking questions.

    Need to split a string? Try Jeff Modens splitter http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/.

    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 1 – Converting Rows to Columns - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/T-SQL/63681/
    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 2 - Dynamic Cross Tabs - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Crosstab/65048/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 1) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69953/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 2) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69954/

  • Sean Lange (7/6/2012)


    mtassin (7/6/2012)


    Sean Lange (7/6/2012)


    KWymore (7/6/2012)


    Points back, Steve?

    I think you just figured how to get them back yourself. 😉

    Nah that gets you a point post... if you look at your correctness percentage, that's still not affected 🙁

    True enough although I don't think a single point would make much difference with the amount of questions I have answered. 😛

    Agreed (to both of you). I have just noticed over the years that when a question had obvious errors and a large percentage of users get it wrong, Steve typically jumps in and rewards points back. No one else had mentioned it yet in the thread so I was throwing it out there. 🙂

  • Since these are implemented as an inverted b-tree, one could argue that the correct answer is [1]. 😛

    Wayne
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
    Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes


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  • Good question. Thanks for submitting.

    http://brittcluff.blogspot.com/

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