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SQL Indexing

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yalgaar
Starting Member

43 Posts

Posted - 2006-04-26 : 10:57:59

Few questions about Indexing on tables:

1) How do I find out if there is any indexing already existing on the tables?

2) How often should tables be re-indexed?

3) Can you refer me to some useful article that talks about basics of indexing and how it could affect peformance?

Thanks

druer
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

314 Posts

Posted - 2006-04-26 : 11:05:17

1. You can right click on the table in Enterprise Manager and choose "Manage Indexes" and it will show you what indexes exist for the table and what fields comprise the index. You choose what fields/indexes you need based on the queries that come through the system and the performance needs for both input and reporting needs of your application(s).
2. The indexing itself on tables should be monitored as performance dictates. Do a "REINDEX" command for indexes is something that you can determine based on the article that I'll provide in answer to the next question. It varies for everyone based on frequency of data changes to the table(s).
3. By far the best article I've come across to help you understand how to maintain indexes is: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/ss2kidbp.mspx

Hope it helps,
Dalton