SQL Server 6.5 Index Statistics Details



Introduction

Distribution Pages

View Index Statistics

Update Distribution Statistics

Introduction

Sometimes it is difficult to determine which indexes to use when
processing a query. In this case, the query optimizer uses distribution
pages.

SQL Server 6.5 cannot update distribution statistics automatically
as SQL Server 7.0 can, so you should manually update distribution
statistics when a large amount of data in an indexed column has been
added, changed, or deleted.

In this article, I want to tell you about structure of the distribution
pages, about distribution step and index density, and about how you can
view and update distribution statistics.


Distribution Pages

There are five kinds of pages in SQL Server 6.5:

  • Data pages

  • Index pages

  • Allocation pages

  • Text/Image pages

  • Distribution pages
  • Every index can have only one distribution page. The distribution page
    is used by query optimizer to determine which indexes to use when
    processing a query, or to determine whether it is more efficient to use
    the index or to scan the table.

    The size of a distribution page is 2Kb, i.e. 2048 bytes, as well as the
    size of other SQL Server 6.5 pages.

    Every distribution page consists of three part:

  • 32 bytes header

  • Index density

  • Distribution step
  • Index density uses (n + 2) * 8 bytes, where n – is the number of fields
    in the index. Other space is used to store the distribution steps.


    View Index Statistics

    There are two ways to view the index statistics in SQL Server 6.5:

  • With GUI interface from the Enterprise Manager

  • With DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS statement
  • To view the index statistics from the Enterprise Manager:

  • From the Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 program group, double-click the
    SQL Enterprise Manager icon.

  • From the Server Manager window, select a server.

  • In the Server Manager window, open the Databases folder and choose
    database (pubs database, for example).

  • From the Manage menu, choose Indexes.

  • Choose appropriate table (authors, for example).

  • Choose appropriate index (aunmind, for example).

  • Click the Distribution button.
  • You can use DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS statement to display the statistical
    information in the distribution page for an index on a specified table.

    This is the syntax:


    DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS (table_name, index_name)

    To view the index statistics with DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS statement, use
    the following script (to view index statistics for the aunmind index
    from the authors table in the pubs database):


    USE pubs
    GO
    DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS (authors, aunmind)
    GO

    Update Distribution Statistics

    To update distribution statistics, you can use UPDATE STATISTICS
    statement. This is the syntax:


    UPDATE STATISTICS [[database.]owner.]table_name [index_name]

    where

    table_name - is the table with which the index is associated.
    index_name - is the index for which the distribution statistics
                 will be updated. If you not specify index_name
                 parameter, then the distribution statistics for all
                 indexes in the specified table will be updated.
    

    Notes

    1. Because SQL Server 6.5 cannot update distribution statistics
    automatically as SQL Server 7.0 can, you should manually run
    UPDATE STATISTICS statement periodically (when a large amount
    of data in an indexed column has been added, changed, or deleted).

    2. The distribution pages will be created only when the index be
    created on the table with data in it, or when you manually run
    UPDATE STATISTICS statement on the table with data in it.
    When there are no records in the table, then there are no
    distribution pages.

    So, if you want to create the table from the script file, then
    create index only after you will insert the data into this table.
    See the examples below:

    Example A.

    The index was created before insert the data, so there is no
    distribution page.


    SET NOCOUNT ON
    GO
    if object_id(‘Table1’) is not null drop table Table1
    GO
    CREATE TABLE Table1 (
    id int identity primary key,
    Field1 char(50)
    )
    GO
    CREATE INDEX indField1 on Table1 (Field1)
    GO
    DECLARE @i int
    SELECT @i = 1
    WHILE @i <= 1000 BEGIN INSERT INTO Table1 VALUES (LTRIM(str(@i))) SELECT @i = @i + 1 END GO DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS (Table1, indField1) GO

    This is the results set (there is no distribution page):


    Updated Rows Steps Density
    ——————– ———– ———– ————————
    NULL 1000 0 0.0

    (1 row(s) affected)

    All density Columns
    ———————— ——————————
    0.0 Field1

    (1 row(s) affected)

    Steps
    ————————————————–

    (0 row(s) affected)


    Example B.
    The index was created after the data was added, so there is
    distribution page.


    SET NOCOUNT ON
    GO
    if object_id(‘Table1’) is not null drop table Table1
    GO
    CREATE TABLE Table1 (
    id int identity primary key,
    Field1 char(50)
    )
    GO
    DECLARE @i int
    SELECT @i = 1
    WHILE @i <= 1000 BEGIN INSERT INTO Table1 VALUES (LTRIM(str(@i))) SELECT @i = @i + 1 END GO CREATE INDEX indField1 on Table1 (Field1) GO DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS (Table1, indField1) GO

    This is the results set (the distribution page was created):


    Updated Rows Steps Density
    ——————– ———– ———– ————————
    Feb 7 2001 10:41PM 1000 36 0.001

    (1 row(s) affected)

    All density Columns
    ———————— ——————————
    0.001 Field1

    (1 row(s) affected)

    Steps
    ————————————————–
    1
    123
    149
    174
    2
    224
    25
    275
    30
    325
    350
    376
    400
    426
    451
    477
    501
    527
    552
    578
    602
    628
    653
    679
    703
    729
    754
    78
    804
    83
    855
    880
    905
    930
    956
    981

    (36 row(s) affected)



    3. After running TRUNCATE TABLE statement, the distribution pages
    will also be deleted, so after adding new data, you should manually
    run UPDATE STATISTICS statement to recreate distribution pages.


    »


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    Alexander Chigrik

    Alexander Chigrik
    Alexander Chigrik
    I am the owner of MSSQLCity.Com - a site dedicated to providing useful information for IT professionals using Microsoft SQL Server. This site contains SQL Server Articles, FAQs, Scripts, Tips and Test Exams.

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