Determine if a table column is used?

• Eirikur Eiriksson

  SSC Guru

  Points: 182937

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  November 7, 2016 at 12:16 pm

  #1910998

  Eric M Russell (11/7/2016)

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  Eirikur Eiriksson (11/7/2016)

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  Eric M Russell (11/4/2016)

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  Or you could leave the columns as is and add page compression, which in this case would probably shrink the table down to 10% or less of it's original size.

  Another option is to change the all null columns to sparse columns, wouldn't break any code either.

  😎

  Sparse Columns can't be used with Page Compression. Compression applies also to the used columns as well, so it might offer more storage savings, assuming that's the goal here.

  I meant as an alternative to page compression.

  😎

• TheSQLGuru

  SSC Guru

  Points: 134017

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  November 7, 2016 at 1:54 pm

  #1911031

  Eric M Russell (11/7/2016)

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  TheSQLGuru (11/4/2016)

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  Eric M Russell (11/4/2016)

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  Or you could leave the columns as is and add page compression, which in this case would probably shrink the table down to 10% or less of it's original size.

  Enterprise Edition only, so maybe what, 1-5% of the installed user base can do this. 🙁

  OK, when I read this, I assumed it was Enterprise Edition.

  I have a table with 926 columns (I didn't build this) ...

  So you assumed that only people with big budgets can have, er, questionable database design? Or that only they can buy a horrible third party app with such a design? 😀

  Best,
  Kevin G. Boles
  SQL Server Consultant
  SQL MVP 2007-2012
  TheSQLGuru on googles mail service

• Eric M Russell

  SSC Guru

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  November 7, 2016 at 2:09 pm

  #1911037

  TheSQLGuru (11/7/2016)

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  Eric M Russell (11/7/2016)

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  TheSQLGuru (11/4/2016)

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  Eric M Russell (11/4/2016)

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  Or you could leave the columns as is and add page compression, which in this case would probably shrink the table down to 10% or less of it's original size.

  Enterprise Edition only, so maybe what, 1-5% of the installed user base can do this. 🙁

  OK, when I read this, I assumed it was Enterprise Edition.

  I have a table with 926 columns (I didn't build this) ...

  So you assumed that only people with big budgets can have, er, questionable database design? Or that only they can buy a horrible third party app with such a design? 😀

  Yes, if an organization is willing to buy an expensive horribly designed 3rd party DW apps with 926 columns, then they're going to run it on Enterprise Edition. I totally feel safe making that default assumption. Even if I'm wrong, I would only be temporarily wrong. 🙂

  "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho