New index not used but query slowed down

  • Hello all!

    We have a database which sadly is a heap (can't change because it's a vendor database).

    We added a non-clustered index to the table in order to speed up a select query against that table (query does not come from the app, it's for reporting).

    The query went a lot faster but a different select query went from .5 seconds to 10 seconds.

    The odd part is that the second query did not use the new index, it used indexes already there.

    We have removed the new index, but I'm at a loss as to why the second query would be affected if it continued to use indexes which already existed. Is this something unique to a heap? I've added indexes before and queries either used the new index or they ignored it and continued to use what was there.

  • jigging.tech (5/11/2016)


    Hello all!

    We have a database which sadly is a heap (can't change because it's a vendor database).

    We added a non-clustered index to the table in order to speed up a select query against that table (query does not come from the app, it's for reporting).

    The query went a lot faster but a different select query went from .5 seconds to 10 seconds.

    The odd part is that the second query did not use the new index, it used indexes already there.

    We have removed the new index, but I'm at a loss as to why the second query would be affected if it continued to use indexes which already existed. Is this something unique to a heap? I've added indexes before and queries either used the new index or they ignored it and continued to use what was there.

    Post actual execution plans please.

    😎

  • Was this slowness repeatable and consistent? Was the database under load and/or did you NOLOCK your SELECT?

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

  • As Eirikur suggested, actual (not the estimated ones) execution plans would be helpful. I suspect that this has something to do with bad/out-of-date statistics.

    "I cant stress enough the importance of switching from a sequential files mindset to set-based thinking. After you make the switch, you can spend your time tuning and optimizing your queries instead of maintaining lengthy, poor-performing code."

    -- Itzik Ben-Gan 2001

  • Without seeing the execution plans, I'd just be guessing.

    My guess is, you may have hit some bad parameter sniffing on the query that was running fast previous to the addition of the index because it recompiled differently... Maybe. Like I said, guessing without data.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Please post the Execution plans before and after. I have faced similar situation recently and had created a process to save the execution plans which would come in handy in situations like this.

    Please re run the queries and get a consistent results.

    Peace.

  • Grant Fritchey (5/11/2016)


    Without seeing the execution plans, I'd just be guessing.

    My guess is, you may have hit some bad parameter sniffing on the query that was running fast previous to the addition of the index because it recompiled differently... Maybe. Like I said, guessing without data.

    I was hoping that we could avoid this normal "post the actual plans" 5-6 posts, guessing is no good for anything but gathering posting points;-)

    😎

  • Eirikur Eiriksson (5/11/2016)


    Grant Fritchey (5/11/2016)


    Without seeing the execution plans, I'd just be guessing.

    My guess is, you may have hit some bad parameter sniffing on the query that was running fast previous to the addition of the index because it recompiled differently... Maybe. Like I said, guessing without data.

    I was hoping that we could avoid this normal "post the actual plans" 5-6 posts, guessing is no good for anything but gathering posting points;-)

    😎

    Probably right. I just wanted to offer up something, anything, to help out. I'll try to refrain from guesses.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Grant Fritchey (5/11/2016)


    Eirikur Eiriksson (5/11/2016)


    Grant Fritchey (5/11/2016)


    Without seeing the execution plans, I'd just be guessing.

    My guess is, you may have hit some bad parameter sniffing on the query that was running fast previous to the addition of the index because it recompiled differently... Maybe. Like I said, guessing without data.

    I was hoping that we could avoid this normal "post the actual plans" 5-6 posts, guessing is no good for anything but gathering posting points;-)

    😎

    Probably right. I just wanted to offer up something, anything, to help out. I'll try to refrain from guesses.

    I know Grant, I (far too) often do the same

    😎

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