INFO: SQL Clustered and Non-Clustered Index Sort Work Area (45667)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft SQL Server 4.2x
- Microsoft SQL Server 6.0
- Microsoft SQL Server 6.5
This article was previously published under Q45667 SUMMARY
The following information discusses how the "sort work area"
associated with clustered and non-clustered indexes is created and
stored within SQL Server.
MORE INFORMATION
When a clustered index is created on a table that already contains
data, a new copy of the table's data is created in the same database.
When the new copy is completed, the old copy is deallocated and the
"sort work area" becomes the new table. As a result, when a clustered
index is created, there must be enough unreserved space in the
database to hold a second entire copy of the table.
When a non-clustered index is created, data space in the TEMPDB
database is used as the "sort work area." The area in TEMPDB is
released when the sort is completed.
In both cases SQL Server will NOT allocate temporary storage from
free disk space.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 2/14/2005 |
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| Keywords: | kbinfo kbother KB45667 |
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