Guest author Sandip hit Msg 1913 while creating an index, because an index or statistics with that name already existed. A lesson on statistics name and index creation.
VECTOR_SEARCH in SQL Server 2025: Finding Similar Rows With a Vector Index
VECTOR_SEARCH returns the rows whose vectors sit closest to a vector you give it, and a vector index makes that search approximate and fast. This post builds a six-row test with hand-made numbers on SQL Server 2025, with no AI model, and lists the limits the test showed.
Unique Pairs in Either Order: Blocking A-B When B-A Exists
A plain unique index treats (1, 2) and (2, 1) as different rows. Two computed columns and one index fix that, and I test the awkward cases.
What Is a Primary Key, and What Happens Without One?
A primary key is the promise that every row can be told apart. Why NULL is refused, what a table without one actually costs you, how it differs from a unique constraint, and when to choose a natural key over a made up one.
Checking XML Index Size Against the Table It Belongs To
An XML index can outweigh the table it serves. Here is how I measure each XML structure next to the base table, and what to test before dropping one.
ALTER TABLE REBUILD: Fixing a Heap Without a Clustered Index
A heap with widening rows collects forwarded records. Here is how to measure them, fix them and know when the fix will not last.
SQL SERVER – Observation of Top with Index and Order of Resultset
Adding an index can change which rows TOP returns when there is no ORDER BY. I share three real cases where the order of resultset was blamed on the wrong thing.