Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

VII.3.4. Changing Data Quickly

Typically, users perceive a slow-running database application when they're attempting to retrieve information. However, many circumstances exist where database performance might bog down on operations that actually create, change, or remove data. This final section furnishes you with some tips that you can use to coax additional performance from any data-altering operations. We begin by discussing techniques for speeding up data insert activities. Next on the agenda are some guidelines for boosting performance for operations that change data. Finally, we show you how to say goodbye to your data as quickly as possible.

VII.3.4.1. Insert optimization

Normally, inserts performed by user-driven applications happen quite quickly: The user provides the program with some data, and the program writes this data into SQL Server in the blink of an eye. However, other occasions occur where inserting data can be much more of a performance burden, chiefly when loading large amounts of information in a batch. These events can degrade responsiveness for all users and lead to a general perception of system sluggishness even though it's been caused by a special situation. In this section, we offer some suggestions that you can use to make these hefty inserts less taxing on your SQL Server system.

VII.3.4.1.1. Take advantage of SQL Server's specialized bulk loading capabilities

SQL Server offers two helpful tools that simplify and speed this previously challenging ...