Microsoft® SQL Server 2005 Unleashed

Chapter 31. Query Analysis

IN THIS CHAPTER

• What’s New in Query Analysis

• Query Analysis in SSMS

• SSMS Client Statistics

• Using the SHOWPLAN SET Statement Options

• Using sys.dm_exec_query_plan

• Query Statistics

• Query Analysis with SQL Server Profiler

SQL Server’s cost-based Query Optimizer typically does a good job of determining the best query plan for processing a query. At times, however, you might be a little bit skeptical about the plan that the Query Optimizer generates or want to understand why it is choosing a specific plan. At the least, you will want to know the specifics about the query plans the Query Optimizer is generating, such as the following:

• Is the Query Optimizer using the indexes you have defined, or is it performing table or index scans? ...