[dba-SQLServer] Pointless Indexes?

Hi Arthur:

I would not know why your particular client would index a bit column but I
use that a lot of times as a super fast group index for inactive and active
records in any DB.... as you know account transactions can never be
deleted...

Jim 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Arthur
Fuller
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 10:31 AM
To: Discussion concerning MS SQL Server
Subject: [dba-SQLServer] Pointless Indexes?

I've been reading about indexes and bookmark lookups and so on, and
examining the indexes in our database, table by table. I have two general
questions:

1. Is there any point in including a bit column in a compound index, whether
as an indexed column or an included column? Since it can only have two
possible values, it strikes me that there is no point.
2. Similar question: I have a table with about 200K rows in it currently and
an FK in said table with only 6 possible values. Any point in indexing it?

It seems the more I read, the more confused I get :)

TIA,
Arthur
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