Define a Table ColumnStore Index in SQL Server

Use the SQL Server Table ColumnStore Index Editor to define table columnstore indexes in a SQL Server physical model.

Follow these steps:

1. In Model Explorer, expand Tables, right-click ColumnStore Indexes and click New.

   A ColumnStore Index is created.

2. Right-click the ColumnStore Index and click Properties.

   The SQL Server Table ColumnStore Index Editor opens.

3. Select the table from the Table drop-down that contains the index that you want to define.
4. (Optional) Edit the name of the ColumnStore Index.
5. Click the Members tab and work with the following options:

   Index Members

   Lists the columns that are defined to the table and lets you specify the columns to place into the index. You can use the toolbar to specify sort order, move columns up or down in the list, open the Column Editor to manage column properties, or open the Reset Order dialog to reset column order.

6. Click the Options tab to define Index Options and Filegroups.

   Clustered

   Creates columnstore index that specifies the logical ordering of a table. Clustered columnstore index is supported SQL Server 2014 onward.

   Default: False

   Drop Existing

   Specifies that the named, preexisting index is dropped and rebuilt. Select the checkbox to drop the preexisting index and rebuilt it.

   Maximum Degree of Parallelism

   Limits the number of processors used in a parallel plan execution. The maximum number of processors that can be used is 64.

   Online

   Specifies whether the columnstore index remains online and available while the new copy of the index is being built.

   Compression Delay

   For a disk-based table, specifies the minimum number of minutes a delta rowgroup in the CLOSED state must remain in the delta rowgroup; before SQL Server can compress it into the compressed rowgroup. Default is 0 minutes. Available SQL Server 2016 onward.

   Compression Delay is applicable to a memory optimized table too.

   Where

   Specifies an expression for selecting a subset of rows to include in the index.

   Filegroup

   Creates a specified index on the specified filegroup.

7. Click the Partitionstab to define partition columns.
8. Click the DataCompression tab to define columnstore and columnstore archival compression. These data compression options are available SQL Server 2016 onward.
9. (Optional) Click the Comment tab and enter any comments that you want to associate with the object.
10. (Optional) Click the Where Used tab to view where the object is used within the model.
11. (Optional) Click the UDP tab to work with user-defined properties for the object.
12. (Optional) Click the Notes tab to view and edit user notes.
13. (Optional) Click the Extended Notes tab to view or edit user notes.
14. Click Close.

    The ColumnStore Index is defined and the SQL Server Table ColumnStore Index Editor closes.