SQL Server Execution Plans - Red Gate Software

Chapter 1: Execution Plan Basics
Substituting the username will enable the user to view execution plans for that database.
Additionally, in order to run the queries against the DMOs, either VIEW SERVER STATE
or VIEW DATABASE STATE, depending on the DMO in question, will be required.
Working with graphical execution plans
In order to focus on the basics of capturing estimated and actual execution plans, the first
query will be one of the simplest possible queries, and we'll build from there. Open up
Management Studio and in a query window, type the following:
SELECT *
FROM dbo.DatabaseLog;
Listing 1.4
Getting the estimated plan
We'll start by viewing the graphical estimated execution plan that the query optimizer
generated, so there's no need to run the query yet.
We can find out what the optimizer estimates to be the least costly plan in one of
following ways:
• Click on the Display Estimated Execution Plan icon on the tool bar.
• Right-click the query window and select the same option from the menu.
• Click on the Query option in the menu bar and select the same choice.
• Hit CTRL+L on the keyboard.
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