Bitmap indexing in SQL Server 2008

Question

Hi All,

Is it possible to do bitmap indexing in SQL server 2008 ? Please let me know if there are any useful links.

Regards,
Kailash

Answer 1

Hi Kailash,
No SQL Server 2008 does not have bitmap indexing, however starting with SQL Server 2005 there is a feature called Bitmap filtering.  In SQL Server 2008 the feature has been enhanced somewhat but it still doesn't have the same functionality as a bitmap index.  See the following links for more details:
Bitmap Indexes and Bitmap Filters

Optimizing Data Warehouse Query Performance Through Bitmap Filtering

Answer 2

Hey thanks for the reply. 

Is there any other type of indexes in SQL Server 08 which is not in '05 ?? if not is the performance better in '08 than '05.

Please let me know the links for indexing in SQL Server 2008 to achieve the best performance.

Regards,

Kailash

Answer 3

See this link to bol to find info about enhancements in SQL Server 2008:

Scalability and Performance Enhancements (Database Engine)

Answer 4

Thanks mate !!!

Answer 5

As an additional hint to others looking for more indexing options you may want to check out the HASHBYTES function to create unique hashes on BLOB text fields for much faster comparisons.
There are a few DWs I've setup where this made a huge difference in performance and required storage. Note of course that you have the chance of hash collisions and that it does take CPU time to calculate the hash values prior to loading. Stay away from CHECKSUM.

Should you use this? "It depends". Test and find out! :)