How to: Create Indexes (Visual Database Tools)

You can use an index to speed access to data in a database table. You create an index by selecting one or more columns in a table that you want to be able to search on. You can use the index as soon as you save the table.

To create an index

1. In Object Explorer, right-click the table for which you want to create an index and click Design (Modify in SP1 or earlier).

   The table opens in Table Designer.

2. From the Table Designer menu, click Indexes/Keys.

3. In the Indexes/Keys dialog box, click Add.

4. Select the new index in the Selected Primary/Unique Key or Index list and set properties for the index in the grid to the right.

5. Specify any other settings for the index and click Close.

   The index is created in the database when you save the table.

See Also

Concepts

Creating Indexes (Database Engine)

Other Resources

Working with Indexes (Visual Database Tools)
Working with Keys (Visual Database Tools)
Working with Relationships (Visual Database Tools)
Indexes/Keys Dialog Box (Visual Database Tools)

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance