Zavier Sheran wrote:
> 
> I have a VARCHAR(2000) column in a  table that  is not needed in any WHERE
> clause. Can  I imporove perofmance by declaring it a LONG column (in case
> LONG columns are stored apart from the other columns)?
> 

As so often: it depends.
If your LONG/VARCHAR-column usually is part of the select-list, then you
need more I/0 for accessing the normal columns + the LONG-column stored separately 
than when you just access the record incl. your VARCHAR-column. 

If your column is needed very rarely, a LONG-column would be better as its absence 
will shorten the normal record.

If your column is usually filled up to the full length, it does not matter (for the 
communication between client and server) if it is a LONG-column or a VARCHAR-column. 
If usually only fewer bytes are filled, then you should know that the VARCHAR-column 
will be transferred between server and client with its definition-length of 2000, not 
only with the really needed length. LONG-columns need the really needed value-length + 
some bytes overhead, often (even together) shorter than the definition length.

Elke
SAP Labs Berlin

> -Zavier

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