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You are here: SQL Server Objects > Tables > Manage Table Partitions > Create Sliding Window Scenarios

Create Sliding Window Scenarios

The sliding window scenario is a SQL Server 2005 table partitioning feature that enables you to handle data aging effectively. Using this scenario, you can automatically add new partitions to a large table without having to manually move data, archive aged data, and delete partitions. Sliding window scenarios are useful for tables where large loads occur periodically, such as billing or payroll systems.

Because active data is queried much more often than aged data, the sliding window scenario rolls new data into the production table and switches aged partitions out. The main benefit is that queries can be performed on the new data while the aged data is being archived. SQL Server 2005 supports the sliding window scenario with its T-SQL statements.

Notes:

Sliding window scenarios should only be used on larger, unpartitioned tables.
This topic focuses on information that may be unfamiliar to you. It does not include all step and field descriptions.

To create a sliding window scenario

Select Tables from the Databases node in the Object Explorer.
Right-click an unpartitioned table and select Storage | Sliding Window.
Complete the wizard.