Schmeling H. SQL Server Statistics 2010

Textbook in PDF format

SQL Server Statistics. What they are, What can go wrong, and what to do about it. A description of SQL Server's distribution statistics, and what can go wrong. In a perfect world, we should just be able to write queries and leave the RDBMS to decide the perfect strategy to get the data. Until then we have to understand the Query Optimizer and the way it uses distribution statistics. SQL Server Statistics assist the query optimiser to calculate the best way of running the query. Holger describes every common way that things can go wrong with statistics, and how to put matters right