Accessing SQL Server Query Execution Plans: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding query execution plans is crucial for optimizing SQL Server performance. This guide outlines several methods to retrieve these plans, offering valuable insights into how your queries are processed.

Method 1: Leveraging SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

1. In SSMS, navigate to the "Query" menu and select "Include Actual Execution Plan."
2. Execute your query.
3. A new "Execution Plan" tab will appear, detailing the execution plan for each statement.
4. Right-click within the execution plan and select "Save As" to store the plan as an XML file for detailed analysis.

Method 2: Utilizing SHOWPLAN Options

Before running your query, execute one of these commands to configure the connection:

• SET SHOWPLAN_TEXT ON
• SET SHOWPLAN_ALL ON
• SET SHOWPLAN_XML ON
• SET STATISTICS PROFILE ON
• SET STATISTICS XML ON

The query's results will then include the execution plan in the chosen format.

Method 3: Employing SQL Server Profiler

1. Set up a trace in SQL Server Profiler, ensuring the "Showplan XML" event is enabled.
2. Run the query whose performance you want to analyze.
3. Retrieve the plan XML from the trace results and save it as a file. This plan mirrors the "Include Actual Execution Plan" method in SSMS.

Method 4: Examining the Query Cache

Use the following SQL Server Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) to access cached query plans:

• sys.dm_exec_cached_plans
• sys.dm_exec_sql_text

These DMVs allow you to list cached plans and their corresponding SQL text. Extract the plan XML for the specific query you're interested in and save it for later review.

Important Considerations:

• Always analyze plans from the database experiencing performance bottlenecks.
• Encrypted stored procedures prevent execution plan capture.
• "Actual" execution plans, unlike "estimated" plans, offer more comprehensive information, including runtime statistics.