High performance index creation

Abstract

High performance index creation using parallel query plans with repartitioning scan and vector-based repartitioning scan is described. An example method includes extracting index key columns from data rows of the database table to build a set of index rows, wherein the index on the database table is defined by a plurality of index key columns including a first index key column and a second index key column. Partition boundary values are generated to divide up the index rows into range-partitioned sets, and the index rows are sorted based on values of the index key columns. A repartitioning scan, including a SARG-based or a vector-based partitioning scan is performed on the index rows, using a plurality of worker threads executing in parallel to build sub-indexes. Subsequently, each range-partitioned set of index rows are assigned to a worker thread in the plurality of worker threads. Accordingly, the sub-indexes generated from the plurality of work threads are merged to build the index for the database table.