Indexing ?

I have a simple table that includes an ID and 8 user-defined data fields. Th
e
fields are nvarchar(255) and the application allows the user to store any
data they like in them. The application also allows searching on any
combination of up to 5 of the fields, with an AND or OR logical combination.
The query returns the result set unordered.
Does anyone have any thoughts on an indexing scheme for this situation? I'm
not quite sure what is best given that the user may search on any combinatio
n
of fields. Some obvious thoughts are:
1. An separate index on each column.
2. A single index covering all columns.
3. A separate index on each of the 8 choose 5 combinations of columns
(whoah!).
Any thoughts?Although I do not condone this, creating an index on each of the columns
would allow SQL Server to use Index Joining / Intersection to perform the
search. Creating an Index on all the columns would only benefit the
statements that search on the columns in the order of the index.
"Ken" wrote:

> I have a simple table that includes an ID and 8 user-defined data fields.
The
> fields are nvarchar(255) and the application allows the user to store any
> data they like in them. The application also allows searching on any
> combination of up to 5 of the fields, with an AND or OR logical combinatio
n.
> The query returns the result set unordered.
> Does anyone have any thoughts on an indexing scheme for this situation? I'
m
> not quite sure what is best given that the user may search on any combinat
ion
> of fields. Some obvious thoughts are:
> 1. An separate index on each column.
> 2. A single index covering all columns.
> 3. A separate index on each of the 8 choose 5 combinations of columns
> (whoah!).
> Any thoughts?
>