What is the best way to paginate results in SQL Server

Question

What is the best way (performance wise) to paginate results in SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008, 2012 if you also want to get the total number of results (before paginating)?

Answer 1

create PROCEDURE SP_Company_List (@pagesize int = -1 ,@pageindex int= 0   ) > AS BEGIN  SET NOCOUNT ON;


    select  Id , NameEn     from Company  ORDER by Id ASC  
OFFSET (@pageindex-1 )* @pagesize   ROWS FETCH NEXt @pagesize ROWS ONLY END  GO

---

DECLARE   @return_value int

EXEC  @return_value = [dbo].[SP_Company_List]         @pagesize = 1 ,         > @pageindex = 2

SELECT    'Return Value' = @return_value

GO

Answer 2

This is a duplicate of the 2012 old SO question: efficient way to implement paging

FROM [TableX] ORDER BY [FieldX] OFFSET 500 ROWS FETCH NEXT 100 ROWS ONLY

Here the topic is discussed in greater details, and with alternate approaches.

Answer 3

Getting the total number of results and paginating are two different operations. For the sake of this example, let's assume that the query you're dealing with is

SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE OrderDate >= '1980-01-01' ORDER BY OrderDate

In this case, you would determine the total number of results using:

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Orders WHERE OrderDate >= '1980-01-01'

...which may seem inefficient, but is actually pretty performant, assuming all indexes etc. are properly set up.

Next, to get actual results back in a paged fashion, the following query would be most efficient:

SELECT  *
FROM    ( SELECT    ROW_NUMBER() OVER ( ORDER BY OrderDate ) AS RowNum, *
          FROM      Orders
          WHERE     OrderDate >= '1980-01-01'
        ) AS RowConstrainedResult
WHERE   RowNum >= 1
    AND RowNum < 20
ORDER BY RowNum

This will return rows 1-19 of the original query. The cool thing here, especially for web apps, is that you don't have to keep any state, except the row numbers to be returned.

Answer 4

   CREATE view vw_sppb_part_listsource as 
    select row_number() over (partition by sppb_part.init_id order by sppb_part.sppb_part_id asc ) as idx, * from (
      select 
          part.SPPB_PART_ID
          , 0 as is_rev
          , part.part_number 
          , part.init_id 
      from t_sppb_init_part part 
      left join t_sppb_init_partrev prev on ( part.SPPB_PART_ID = prev.SPPB_PART_ID )
      where prev.SPPB_PART_ID is null 
      union 
      select 
          part.SPPB_PART_ID
          , 1 as is_rev
          , prev.part_number 
          , part.init_id 
      from t_sppb_init_part part 
      inner join t_sppb_init_partrev prev on ( part.SPPB_PART_ID = prev.SPPB_PART_ID )
    ) sppb_part

will restart idx when it comes to different init_id

Answer 5

Well I have used the following sample query in my SQL 2000 database, it works well for SQL 2005 too. The power it gives you is dynamically order by using multiple columns. I tell you ... this is powerful :)

    ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[RE_ListingReports_SelectSummary] 

@CompanyID  int,
@pageNumber     int,
@pageSize   int, 
@sort       varchar(200)
AS

DECLARE @sql nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strPageSize nvarchar(20)
DECLARE @strSkippedRows nvarchar(20)
DECLARE @strFields nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strFilter nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @sortBy nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strFrom nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strID nvarchar(100)

If(@pageNumber < 0)
  SET @pageNumber = 1
SET @strPageSize = CAST(@pageSize AS varchar(20)) 
SET @strSkippedRows = CAST(((@pageNumber - 1) * @pageSize) AS varchar(20))-- For    example if pageNumber is 5  pageSize is 10, then SkippedRows = 40.
SET @strID = 'ListingDbID'
SET @strFields = 'ListingDbID,
ListingID,  
[ExtraRoom]
'
SET @strFrom = ' vwListingSummary '

SET @strFilter = ' WHERE
        CompanyID = ' + CAST(@CompanyID As varchar(20)) 
End
SET @sortBy = ''
if(len(ltrim(rtrim(@sort))) > 0)
SET @sortBy = ' Order By ' + @sort

-- Total Rows Count

SET @sql =  'SELECT Count(' + @strID + ')  FROM ' + @strFROM + @strFilter
EXEC sp_executesql @sql

--// This technique is used in a Single Table pagination
SET @sql = 'SELECT ' + @strFields + ' FROM ' + @strFROM +
    ' WHERE ' + @strID +  ' IN ' + 
   '  (SELECT TOP ' + @strPageSize + ' ' + @strID + ' FROM ' + @strFROM + @strFilter + 
             ' AND  ' + @strID + ' NOT IN ' + '
          (SELECT TOP ' + @strSkippedRows + ' ' + @strID + ' FROM ' + @strFROM + @strFilter + @SortBy + ') ' 
   + @SortBy + ') ' + @SortBy
Print @sql 
EXEC sp_executesql @sql

The best part is sp_executesql caches later calls, provided you pass same parameters i.e generate same sql text.

Answer 6

These are my solutions for paging the result of query in SQL server side. these approaches are different between SQL Server 2008 and 2012. Also, I have added the concept of filtering and order by with one column. It is very efficient when you are paging and filtering and ordering in your Gridview.

Before testing, you have to create one sample table and insert some row in this table : (In real world you have to change Where clause considering your table fields and maybe you have some join and subquery in main part of select)

Create Table VLT
(
    ID int IDentity(1,1),
    Name nvarchar(50),
    Tel Varchar(20)
)
GO


Insert INTO VLT
VALUES
    ('NAME' + Convert(varchar(10),@@identity),'FAMIL' + Convert(varchar(10),@@identity))
GO 500000

In all of these sample, I want to query 200 rows per page and I am fetching the row for page number 1200.

In SQL server 2008, you can use the CTE concept. Because of that, I have written two type of query for SQL server 2008+

-- SQL Server 2008+

DECLARE @PageNumber Int = 1200
DECLARE @PageSize INT = 200
DECLARE @SortByField int = 1 --The field used for sort by
DECLARE @SortOrder nvarchar(255) = 'ASC' --ASC or DESC
DECLARE @FilterType nvarchar(255) = 'None' --The filter type, as defined on the client side (None/Contain/NotContain/Match/NotMatch/True/False/)
DECLARE @FilterValue nvarchar(255) = '' --The value the user gave for the filter
DECLARE @FilterColumn int = 1 --The column to wich the filter is applied, represents the column number like when we send the information.

SELECT 
  Data.ID,
  Data.Name,
  Data.Tel
FROM
  (  
    SELECT 
      ROW_NUMBER() 
        OVER( ORDER BY 
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END DESC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC
         ) AS RowNum
      ,*  
    FROM VLT 
    WHERE
      ( -- We apply the filter logic here
        CASE
          WHEN @FilterType = 'None' THEN 1

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID <> @FilterValue THEN 1               

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name <> @FilterValue THEN 1         

         -- Tel column filter   
         WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel <> @FilterValue THEN 1    

        END
      ) = 1   
  ) AS Data
WHERE Data.RowNum > @PageSize * (@PageNumber - 1)
  AND Data.RowNum <= @PageSize * @PageNumber
ORDER BY Data.RowNum

GO

And second solution with CTE in SQL server 2008+

DECLARE @PageNumber Int = 1200
DECLARE @PageSize INT = 200
DECLARE @SortByField int = 1 --The field used for sort by
DECLARE @SortOrder nvarchar(255) = 'ASC' --ASC or DESC
DECLARE @FilterType nvarchar(255) = 'None' --The filter type, as defined on the client side (None/Contain/NotContain/Match/NotMatch/True/False/)
DECLARE @FilterValue nvarchar(255) = '' --The value the user gave for the filter
DECLARE @FilterColumn int = 1 --The column to wich the filter is applied, represents the column number like when we send the information.

;WITH
  Data_CTE
  AS
  (  
    SELECT 
      ROW_NUMBER() 
        OVER( ORDER BY 
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END DESC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC
         ) AS RowNum
      ,*  
    FROM VLT
    WHERE
      ( -- We apply the filter logic here
        CASE
          WHEN @FilterType = 'None' THEN 1

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID <> @FilterValue THEN 1               

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name <> @FilterValue THEN 1         

         -- Tel column filter   
         WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel <> @FilterValue THEN 1    

        END
      ) = 1     
  )

SELECT 
  Data.ID,
  Data.Name,
  Data.Tel
FROM Data_CTE AS Data
WHERE Data.RowNum > @PageSize * (@PageNumber - 1)
  AND Data.RowNum <= @PageSize * @PageNumber
ORDER BY Data.RowNum

-- SQL Server 2012+

DECLARE @PageNumber Int = 1200
DECLARE @PageSize INT = 200
DECLARE @SortByField int = 1 --The field used for sort by
DECLARE @SortOrder nvarchar(255) = 'ASC' --ASC or DESC
DECLARE @FilterType nvarchar(255) = 'None' --The filter type, as defined on the client side (None/Contain/NotContain/Match/NotMatch/True/False/)
DECLARE @FilterValue nvarchar(255) = '' --The value the user gave for the filter
DECLARE @FilterColumn int = 1 --The column to wich the filter is applied, represents the column number like when we send the information.

;WITH
  Data_CTE
  AS
  (  
    SELECT 
      *  
    FROM VLT
    WHERE
      ( -- We apply the filter logic here
        CASE
          WHEN @FilterType = 'None' THEN 1

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID <> @FilterValue THEN 1               

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name <> @FilterValue THEN 1         

         -- Tel column filter   
         WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel <> @FilterValue THEN 1    

        END
      ) = 1         
  )

SELECT 
  Data.ID,
  Data.Name,
  Data.Tel
FROM Data_CTE AS Data
ORDER BY 
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
        THEN Data.ID END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
        THEN Data.ID END DESC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
        THEN Data.Name END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
        THEN Data.Name END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
        THEN Data.Tel END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
        THEN Data.Tel END ASC
OFFSET @PageSize * (@PageNumber - 1) ROWS FETCH NEXT @PageSize ROWS ONLY;