Ever wondered if you could determine how the SQL Statements will be executed?

Well, now you can in two ways:

1. Getting this information whilst not running any queries with SET SHOWPLAN_XML
2. Getting this information whilst running all queries with SET STATISTICS XML

Here is a small example of each:

-- Gets Estimated Execution Plan Without Executing the Query(ies)SET SHOWPLAN_XML ONGOSELECT * FROM TableName WHERE Field = ValueGOSet SHOWPLAN_XML OFFGO-- Get Actual Execution PlanSET STATISTICS XML ONGOSELECT * FROM TableName WHERE Field = ValueSET STATISTICS XML OFFGO

The details will be returned in the form of an XML file containing all the information such as memory usage, etc.