HELP INDEX Usage Restriction
HELP INDEX is considered deprecated. Although HELP INDEX is still supported for the current database release, Teradata recommends that you instead use the DBC.IndicesV[X] views. For information, see X Views .
The system does not return the Dictionary Name, SQL Name and Uescape attributes, which are returned for other HELP statements.
HELP INDEX and Non-Updatable Views
You cannot run a HELP INDEX request against a non-updatable view.
HELP INDEX and Partitioned Primary Indexes
The report for a table with a partitioned primary index is identical to the report produced for a table with a nonpartitioned primary index. No information about the partitioning expression or partitioning columns is provided. SHOW TABLE reports the partitioning expression for the primary index (see SHOW object Usage Notes).
HELP INDEX and Unindexed Tables
If you submit a HELP INDEX request for an unindexed table, the system returns a message explaining that there is no help information to be returned.
For example, suppose you define the following table.
CREATE TABLE t1 ( a INTEGER b INTEGER) NO PRIMARY INDEX;
You then submit the following HELP INDEX request on t1.
HELP INDEX t1;
The system returns the following message.
*** Empty HELP information returned.
HELP INDEX and NoPI Tables, Column-Partitioned Tables, and Column-Partitioned Join Indexes
A table or join index with column partitioning cannot have a primary index, so Vantage does not return a row for a primary index for a NoPI table, a column-partitioned table, or a column-partitioned join index.
Therefore, a HELP INDEX request cannot be used to determine whether a table or join index is column partitioned.
HELP INDEX and Join and Covering Indexes
HELP INDEX does not report information about join indexes.
HELP INDEX reports on the primary index defined for the join index, and any secondary indexes defined on the join index.
HELP INDEX does not report the ordering columns for a covering index or value-ordered join index. SHOW TABLE reports these columns (see SHOW object Usage Notes).