If you specify the no-split option, the system stores one row of actual variable-length character string data in one page, even if the data length is 256 bytes or greater. The following figure shows the data storage method used when the no-split option is specified.

Figure 12-22 Data storage method used when the no-split option is specified

Explanation:

An entire row of data is stored in the same page. Therefore, the data storage efficiency is better than when the no-split option is not specified.

To specify the no-split option, specify the NO SPLIT option in the ALTER TABLE, CREATE TABLE, or CREATE TYPE SQL definition statement.

• If the total length of a row of data exceeds the page length, data is split (one row of data is stored in multiple pages) even when the no-split option is specified.
• If you specify the no-split option when the actual variable-length character string data is 255 bytes or less, the column data becomes longer by one byte than when the no-split option is not specified.
• If the no-split option is specified, variable-length character columns will not be split even if the actual data length exceeds 256 bytes. In such a case, a page will be able to store fewer rows than if the no-split option were not specified. For this reason, if a retrieval does not collect column data from variable-length character columns for which an index scan determined the no-split option was appropriate, more pages may be accessed than if the no-split option were specified, and retrieval performance may be deteriorate. However, there is no effect when key scans and table scans are performed.