Applies ToSQL Server 2008 Service Pack 3 SQL Server 2008 Developer SQL Server 2008 Enterprise SQL Server 2008 Standard SQL Server 2014 Developer - duplicate (do not use) SQL Server 2014 Enterprise - duplicate (do not use) SQL Server 2014 Standard - duplicate (do not use) SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 2 SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard SQL Server 2012 Developer SQL Server 2012 Enterprise SQL Server 2012 Standard

Symptoms

Assume that you have a table that contains a large object (LOB) column in Microsoft SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2012, or SQL Server 2014. When you update the LOB column with smaller size of LOB data and try to reclaim the unused space by using the following methods:

  • DBCC SHRINKDATABASE / DBCC SHRINKFILE

  • ALTER INDEX REORGANIZE WITH (LOB_COMPACTION = ON)

In this situation, the unused space cannot be reclaimed.

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Workaround

To work around this issue, use the following workarounds:

  • Export all the rows to a new table and move the rows back. This reorganizes the LOB data and release the unused space.

  • Use DBCC SHRINKFILE with EMPTYFILE option to move all the data to a newly added data file and then remove old data file. This reorganizes the LOB data there by releasing the unused space.

More Information

The following example shows you the unused space by using TSQL command sp_spaceused 'table_name' before and after you update the LOB column with smaller size of LOB data:Before you update:

name

rows

reserved

data

index_size

unused

table_name

1000

261072 KB

261056 KB

16 KB

0 KB

After you update:

name

rows

reserved

data

index_size

unused

table_name

1000

261072 KB

199672 KB

16 KB

61384 KB

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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