1. How Does it Work? If I have tables with the identical data structure that use the same partition scheme, I can move data using partition switching.
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Contains Data
Empty Partition

2. How Does it Work? I can load and modify data in a staging table…
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Contains Data
Empty Partition

3. How Does it Work? …issue a switch command…
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ALTER TABLE [Table_Staging]
SWITCH PARTITION 7 to [Table] PARTITION 7;
Contains Data
Empty Partition

4. How Does it Work? …and the data will be ‘moved’ instantly.
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Contains Data
Empty Partition

5. How Does it Work. I can only switch data into an empty partition
How Does it Work? I can only switch data into an empty partition. If I stage data that I want to replace existing data with, I need to make room.
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Contains Data
Empty Partition

6. How Does it Work? I can switch data out of my primary table…
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ALTER TABLE [Table]
SWITCH PARTITION 1 to [Table_Delete] PARTITION 1;
SWITCH PARTITION 2 to [Table_Delete] PARTITION 2;
Contains Data
Empty Partition

7. How Does it Work? …switch the data from staging to my primary table…
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ALTER TABLE [Table_Staging]
SWITCH PARTITION 1 to [Table] PARTITION 1;
SWITCH PARTITION 2 to [Table] PARTITION 2;
Contains Data
Empty Partition

8. How Does it Work? …and then truncate Table_Delete…
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
TRUNCATE TABLE Table_Delete;
Contains Data
Empty Partition

9. How Does it Work? …done.
Table_Staging 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Table_Delete 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Contains Data
Empty Partition