SQL Server - creating nonclustered Index on specific partitions

Question

One of the biggest benefits of table partitioning is that, "it is possible to rebuild an index on specific partition".

Imagine there is a partitioned table (has 12 partitions for now), which has clustered and a few non-clustered indices, all partition aligned.

I want to add a new nonclustered index to table, which does not have to be built for old partitions. I need this index for only the last 3 partitions.

So, how can I create a new nonclustered index for last 3 partitions of 12 partitioned table?

Answer 1

That is not possible. It would create problems for parameterized queries because the query planner would never statically know that the index can be used (except if there was a constant-expression predicate).

You can create a filtered index with `where partitionKey >= startOfSomePartition'. Your queries have to include this predicate statically, though.

You might try a view over two partitioned tables which have different schema. That's not very convenient to develop though.