---
title: "Index Columns Dialog Box (Visual Database Tools) | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "06/13/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
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ms.technology: ssms
ms.topic: conceptual
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  - "vdt.dlgbox.indexcolumns"
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author: stevestein
ms.author: sstein
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---
# Index Columns Dialog Box (Visual Database Tools)
  Use this dialog box to select the columns for an index and set their sort orders. An index can use one or more columns, and each column can be sorted either in ascending or descending order. To access this dialog box, in the **Indexes/Keys** dialog, click the ellipsis button for the **Columns** row in the **General** section.  
  
## Options  
 **Column Name**  
 Choose the columns that participate in this index. Select **\<None>** to remove that column from the index..  
  
 **Sort Order**  
 Select a sort order for the specified column. Available options are **Ascending** or **Descending**.  
  
## See Also  
 [Create Clustered Indexes](../../relational-databases/indexes/create-clustered-indexes.md)   
 [Create Nonclustered Indexes](../../relational-databases/indexes/create-nonclustered-indexes.md)   
 [Indexes and Keys Dialog Box &#40;Visual Database Tools&#41;](visual-database-tools.md)