Column priority in table definition?

I recently heard that when you create a table you should order the columns in the table in the following order to increase database efficiency. The order should be something like PK, mandatory fixed length, mandatory variable length, optional fixed length, optional variable length. PK columns should not be updated so they get to go to the head of the line. Fixed length, and mandatory columns get next priority because as they get updated they have the least effect on expanding and shrinking the row in which the data is written, so writing and future reads take less time. I really prefer to see columns logically grouped myself. Is the increase in efficiency enough to warrant this?

Douglas Scott Received on Fri Apr 21 2000 - 00:00:00 CDT