This option appears in the SHOWPLAN output for a query that includes a UNION ALL. When a query references a view or a derived table that contains a UNION ALL operator, the UNION ALL step separates the plan for the left side of the UNION ALL from the plan for right side of the UNION ALL. The plan for the right side is also indented to further isolate it from the plan for the left side.
Assume the following view:
CREATE VIEW v2 AS SELECT * FROM mytable UNION ALL SELECT * FROM mytable2
The following example demonstrates the SHOWPLAN output for a query that involves view v2 containing a UNION ALL operator.
Query: SELECT * FROM v2
SHOWPLAN: STEP 1
The type of query is SELECT
FROM TABLE
mytable
Nested iteration
Table Scan
UNION ALL
FROM TABLE
mytable2
Nested iteration
Table Scan