title: How to remove unused space from SQL Server table?
body: <p>I've got a SQL Server table that had lots of data in a <code>nvarchar(max)</code> column. I set that columns value to all nulls so now the table should not take up much space. How can I reclaim that space?</p>
  
  <p>I've tried <code>DBCC SHRINKDATABASE</code> and I've also tried backing up and restoring the database but the space seems not to be recovered.  If I drop the table and recreate it with an insert/select type thing the space is recovered.</p>
  
  <p>thanks</p>