Index: schema_design.xml =================================================================== --- schema_design.xml (revision 1551788) +++ schema_design.xml (working copy) @@ -358,10 +358,9 @@ Keeping Deleted Cells - ColumnFamilies can optionally keep deleted cells. That means deleted cells can still be retrieved with - Get or - Scan operations, - as long these operations have a time range specified that ends before the timestamp of any delete that would affect the cells. + By default delete markers extends back to the beginning of time. That means that Get or + Scan operations will not see a deleted cell (row or column), even when they indicate a timerange before the delete marker. + ColumnFamilies can optionally keep deleted cells. That means deleted cells can still be retrieved, as long these operations have a time range specified that ends before the timestamp of any delete that would affect the cells. This allows for point in time queries even in the presence of deletes.