diff --git a/asterix-runtime/pom.xml b/asterix-runtime/pom.xml
index e3b246a..71dbae9 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-runtime/pom.xml
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
-<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
+	xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
 	<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 	<parent>
 		<artifactId>asterix</artifactId>
 		<groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
 		<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
 	</parent>
-	<groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
 	<artifactId>asterix-runtime</artifactId>
-	<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
 
 
 	<build>
@@ -17,27 +16,104 @@
 				<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
 				<version>2.0.2</version>
 				<configuration>
-					<source>1.6</source>
-					<target>1.6</target>
+					<source>1.7</source>
+					<target>1.7</target>
+					<fork>true</fork>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
-			<plugin>
-				<groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-				<artifactId>javacc-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-				<version>2.6</version>
-				<executions>
-					<execution>
-						<id>javacc</id>
-						<goals>
-							<goal>javacc</goal>
-						</goals>
-						<configuration>
-							<isStatic>false</isStatic>
-						</configuration>
-					</execution>
-				</executions>
-			</plugin>
-		</plugins>
+	      	<plugin>
+	        	<groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
+	        	<artifactId>lexer-generator-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+	        	<version>0.1</version>
+	        	<configuration>
+	        	  	<grammarFile>src/main/resources/adm.grammar</grammarFile>
+	        	  	<outputDir>${project.build.directory}/generated-sources/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/adm</outputDir>
+	        	</configuration>
+	        	<executions>
+		          	<execution>
+		          		<id>generate-lexer</id>
+            			<phase>generate-sources</phase>
+			            <goals>
+	              			<goal>generate-lexer</goal>
+	            		</goals>
+	          		</execution>
+	        	</executions>
+	      	</plugin>
+	      	 <plugin>
+			    <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+			    <artifactId>build-helper-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+			    <executions>
+			        <execution>
+			            <id>add-source</id>
+			            <phase>generate-sources</phase>
+			            <goals>
+			                <goal>add-source</goal>
+			            </goals>
+			            <configuration>
+			                <sources>
+			                    <source>${project.build.directory}/generated-sources/</source>
+			                </sources>
+			            </configuration>
+			        </execution>
+			    </executions>
+ 			</plugin>
+	    </plugins>
+		<pluginManagement>
+			<plugins>
+				<!--This plugin's configuration is used to store Eclipse m2e settings only. It has no influence on the Maven build itself.-->
+				<plugin>
+					<groupId>org.eclipse.m2e</groupId>
+					<artifactId>lifecycle-mapping</artifactId>
+					<version>1.0.0</version>
+					<configuration>
+						<lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+							<pluginExecutions>
+								<pluginExecution>
+									<pluginExecutionFilter>
+										<groupId>
+											edu.uci.ics.asterix
+										</groupId>
+										<artifactId>
+											lexer-generator-maven-plugin
+										</artifactId>
+										<versionRange>
+											[0.1,)
+										</versionRange>
+										<goals>
+											<goal>generate-lexer</goal>
+										</goals>
+									</pluginExecutionFilter>
+									<action>
+										<execute>
+											<runOnIncremental>false</runOnIncremental>
+										</execute>
+									</action>
+								</pluginExecution>
+								<pluginExecution>
+									<pluginExecutionFilter>
+										<groupId>
+											org.codehaus.mojo
+										</groupId>
+										<artifactId>
+											build-helper-maven-plugin
+										</artifactId>
+										<versionRange>
+											[1.7,)
+										</versionRange>
+										<goals>
+											<goal>add-source</goal>
+										</goals>
+									</pluginExecutionFilter>
+									<action>
+										<ignore></ignore>
+									</action>
+								</pluginExecution>
+							</pluginExecutions>
+						</lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+					</configuration>
+				</plugin>
+			</plugins>
+		</pluginManagement>
 	</build>
 
 	<dependencies>
@@ -55,58 +131,30 @@
 		</dependency>
 		<dependency>
 			<groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>hyracks-storage-am-btree</artifactId>
-			<version>0.2.0</version>
-			<scope>compile</scope>
+			<artifactId>hyracks-storage-am-btree</artifactId>
 		</dependency>
 		<dependency>
-			<groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>hyracks-storage-am-common</artifactId>
-			<version>0.2.0</version>
-			<scope>compile</scope>
-		</dependency>
-		<dependency>
-		        <groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>hyracks-storage-common</artifactId>
-			<version>0.2.0</version>
-			<scope>compile</scope>
-		</dependency>
-		<dependency>
-		        <groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>hyracks-api</artifactId>
-			<version>0.2.0</version>
-			<scope>compile</scope>
-		</dependency>
-		<dependency>
-		        <groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>hyracks-dataflow-common</artifactId>
-			<version>0.2.0</version>
-			<scope>compile</scope>
-		</dependency>
-		<dependency>
-		        <groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>hyracks-dataflow-std</artifactId>
-			<version>0.2.0</version>
-			<scope>compile</scope>
-		</dependency>
-		<dependency>
-		        <groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>asterix-transactions</artifactId>
+			<groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
+			<artifactId>asterix-transactions</artifactId>
 			<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
 			<scope>compile</scope>
 		</dependency>
 		<dependency>
-		        <groupId>org.twitter4j</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>twitter4j-core</artifactId>
-		        <version>2.2.3</version>
+			<groupId>org.twitter4j</groupId>
+			<artifactId>twitter4j-core</artifactId>
+			<version>2.2.3</version>
 		</dependency>
 		<dependency>
-		        <groupId>org.apache.hadoop</groupId>
-		        <artifactId>hadoop-core</artifactId>
-		        <version>0.20.2</version>
-		        <type>jar</type>
-		        <scope>compile</scope>
+			<groupId>org.apache.hadoop</groupId>
+			<artifactId>hadoop-core</artifactId>
+			<version>0.20.2</version>
+			<type>jar</type>
+			<scope>compile</scope>
 		</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+		         <groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
+		         <artifactId>hyracks-api</artifactId>
+	        </dependency>
 	</dependencies>
 
 </project>
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
index 07d8141..09325e4 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionDescriptorTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor;
 
-public abstract class AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor implements IAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public abstract class AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends AbstractFunctionDescriptor  {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
     public FunctionDescriptorTag getFunctionDescriptorTag() {
         return FunctionDescriptorTag.AGGREGATE;
     }
+
+   
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
index 0634868..abde117 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionDescriptorTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor;
 
-public abstract class AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor implements
-        ISerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public abstract class AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends AbstractFunctionDescriptor {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
     @Override
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/SingleFieldFrameTupleReference.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/SingleFieldFrameTupleReference.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0c08fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/base/SingleFieldFrameTupleReference.java
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.comm.IFrameTupleAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SingleFieldFrameTupleReference implements IFrameTupleReference {
+
+    private byte[] fieldData;
+    private int start;
+    private int length;
+    
+    public void reset(byte[] fieldData, int start, int length) {
+        this.fieldData = fieldData;
+        this.start = start;
+        this.length = length;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public int getFieldCount() {
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public byte[] getFieldData(int fIdx) {
+        return fieldData;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int getFieldStart(int fIdx) {
+       return start;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int getFieldLength(int fIdx) {
+       return length;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public IFrameTupleAccessor getFrameTupleAccessor() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int getTupleIndex() {
+        return 0;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateDescriptor.java
index b3a38a0..a24b893 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.collections;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 
 public class ListifyAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "listify", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ListifyAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     private AOrderedListType oltype;
 
@@ -22,11 +27,11 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LISTIFY;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
         return new ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory(args, oltype);
     }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory.java
index e1ccc93..5c928e1 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/collections/ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory.java
@@ -5,44 +5,39 @@
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory implements IAggregateFunctionFactory {
+public class ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory implements ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private IEvaluatorFactory[] args;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args;
     private final AOrderedListType orderedlistType;
 
-    public ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, AOrderedListType type) {
+    public ListifyAggregateFunctionEvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, AOrderedListType type) {
         this.args = args;
         this.orderedlistType = type;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IAggregateFunction() {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunction() {
 
             private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-            private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+            private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
             private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
             private OrderedListBuilder builder = new OrderedListBuilder();
 
             @Override
             public void init() throws AlgebricksException {
-                try {
-                    builder.reset(orderedlistType);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                }
+                builder.reset(orderedlistType);
             }
 
             @Override
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3de05f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.FunctionManagerHolder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionManager;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.std.ScanCollectionDescriptor.ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.evaluators.ColumnAccessEvalFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+public abstract class AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                // The aggregate function will get a SingleFieldFrameTupleReference that points to the result of the ScanCollection.
+                // The list-item will always reside in the first field (column) of the SingleFieldFrameTupleReference.
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] aggFuncArgs = new ICopyEvaluatorFactory[1];
+                aggFuncArgs[0] = new ColumnAccessEvalFactory(0);
+                // Create aggregate function from this scalar version.
+                FunctionIdentifier fid = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.getAggregateFunction(getIdentifier());
+                IFunctionManager mgr = FunctionManagerHolder.getFunctionManager();
+                IFunctionDescriptor fd = mgr.lookupFunction(fid);
+                AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor aggFuncDesc = (AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor) fd;
+                ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory aggFuncFactory = aggFuncDesc.createAggregateFunctionFactory(aggFuncArgs);
+                // Use ScanCollection to iterate over list items.
+                ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory scanCollectionFactory = new ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory(
+                        args[0]);
+                return new GenericScalarAggregateFunction(aggFuncFactory.createAggregateFunction(output),
+                        scanCollectionFactory);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/GenericScalarAggregateFunction.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/GenericScalarAggregateFunction.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..195b391
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/GenericScalarAggregateFunction.java
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.SingleFieldFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * Implements scalar aggregates by iterating over a collection with the ScanCollection unnesting function,
+ * and applying the corresponding ICopyAggregateFunction to each collection-item.
+ */
+public class GenericScalarAggregateFunction implements ICopyEvaluator {
+
+    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage listItemOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private final ICopyAggregateFunction aggFunc;
+    private final ICopyUnnestingFunction scanCollection;
+
+    private final SingleFieldFrameTupleReference itemTuple = new SingleFieldFrameTupleReference();
+
+    public GenericScalarAggregateFunction(ICopyAggregateFunction aggFunc,
+            ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory scanCollectionFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        this.aggFunc = aggFunc;
+        this.scanCollection = scanCollectionFactory.createUnnestingFunction(listItemOut);
+        listItemOut.reset();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        scanCollection.init(tuple);
+        aggFunc.init();
+        while (scanCollection.step()) {
+            itemTuple.reset(listItemOut.getByteArray(), 0, listItemOut.getLength());
+            aggFunc.step(itemTuple);
+            listItemOut.reset();
+        }
+        aggFunc.finish();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarAvgAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae2a485
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class ScalarAvgAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "avg", 1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ScalarAvgAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarCountAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarCountAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f3baa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarCountAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class ScalarCountAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "count", 1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ScalarCountAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarMaxAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarMaxAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a71eb3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarMaxAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class ScalarMaxAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "max", 1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ScalarMaxAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarMinAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarMinAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4beae60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarMinAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class ScalarMinAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "min", 1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ScalarMinAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarSumAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarSumAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3d9d1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/scalar/ScalarSumAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class ScalarSumAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarAggregateDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "sum", 1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ScalarSumAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
index 86b7052..6917f0b 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
@@ -15,44 +14,50 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "avg-serial", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SERIAL_AVG;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException {
-        final IEvaluatorFactory[] evals = args;
+    public ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createSerializableAggregateFunctionFactory(
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] evals = args;
 
-        return new ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-            public ISerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new ISerializableAggregateFunction() {
+            public ICopySerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunction() {
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = evals[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = evals[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
 
                     private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -83,36 +88,36 @@
                         boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, start + 16);
                         if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
                             ++count;
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
+                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal
+                                    .getByteArray()[0]);
                             switch (typeTag) {
                                 case INT8: {
-                                    byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                    byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                                     sum += val;
                                     break;
                                 }
                                 case INT16: {
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                                     sum += val;
                                     break;
                                 }
                                 case INT32: {
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                                     sum += val;
                                     break;
                                 }
                                 case INT64: {
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                                     sum += val;
                                     break;
                                 }
                                 case FLOAT: {
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                                     sum += val;
                                     break;
                                 }
                                 case DOUBLE: {
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                                     sum += val;
                                     break;
                                 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor.java
index 62e1efc..b232d6d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -3,52 +3,68 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 /**
- * NULLs are also counted.
+ * count(NULL) returns NULL.
  */
 public class SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "count-serial",
-            1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SERIAL_COUNT;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+    public ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createSerializableAggregateFunctionFactory(
+            final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public ISerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopySerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new ISerializableAggregateFunction() {
+                return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunction() {
                     private AMutableInt32 result = new AMutableInt32(-1);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
 
                     @Override
                     public void init(DataOutput state) throws AlgebricksException {
                         try {
+                            state.writeBoolean(false);
                             state.writeInt(0);
                         } catch (IOException e) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
@@ -58,17 +74,32 @@
                     @Override
                     public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple, byte[] state, int start, int len)
                             throws AlgebricksException {
-                        int cnt = BufferSerDeUtil.getInt(state, start);
-                        cnt++;
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeInt(cnt, state, start);
+                        boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, start);
+                        int cnt = BufferSerDeUtil.getInt(state, start + 1);
+                        inputVal.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                .deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+                        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                            metNull = true;
+                        } else {
+                            cnt++;
+                        }
+                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metNull, state, start);
+                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeInt(cnt, state, start + 1);
                     }
 
                     @Override
                     public void finish(byte[] state, int start, int len, DataOutput out) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        int cnt = BufferSerDeUtil.getInt(state, start);
+                        boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, start);
+                        int cnt = BufferSerDeUtil.getInt(state, start + 1);
                         try {
-                            result.setValue(cnt);
-                            int32Serde.serialize(result, out);
+                            if (metNull) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                result.setValue(cnt);
+                                int32Serde.serialize(result, out);
+                            }
                         } catch (IOException e) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
index c046652..f720434 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
@@ -6,8 +21,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARecordSerializerDeserializer;
@@ -17,6 +31,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
@@ -26,49 +43,57 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.AccessibleByteArrayEval;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.ClosedRecordConstructorEval;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "global-avg-serial", 1, true);
-    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
-    private final static byte SER_RECORD_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.RECORD.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SERIAL_GLOBAL_AVG;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException {
-        final IEvaluatorFactory[] evals = args;
+    public ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createSerializableAggregateFunctionFactory(
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] evals = args;
         List<IAType> unionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-        final ARecordType recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
-                new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT64 }, true);
+        ARecordType _recType;
+        try {
+            _recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                    new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT64 }, true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
 
-        return new ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        final ARecordType recType = _recType;
+
+        return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public ISerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopySerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new ISerializableAggregateFunction() {
+                return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunction() {
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = evals[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = evals[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
                     private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
                     private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
 
@@ -77,8 +102,8 @@
                     private DataOutput sumBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(sumBytes);
                     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream countBytes = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
                     private DataOutput countBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(countBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
                     private ClosedRecordConstructorEval recordEval;
 
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -111,12 +136,25 @@
 
                         inputVal.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        byte[] serBytes = inputVal.getBytes();
-                        if (serBytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
-                            metNull = true;
-                        if (serBytes[0] != SER_RECORD_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("Global-Avg is not defined for values of type "
-                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]));
+                        byte[] serBytes = inputVal.getByteArray();
+                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]);
+                        switch (typeTag) {
+                            case NULL: {
+                                metNull = true;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case SYSTEM_NULL: {
+                                // Ignore and return.
+                                return;
+                            }
+                            case RECORD: {
+                                // Expected.
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            default: {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Global-Avg is not defined for values of type "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]));
+                            }
                         }
                         int offset1 = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getFieldOffsetById(serBytes, 0, 1, true);
                         if (offset1 == 0) // the sum is null
@@ -139,19 +177,15 @@
                         long globalCount = BufferSerDeUtil.getLong(state, start + 8);
                         boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, start + 16);
 
-                        if (globalCount == 0) {
-                            GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("AVG aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                        } else {
-                            try {
-                                if (metNull)
-                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, result);
-                                else {
-                                    aDouble.setValue(globalSum / globalCount);
-                                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, result);
-                                }
-                            } catch (IOException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        try {
+                            if (globalCount == 0 || metNull)
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, result);
+                            else {
+                                aDouble.setValue(globalSum / globalCount);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, result);
                             }
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -163,28 +197,24 @@
                         boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, start + 16);
 
                         if (recordEval == null)
-                            recordEval = new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType,
-                                    new IEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, result);
+                            recordEval = new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType, new ICopyEvaluator[] { evalSum,
+                                    evalCount }, avgBytes, result);
 
-                        if (globalCount == 0) {
-                            GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("AVG aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                        } else {
-                            try {
-                                if (metNull) {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
-                                } else {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    aDouble.setValue(globalSum);
-                                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
-                                }
-                                countBytes.reset();
-                                aInt64.setValue(globalCount);
-                                longSerde.serialize(aInt64, countBytesOutput);
-                                recordEval.evaluate(null);
-                            } catch (IOException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        try {
+                            if (globalCount == 0 || metNull) {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
+                            } else {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                aDouble.setValue(globalSum);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
                             }
+                            countBytes.reset();
+                            aInt64.setValue(globalCount);
+                            longSerde.serialize(aInt64, countBytesOutput);
+                            recordEval.evaluate(null);
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
index 09f68ac..219204b 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
@@ -6,8 +21,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
@@ -20,6 +34,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
@@ -29,46 +46,56 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.AccessibleByteArrayEval;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.ClosedRecordConstructorEval;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "local-avg-serial", 1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SERIAL_LOCAL_AVG;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException {
-        final IEvaluatorFactory[] evals = args;
+    public ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createSerializableAggregateFunctionFactory(
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] evals = args;
         List<IAType> unionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-        final ARecordType recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
-                new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT64 }, true);
+        ARecordType tmpRecType;
+        try {
+            tmpRecType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                    new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT64 }, true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
 
-        return new ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        final ARecordType recType = tmpRecType;
+
+        return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-            public ISerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new ISerializableAggregateFunction() {
+            public ICopySerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunction() {
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = evals[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = evals[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
                     private ClosedRecordConstructorEval recordEval;
 
                     private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
@@ -89,15 +116,15 @@
                     private DataOutput sumBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(sumBytes);
                     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream countBytes = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
                     private DataOutput countBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(countBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
 
                     @Override
                     public void init(DataOutput state) throws AlgebricksException {
                         try {
                             state.writeDouble(0.0);
                             state.writeLong(0);
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
+                            state.writeByte(ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL.serialize());
                         } catch (IOException e) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
@@ -110,87 +137,90 @@
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
                         double sum = BufferSerDeUtil.getDouble(state, start);
                         long count = BufferSerDeUtil.getLong(state, start + 8);
-                        boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, start + 16);
-                        if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
-                            ++count;
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
-                            switch (typeTag) {
-                                case INT8: {
-                                    byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT16: {
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT32: {
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT64: {
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case FLOAT: {
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case DOUBLE: {
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case NULL: {
-                                    metNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                default: {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute AVG for values of type "
-                                            + typeTag);
-                                }
+                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                .deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+                        ATypeTag aggType = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(state[start + 16]);
+                        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL || aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                            aggType = ATypeTag.NULL;
+                            return;
+                        } else if (aggType == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+                            aggType = typeTag;
+                        } else if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL && typeTag != aggType) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException("Unexpected type " + typeTag
+                                    + " in aggregation input stream. Expected type " + aggType + ".");
+                        }
+                        ++count;
+                        switch (typeTag) {
+                            case INT8: {
+                                byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
                             }
-                            inputVal.reset();
+                            case INT16: {
+                                short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case INT32: {
+                                int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case INT64: {
+                                long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case FLOAT: {
+                                float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case DOUBLE: {
+                                double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case NULL: {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            default: {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute AVG for values of type " + typeTag);
+                            }
                         }
                         BufferSerDeUtil.writeDouble(sum, state, start);
                         BufferSerDeUtil.writeLong(count, state, start + 8);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metNull, state, start + 16);
+                        state[start + 16] = aggType.serialize();
                     }
 
                     @Override
                     public void finish(byte[] state, int start, int len, DataOutput result) throws AlgebricksException {
                         double sum = BufferSerDeUtil.getDouble(state, start);
                         long count = BufferSerDeUtil.getLong(state, start + 8);
-                        boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, start + 16);
-                        if (recordEval == null)
-                            recordEval = new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType,
-                                    new IEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, result);
-                        if (count == 0) {
-                            if (GlobalConfig.DEBUG) {
-                                GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.finest("AVG aggregate ran over empty input.");
+                        ATypeTag aggType = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(state[start + 16]);
+                        if (recordEval == null) {
+                            recordEval = new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType, new ICopyEvaluator[] { evalSum,
+                                    evalCount }, avgBytes, result);
+                        }
+                        try {
+                            if (count == 0) {
+                                result.writeByte(ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL.serialize());
+                                return;
                             }
-                        } else {
-                            try {
-                                if (metNull) {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
-                                } else {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    aDouble.setValue(sum);
-                                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
-                                }
-                                countBytes.reset();
-                                aInt64.setValue(count);
-                                int64Serde.serialize(aInt64, countBytesOutput);
-                                recordEval.evaluate(null);
-                            } catch (IOException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                            if (aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
+                            } else {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                aDouble.setValue(sum);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
                             }
+                            countBytes.reset();
+                            aInt64.setValue(count);
+                            int64Serde.serialize(aInt64, countBytesOutput);
+                            recordEval.evaluate(null);
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableLocalSumAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableLocalSumAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6badf0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableLocalSumAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
+
+public class SerializableLocalSumAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "local-sum-serial", 1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SerializableLocalSumAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createSerializableAggregateFunctionFactory(
+            final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopySerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new SerializableSumAggregateFunction(args, true);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor.java
index ed4d728..a26c48a 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,230 +1,39 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
 
 public class SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractSerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "sum-serial", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SERIAL_SUM;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
-            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createSerializableAggregateFunctionFactory(
+            final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;           
 
             @Override
-            public ISerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                return new ISerializableAggregateFunction() {
-
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void init(DataOutput state) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        try {
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
-                            state.writeBoolean(false);
-                            state.writeDouble(0.0);
-                        } catch (IOException e) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple, byte[] state, int start, int len)
-                            throws AlgebricksException {
-                        int pos = start;
-                        boolean metInt8s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metInt16s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metInt32s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metInt64s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metFloats = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metDoubles = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        double sum = BufferSerDeUtil.getDouble(state, pos);
-
-                        inputVal.reset();
-                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
-                            switch (typeTag) {
-                                case INT8: {
-                                    metInt8s = true;
-                                    byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT16: {
-                                    metInt16s = true;
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT32: {
-                                    metInt32s = true;
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT64: {
-                                    metInt64s = true;
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case FLOAT: {
-                                    metFloats = true;
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case DOUBLE: {
-                                    metDoubles = true;
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case NULL: {
-                                    metNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                default: {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute SUM for values of type "
-                                            + typeTag);
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-
-                        pos = start;
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metInt8s, state, pos++);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metInt16s, state, pos++);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metInt32s, state, pos++);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metInt64s, state, pos++);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metFloats, state, pos++);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metDoubles, state, pos++);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeBoolean(metNull, state, pos++);
-                        BufferSerDeUtil.writeDouble(sum, state, pos);
-                    }
-
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    @Override
-                    public void finish(byte[] state, int start, int len, DataOutput out) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        int pos = start;
-                        boolean metInt8s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metInt16s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metInt32s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metInt64s = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metFloats = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metDoubles = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        boolean metNull = BufferSerDeUtil.getBoolean(state, pos++);
-                        double sum = BufferSerDeUtil.getDouble(state, pos);
-                        try {
-                            if (metNull) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            } else if (metDoubles) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                            } else if (metFloats) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue((float) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (metInt64s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue((long) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (metInt32s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue((int) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (metInt16s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue((short) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (metInt8s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-                                aInt8.setValue((byte) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-                            } else {
-                                GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("SUM aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                            }
-
-                        } catch (IOException e) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                        }
-
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finishPartial(byte[] state, int start, int len, DataOutput out)
-                            throws AlgebricksException {
-                        finish(state, start, len, out);
-                    }
-                };
+            public ICopySerializableAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction() throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new SerializableSumAggregateFunction(args, false);
             }
         };
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableSumAggregateFunction.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableSumAggregateFunction.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c027716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/serializable/std/SerializableSumAggregateFunction.java
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopySerializableAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SerializableSumAggregateFunction implements ICopySerializableAggregateFunction {
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval;
+    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+    private final boolean isLocalAgg;
+
+    public SerializableSumAggregateFunction(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, boolean isLocalAgg)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+        this.isLocalAgg = isLocalAgg;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void init(DataOutput state) throws AlgebricksException {
+        try {
+            state.writeByte(ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL.serialize());
+            state.writeDouble(0.0);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple, byte[] state, int start, int len) throws AlgebricksException {
+        ATypeTag aggType = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(state[start]);
+        double sum = BufferSerDeUtil.getDouble(state, start + 1);
+        inputVal.reset();
+        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL || aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+            aggType = ATypeTag.NULL;
+            return;
+        } else if (aggType == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+            aggType = typeTag;
+        } else if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL && typeTag != aggType) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException("Unexpected type " + typeTag
+                    + " in aggregation input stream. Expected type " + aggType + ".");
+        }
+        switch (typeTag) {
+            case INT8: {
+                byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case INT16: {
+                short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case INT32: {
+                int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case INT64: {
+                long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case FLOAT: {
+                float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case DOUBLE: {
+                double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case NULL: {
+                aggType = typeTag;
+                break;
+            }
+            case SYSTEM_NULL: {
+                // For global aggregates simply ignore system null here,
+                // but if all input value are system null, then we should return
+                // null in finish().
+                if (isLocalAgg) {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException("Type SYSTEM_NULL encountered in local aggregate.");
+                }
+                break;
+            }
+            default: {
+                throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute SUM for values of type " + typeTag + ".");
+            }
+        }
+        state[start] = aggType.serialize();
+        BufferSerDeUtil.writeDouble(sum, state, start + 1);
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    @Override
+    public void finish(byte[] state, int start, int len, DataOutput out) throws AlgebricksException {
+        ATypeTag aggType = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(state[start]);
+        double sum = BufferSerDeUtil.getDouble(state, start + 1);
+        try {
+            switch (aggType) {
+                case INT8: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                    aInt8.setValue((byte) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case INT16: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                    aInt16.setValue((short) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case INT32: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    aInt32.setValue((int) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case INT64: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                    aInt64.setValue((long) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case FLOAT: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                    aFloat.setValue((float) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case DOUBLE: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                    aDouble.setValue(sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case NULL: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case SYSTEM_NULL: {
+                    // Empty stream. For local agg return system null. For global agg return null.
+                    if (isLocalAgg) {
+                        out.writeByte(ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL.serialize());
+                    } else {
+                        serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                        serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void finishPartial(byte[] state, int start, int len, DataOutput out) throws AlgebricksException {
+        finish(state, start, len, out);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/AvgAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/AvgAggregateDescriptor.java
index e548fb8..93c7026 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/AvgAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/AvgAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
@@ -7,7 +22,7 @@
 import java.util.List;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
@@ -20,6 +35,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
@@ -29,53 +47,64 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.AccessibleByteArrayEval;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.ClosedRecordConstructorEval;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AvgAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-avg", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AvgAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.AVG;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
         List<IAType> unionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-        final ARecordType recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
-                new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, true);
+        ARecordType tmpRecType;
+        try {
+            tmpRecType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                    new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
 
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        final ARecordType recType = tmpRecType;
+
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
+                return new ICopyAggregateFunction() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
                     private double sum;
                     private int count;
+                    private ATypeTag aggType;
                     private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
                     private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
 
@@ -84,10 +113,10 @@
                     private DataOutput sumBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(sumBytes);
                     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream countBytes = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
                     private DataOutput countBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(countBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
                     private ClosedRecordConstructorEval recordEval = new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType,
-                            new IEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, out);
+                            new ICopyEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, out);
 
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
@@ -98,10 +127,10 @@
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                    private boolean metNull;
 
                     @Override
                     public void init() throws AlgebricksException {
+                        aggType = ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL;
                         sum = 0.0;
                         count = 0;
                     }
@@ -110,69 +139,71 @@
                     public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                         inputVal.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
+                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                .deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+                        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL || aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                            aggType = ATypeTag.NULL;
+                            return;
+                        } else if (aggType == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+                            aggType = typeTag;
+                        } else if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL && typeTag != aggType) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException("Unexpected type " + typeTag
+                                    + " in aggregation input stream. Expected type " + aggType + ".");
+                        }
+                        if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
                             ++count;
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
-                            switch (typeTag) {
-                                case INT8: {
-                                    byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT16: {
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT32: {
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT64: {
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case FLOAT: {
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case DOUBLE: {
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case NULL: {
-                                    metNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                default: {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute AVG for values of type "
-                                            + typeTag);
-                                }
+                        }
+                        switch (typeTag) {
+                            case INT8: {
+                                byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
                             }
-                            inputVal.reset();
+                            case INT16: {
+                                short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case INT32: {
+                                int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case INT64: {
+                                long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case FLOAT: {
+                                float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case DOUBLE: {
+                                double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case NULL: {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            default: {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute AVG for values of type " + typeTag);
+                            }
                         }
                     }
 
                     @Override
                     public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        if (count == 0) {
-                            GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("AVG aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                        } else {
-                            try {
-                                if (metNull)
-                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                                else {
-                                    aDouble.setValue(sum / count);
-                                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                                }
-                            } catch (IOException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        try {
+                            if (count == 0 || aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                aDouble.setValue(sum / count);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
                             }
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -184,7 +215,7 @@
                             }
                         } else {
                             try {
-                                if (metNull) {
+                                if (aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
                                     sumBytes.reset();
                                     nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
                                 } else {
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/CountAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/CountAggregateDescriptor.java
index 39c7910..9c2c995 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/CountAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/CountAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,22 +1,15 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 /**
  * NULLs are also counted.
@@ -24,60 +17,29 @@
 public class CountAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-count", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CountAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.COUNT;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
 
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider) throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                final DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
-
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
-                    private AMutableInt32 result = new AMutableInt32(-1);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                    private int cnt;
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void init() {
-                        cnt = 0;
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        cnt++;
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        try {
-                            result.setValue(cnt);
-                            int32Serde.serialize(result, out);
-                        } catch (IOException e) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        finish();
-                    }
-                };
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider)
+                    throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new CountAggregateFunction(args, provider);
             }
         };
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/CountAggregateFunction.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/CountAggregateFunction.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4d015b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/CountAggregateFunction.java
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * count(NULL) returns NULL.
+ */
+public class CountAggregateFunction implements ICopyAggregateFunction {
+    private AMutableInt32 result = new AMutableInt32(-1);
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval;
+    private boolean metNull;
+    private int cnt;
+    private DataOutput out;
+
+    public CountAggregateFunction(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+        eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+        out = output.getDataOutput();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void init() {
+        cnt = 0;
+        metNull = false;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        inputVal.reset();
+        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+        // Ignore SYSTEM_NULL.
+        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+            metNull = true;
+        } else {
+            cnt++;
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
+        try {
+            if (metNull) {
+                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+            } else {
+                result.setValue(cnt);
+                int32Serde.serialize(result, out);
+            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
+        finish();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
index dee94ec..d262ef4 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
@@ -6,8 +21,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARecordSerializerDeserializer;
@@ -17,6 +31,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
@@ -26,52 +43,61 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.AccessibleByteArrayEval;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.ClosedRecordConstructorEval;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-global-avg",
-            1, true);
-    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
-    private final static byte SER_RECORD_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.RECORD.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.GLOBAL_AVG;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
         List<IAType> unionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-        final ARecordType recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
-                new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+        ARecordType tmpRecType;
+        try {
+            tmpRecType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                    new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
 
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        final ARecordType recType = tmpRecType;
+
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
+                return new ICopyAggregateFunction() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
                     private double globalSum;
                     private int globalCount;
                     private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
@@ -82,10 +108,10 @@
                     private DataOutput sumBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(sumBytes);
                     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream countBytes = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
                     private DataOutput countBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(countBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
                     private ClosedRecordConstructorEval recordEval = new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType,
-                            new IEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, out);
+                            new ICopyEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, out);
 
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
@@ -109,19 +135,41 @@
                     public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                         inputVal.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        byte[] serBytes = inputVal.getBytes();
-                        if (serBytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
-                            metNull = true;
-                        if (serBytes[0] != SER_RECORD_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("Global-Avg is not defined for values of type "
-                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]));
+                        byte[] serBytes = inputVal.getByteArray();
+                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]);
+                        switch (typeTag) {
+                            case NULL: {
+                                metNull = true;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case SYSTEM_NULL: {
+                                // Ignore and return.
+                                return;
+                            }
+                            case RECORD: {
+                                // Expected.
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            default: {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Global-Avg is not defined for values of type "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]));
+                            }
                         }
-                        int offset1 = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getFieldOffsetById(serBytes, 0, 1, false);
+
+                        // The record length helps us determine whether the input record fields are nullable.
+                        int recordLength = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getRecordLength(serBytes, 1);
+                        int nullBitmapSize = 1;
+                        if (recordLength == 29) {
+                            nullBitmapSize = 0;
+                        }
+                        int offset1 = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getFieldOffsetById(serBytes, 0, nullBitmapSize,
+                                false);
                         if (offset1 == 0) // the sum is null
                             metNull = true;
                         else
                             globalSum += ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(serBytes, offset1);
-                        int offset2 = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getFieldOffsetById(serBytes, 1, 1, false);
+                        int offset2 = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getFieldOffsetById(serBytes, 1, nullBitmapSize,
+                                false);
                         if (offset2 != 0) // the count is not null
                             globalCount += AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(serBytes, offset2);
 
@@ -129,43 +177,35 @@
 
                     @Override
                     public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        if (globalCount == 0) {
-                            GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("AVG aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                        } else {
-                            try {
-                                if (metNull)
-                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                                else {
-                                    aDouble.setValue(globalSum / globalCount);
-                                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                                }
-                            } catch (IOException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        try {
+                            if (globalCount == 0 || metNull)
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            else {
+                                aDouble.setValue(globalSum / globalCount);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
                             }
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
 
                     @Override
                     public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        if (globalCount == 0) {
-                            GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("AVG aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                        } else {
-                            try {
-                                if (metNull) {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
-                                } else {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    aDouble.setValue(globalSum);
-                                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
-                                }
-                                countBytes.reset();
-                                aInt32.setValue(globalCount);
-                                intSerde.serialize(aInt32, countBytesOutput);
-                                recordEval.evaluate(null);
-                            } catch (IOException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        try {
+                            if (metNull || globalCount == 0) {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
+                            } else {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                aDouble.setValue(globalSum);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
                             }
+                            countBytes.reset();
+                            aInt32.setValue(globalCount);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aInt32, countBytesOutput);
+                            recordEval.evaluate(null);
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
index 50debf6..5400d78 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
@@ -6,8 +21,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
@@ -20,6 +34,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
@@ -29,52 +46,63 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.AccessibleByteArrayEval;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.ClosedRecordConstructorEval;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-local-avg",
-            1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LOCAL_AVG;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 List<IAType> unionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
                 unionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
                 unionList.add(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                final ARecordType recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
-                        new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+                ARecordType tmpRecType;
+                try {
+                    tmpRecType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                            new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+                } catch (AsterixException e) {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                }
 
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
+                final ARecordType recType = tmpRecType;
+
+                return new ICopyAggregateFunction() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ATypeTag aggType;
                     private double sum;
                     private int count;
 
@@ -83,10 +111,10 @@
                     private DataOutput sumBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(sumBytes);
                     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream countBytes = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
                     private DataOutput countBytesOutput = new DataOutputStream(countBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
-                    private IEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalSum = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), sumBytes);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalCount = new AccessibleByteArrayEval(avgBytes.getDataOutput(), countBytes);
                     private ClosedRecordConstructorEval recordEval = new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType,
-                            new IEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, out);
+                            new ICopyEvaluator[] { evalSum, evalCount }, avgBytes, out);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
@@ -98,90 +126,95 @@
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
                     private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
                     private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private boolean metNull;
 
                     @Override
                     public void init() {
+                        aggType = ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL;
                         sum = 0.0;
                         count = 0;
-                        metNull = false;
                     }
 
                     @Override
                     public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                         inputVal.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
-                            ++count;
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
-                            switch (typeTag) {
-                                case INT8: {
-                                    byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT16: {
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT32: {
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT64: {
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case FLOAT: {
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case DOUBLE: {
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case NULL: {
-                                    metNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                default: {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute LOCAL-AVG for values of type "
-                                            + typeTag);
-                                }
-                            }
-                            inputVal.reset();
+                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                .deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+                        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL || aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                            aggType = ATypeTag.NULL;
+                            return;
+                        } else if (aggType == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+                            aggType = typeTag;
+                        } else if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL && typeTag != aggType) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException("Unexpected type " + typeTag
+                                    + " in aggregation input stream. Expected type " + aggType + ".");
                         }
+                        if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+                            ++count;
+                        }
+                        switch (typeTag) {
+                            case INT8: {
+                                byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case INT16: {
+                                short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case INT32: {
+                                int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case INT64: {
+                                long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case FLOAT: {
+                                float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case DOUBLE: {
+                                double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                sum += val;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            case NULL: {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            default: {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute LOCAL-AVG for values of type "
+                                        + typeTag);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        inputVal.reset();
                     }
 
                     @Override
                     public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        if (count == 0) {
-                            if (GlobalConfig.DEBUG) {
-                                GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.finest("AVG aggregate ran over empty input.");
+                        try {
+                            if (count == 0) {
+                                out.writeByte(ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL.serialize());
+                                return;
                             }
-                        } else {
-                            try {
-                                if (metNull) {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
-                                } else {
-                                    sumBytes.reset();
-                                    aDouble.setValue(sum);
-                                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
-                                }
-                                countBytes.reset();
-                                aInt32.setValue(count);
-                                int32Serde.serialize(aInt32, countBytesOutput);
-                                recordEval.evaluate(null);
-                            } catch (IOException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                            if (aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, sumBytesOutput);
+                            } else {
+                                sumBytes.reset();
+                                aDouble.setValue(sum);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, sumBytesOutput);
                             }
+                            countBytes.reset();
+                            aInt32.setValue(count);
+                            int32Serde.serialize(aInt32, countBytesOutput);
+                            recordEval.evaluate(null);
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -193,5 +226,4 @@
             }
         };
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalMaxAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalMaxAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59287d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalMaxAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+public class LocalMaxAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-local-max",
+            1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new LocalMaxAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+                    throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new MinMaxAggregateFunction(args, provider, false, true);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalMinAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalMinAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca32e2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalMinAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+public class LocalMinAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-local-min",
+            1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new LocalMinAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+                    throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new MinMaxAggregateFunction(args, provider, true, true);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalSumAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalSumAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c133e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/LocalSumAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+public class LocalSumAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-local-sum",
+            1);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new LocalSumAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+                    throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new SumAggregateFunction(args, provider, true);
+            };
+        };
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MaxAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MaxAggregateDescriptor.java
index cf4cb4c..4084b42 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MaxAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MaxAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,206 +1,41 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 public class MaxAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-max", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new MaxAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.MAX;
     }
 
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
-
-                    private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private boolean metInt8s, metInt16s, metInt32s, metInt64s, metFloats, metDoubles, metNull;
-
-                    private short shortVal = Short.MIN_VALUE;
-                    private int intVal = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
-                    private long longVal = Long.MIN_VALUE;
-                    private float floatVal = Float.MIN_VALUE;
-                    private double doubleVal = Double.MIN_VALUE;
-
-                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void init() {
-                        shortVal = Short.MIN_VALUE;
-                        intVal = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
-                        longVal = Long.MIN_VALUE;
-                        floatVal = Float.MIN_VALUE;
-                        doubleVal = Double.MIN_VALUE;
-
-                        metInt8s = false;
-                        metInt16s = false;
-                        metInt32s = false;
-                        metInt64s = false;
-                        metFloats = false;
-                        metDoubles = false;
-                        metNull = false;
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        inputVal.reset();
-                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
-                            switch (typeTag) {
-                                case INT8: {
-                                    metInt8s = true;
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("no implementation for int8's comparator");
-                                }
-                                case INT16: {
-                                    metInt16s = true;
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val > shortVal)
-                                        shortVal = val;
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("no implementation for int16's comparator");
-                                }
-                                case INT32: {
-                                    metInt32s = true;
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val > intVal)
-                                        intVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT64: {
-                                    metInt64s = true;
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val > longVal)
-                                        longVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case FLOAT: {
-                                    metFloats = true;
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val > floatVal)
-                                        floatVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case DOUBLE: {
-                                    metDoubles = true;
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val > doubleVal)
-                                        doubleVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case NULL: {
-                                    metNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                default: {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute SUM for values of type "
-                                            + typeTag);
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        try {
-                            if (metNull) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            } else if (metDoubles) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(doubleVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                            } else if (metFloats) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue(floatVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (metInt64s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue(longVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (metInt32s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue(intVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (metInt16s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue(shortVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (metInt8s) {
-                                throw new NotImplementedException("no implementation for int8's comparator");
-                            } else {
-                                GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("SUM aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                            }
-                        } catch (IOException e) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                        }
-
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        finish();
-                    }
-                };
+                return new MinMaxAggregateFunction(args, provider, false, false);
             }
         };
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MinAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MinAggregateDescriptor.java
index 8ef204b..001386d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MinAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MinAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,206 +1,41 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 public class MinAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-min", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new MinAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.MIN;
     }
 
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
-
-                    private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private boolean metInt8s, metInt16s, metInt32s, metInt64s, metFloats, metDoubles, metNull;
-
-                    private short shortVal = Short.MAX_VALUE;
-                    private int intVal = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
-                    private long longVal = Long.MAX_VALUE;
-                    private float floatVal = Float.MAX_VALUE;
-                    private double doubleVal = Double.MAX_VALUE;
-
-                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void init() {
-                        shortVal = Short.MAX_VALUE;
-                        intVal = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
-                        longVal = Long.MAX_VALUE;
-                        floatVal = Float.MAX_VALUE;
-                        doubleVal = Double.MAX_VALUE;
-
-                        metInt8s = false;
-                        metInt16s = false;
-                        metInt32s = false;
-                        metInt64s = false;
-                        metFloats = false;
-                        metDoubles = false;
-                        metNull = false;
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        inputVal.reset();
-                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
-                            switch (typeTag) {
-                                case INT8: {
-                                    metInt8s = true;
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("no implementation for int8's comparator");
-                                }
-                                case INT16: {
-                                    metInt16s = true;
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val < shortVal)
-                                        shortVal = val;
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("no implementation for int16's comparator");
-                                }
-                                case INT32: {
-                                    metInt32s = true;
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val < intVal)
-                                        intVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT64: {
-                                    metInt64s = true;
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val < longVal)
-                                        longVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case FLOAT: {
-                                    metFloats = true;
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val < floatVal)
-                                        floatVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case DOUBLE: {
-                                    metDoubles = true;
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    if (val < doubleVal)
-                                        doubleVal = val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case NULL: {
-                                    metNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                default: {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute SUM for values of type "
-                                            + typeTag);
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        try {
-                            if (metNull) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            } else if (metDoubles) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(doubleVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                            } else if (metFloats) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue(floatVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (metInt64s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue(longVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (metInt32s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue(intVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (metInt16s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue(shortVal);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (metInt8s) {
-                                throw new NotImplementedException("no implementation for int8's comparator");
-                            } else {
-                                GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("SUM aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                            }
-                        } catch (IOException e) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                        }
-
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        finish();
-                    }
-                };
+                return new MinMaxAggregateFunction(args, provider, true, false);
             }
         };
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MinMaxAggregateFunction.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MinMaxAggregateFunction.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc3508f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/MinMaxAggregateFunction.java
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class MinMaxAggregateFunction implements ICopyAggregateFunction {
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private DataOutput out;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval;
+    private ATypeTag aggType;
+    private IBinaryComparator cmp;
+    private final boolean isMin;
+    private final boolean isLocalAgg;
+
+    public MinMaxAggregateFunction(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider provider, boolean isMin,
+            boolean isLocalAgg) throws AlgebricksException {
+        out = provider.getDataOutput();
+        eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+        this.isMin = isMin;
+        this.isLocalAgg = isLocalAgg;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void init() {
+        aggType = ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL;
+        outputVal.reset();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        inputVal.reset();
+        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL || aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+            aggType = ATypeTag.NULL;
+            return;
+        }
+        if (aggType == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+            if (typeTag == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+                // Ignore.
+                return;
+            }
+            // First value encountered. Set type, comparator, and initial value.
+            aggType = typeTag;
+            // Set comparator.
+            IBinaryComparatorFactory cmpFactory = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE
+                    .getBinaryComparatorFactory(aggType, isMin);
+            cmp = cmpFactory.createBinaryComparator();
+            // Initialize min value.
+            outputVal.assign(inputVal);
+        } else if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL && typeTag != aggType) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException("Unexpected type " + typeTag + " in aggregation input stream. Expected type "
+                    + aggType + ".");
+        }
+        if (cmp.compare(inputVal.getByteArray(), inputVal.getStartOffset(), inputVal.getLength(),
+                outputVal.getByteArray(), outputVal.getStartOffset(), outputVal.getLength()) < 0) {
+            outputVal.assign(inputVal);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
+        try {
+            switch (aggType) {
+                case NULL: {
+                    out.writeByte(ATypeTag.NULL.serialize());
+                    break;
+                }
+                case SYSTEM_NULL: {
+                    // Empty stream. For local agg return system null. For global agg return null.
+                    if (isLocalAgg) {
+                        out.writeByte(ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL.serialize());
+                    } else {
+                        out.writeByte(ATypeTag.NULL.serialize());
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+                default: {
+                    out.write(outputVal.getByteArray(), outputVal.getStartOffset(), outputVal.getLength());
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
+        finish();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/SumAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/SumAggregateDescriptor.java
index e60c4e9..bb60ab4 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/SumAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/SumAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -1,199 +1,41 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 public class SumAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "agg-sum", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SumAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUM;
     }
 
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
-
-                    private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private boolean metInt8s, metInt16s, metInt32s, metInt64s, metFloats, metDoubles, metNull;
-                    private double sum;
-                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void init() {
-                        metInt8s = false;
-                        metInt16s = false;
-                        metInt32s = false;
-                        metInt64s = false;
-                        metFloats = false;
-                        metDoubles = false;
-                        metNull = false;
-                        sum = 0.0;
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        inputVal.reset();
-                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        if (inputVal.getLength() > 0) {
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
-                                    .deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0]);
-                            switch (typeTag) {
-                                case INT8: {
-                                    metInt8s = true;
-                                    byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT16: {
-                                    metInt16s = true;
-                                    short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT32: {
-                                    metInt32s = true;
-                                    int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case INT64: {
-                                    metInt64s = true;
-                                    long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case FLOAT: {
-                                    metFloats = true;
-                                    float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case DOUBLE: {
-                                    metDoubles = true;
-                                    double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
-                                    sum += val;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                case NULL: {
-                                    metNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                                default: {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute SUM for values of type "
-                                            + typeTag);
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        try {
-                            if (metNull) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            } else if (metDoubles) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                            } else if (metFloats) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue((float) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (metInt64s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue((long) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (metInt32s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue((int) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (metInt16s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue((short) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (metInt8s) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-                                aInt8.setValue((byte) sum);
-                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-                            } else {
-                                GlobalConfig.ASTERIX_LOGGER.fine("SUM aggregate ran over empty input.");
-                            }
-
-                        } catch (IOException e) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                        }
-
-                    }
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
-                        finish();
-                    }
-                };
-            }
+                return new SumAggregateFunction(args, provider, false);
+            };
         };
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/SumAggregateFunction.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/SumAggregateFunction.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0e82ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/std/SumAggregateFunction.java
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SumAggregateFunction implements ICopyAggregateFunction {
+    private DataOutput out;
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval;
+    private double sum;
+    private ATypeTag aggType;
+    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+    private final boolean isLocalAgg;
+
+    public SumAggregateFunction(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider provider, boolean isLocalAgg)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        out = provider.getDataOutput();
+        eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+        this.isLocalAgg = isLocalAgg;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void init() {
+        aggType = ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL;
+        sum = 0.0;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        inputVal.reset();
+        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]);
+        if (typeTag == ATypeTag.NULL || aggType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+            aggType = ATypeTag.NULL;
+            return;
+        } else if (aggType == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
+            aggType = typeTag;
+        } else if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL && typeTag != aggType) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException("Unexpected type " + typeTag
+                    + " in aggregation input stream. Expected type " + aggType + ".");
+        }
+        switch (typeTag) {
+            case INT8: {
+                byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case INT16: {
+                short val = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case INT32: {
+                int val = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case INT64: {
+                long val = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case FLOAT: {
+                float val = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case DOUBLE: {
+                double val = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
+                sum += val;
+                break;
+            }
+            case NULL: {
+                break;
+            }
+            case SYSTEM_NULL: {
+                // For global aggregates simply ignore system null here,
+                // but if all input value are system null, then we should return
+                // null in finish().
+                if (isLocalAgg) {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException("Type SYSTEM_NULL encountered in local aggregate.");
+                }
+                break;
+            }
+            default: {
+                throw new NotImplementedException("Cannot compute SUM for values of type " + typeTag + ".");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    @Override
+    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
+        try {
+            switch (aggType) {
+                case INT8: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                    aInt8.setValue((byte) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case INT16: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                    aInt16.setValue((short) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case INT32: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    aInt32.setValue((int) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case INT64: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                    aInt64.setValue((long) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case FLOAT: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                    aFloat.setValue((float) sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case DOUBLE: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                    aDouble.setValue(sum);
+                    serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case NULL: {
+                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case SYSTEM_NULL: {
+                    // Empty stream. For local agg return system null. For global agg return null.
+                    if (isLocalAgg) {
+                        out.writeByte(ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL.serialize());
+                    } else {
+                        serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                        serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
+        finish();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/stream/EmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/stream/EmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..587a113
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/stream/EmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.stream;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class EmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "empty-stream", 0);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new EmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+                    throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyAggregateFunction() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+
+                    boolean res = true;
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void init() throws AlgebricksException {
+                        res = true;
+                    }
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        res = false;
+                    }
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void finish() throws AlgebricksException {
+                        ABoolean b = res ? ABoolean.TRUE : ABoolean.FALSE;
+                        try {
+                            serde.serialize(b, out);
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void finishPartial() throws AlgebricksException {
+                        finish();
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/stream/NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/stream/NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.java
index 0200a47..f7ddff0 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/stream/NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/aggregates/stream/NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -2,43 +2,48 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.base.AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "non-empty-stream", 0, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
 
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyAggregateFunction createAggregateFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IAggregateFunction() {
+                return new ICopyAggregateFunction() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
 
@@ -76,7 +81,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NON_EMPTY_STREAM;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/AsterixTupleFilter.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/AsterixTupleFilter.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f4f5ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/AsterixTupleFilter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IBinaryBooleanInspector;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.IScalarEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.IScalarEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.VoidPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITupleFilter;
+
+public class AsterixTupleFilter implements ITupleFilter {
+    private final IBinaryBooleanInspector boolInspector;
+    private final IScalarEvaluator eval;
+    private final IPointable p = VoidPointable.FACTORY.createPointable();
+
+    public AsterixTupleFilter(IHyracksTaskContext ctx, IScalarEvaluatorFactory evalFactory,
+            IBinaryBooleanInspector boolInspector) throws AlgebricksException {
+        this.boolInspector = boolInspector;
+        eval = evalFactory.createScalarEvaluator(ctx);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean accept(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws Exception {
+        eval.evaluate(tuple, p);
+        return boolInspector.getBooleanValue(p.getByteArray(), p.getStartOffset(), p.getLength());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/AsterixTupleFilterFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/AsterixTupleFilterFactory.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dd7ba5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/AsterixTupleFilterFactory.java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IBinaryBooleanInspectorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.IScalarEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITupleFilter;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITupleFilterFactory;
+
+public class AsterixTupleFilterFactory implements ITupleFilterFactory {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private final IBinaryBooleanInspectorFactory boolInspectorFactory;
+    private final IScalarEvaluatorFactory evalFactory;
+
+    public AsterixTupleFilterFactory(IScalarEvaluatorFactory evalFactory,
+            IBinaryBooleanInspectorFactory boolInspectorFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        this.evalFactory = evalFactory;
+        this.boolInspectorFactory = boolInspectorFactory;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ITupleFilter createTupleFilter(IHyracksTaskContext ctx) throws Exception {
+        return new AsterixTupleFilter(ctx, evalFactory, boolInspectorFactory.createBinaryBooleanInspector(ctx));
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
deleted file mode 100644
index afa2312..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-
-public interface IAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends IFunctionDescriptor {
-    public IAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException;
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
deleted file mode 100644
index ff01c60..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base;
-
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IRunningAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-
-public interface IRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends IFunctionDescriptor {
-    public IRunningAggregateFunctionFactory createRunningAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException;
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
deleted file mode 100644
index ed5c0aee2..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base;
-
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-
-public interface IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends IFunctionDescriptor {
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException;
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/ISerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/ISerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 82e0e29..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/ISerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-
-public interface ISerializableAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends IFunctionDescriptor {
-    public ISerializableAggregateFunctionFactory createAggregateFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException;
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 85b6fe1..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/base/IUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-
-public interface IUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends IFunctionDescriptor {
-    public IUnnestingFunctionFactory createUnnestingFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
-            throws AlgebricksException;
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/CircleCenterAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/CircleCenterAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..577a1fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/CircleCenterAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ACircleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.APoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class CircleCenterAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "get-center", 1);
+    private static final byte SER_CICLE_TAG = ATypeTag.CIRCLE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CircleCenterAccessor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    private final AMutablePoint aPoint = new AMutablePoint(0, 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<APoint> pointSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.APOINT);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+                            double cX;
+                            double cY;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_CICLE_TAG) {
+                                cX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ACircleSerializerDeserializer.getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                cY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ACircleSerializerDeserializer.getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                aPoint.setValue(cX, cY);
+                                pointSerde.serialize(aPoint, out);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("get-center does not support the type: " + bytes[0]
+                                        + " It is only implemented for CIRCLE.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/CircleRadiusAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/CircleRadiusAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffaae9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/CircleRadiusAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ACircleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class CircleRadiusAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "get-radius", 1);
+    private static final byte SER_CICLE_TAG = ATypeTag.CIRCLE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CircleRadiusAccessor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    private final AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+                            double radius;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_CICLE_TAG) {
+                                radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ACircleSerializerDeserializer.getRadiusOffset());
+                                aDouble.setValue(radius);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("get-radius does not support the type: " + bytes[0]
+                                        + " It is only implemented for CIRCLE.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/LineRectanglePolygonAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/LineRectanglePolygonAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7f87df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/LineRectanglePolygonAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ALineSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APolygonSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARectangleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.APoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class LineRectanglePolygonAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "get-points", 1);
+    private static final byte SER_LINE_TAG = ATypeTag.LINE.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_RECTANGLE_TAG = ATypeTag.RECTANGLE.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_POLYGON_TAG = ATypeTag.POLYGON.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new LineRectanglePolygonAccessor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private final OrderedListBuilder listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final AOrderedListType pointListType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.APOINT, null);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    private final AMutablePoint aPoint = new AMutablePoint(0, 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<APoint> pointSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.APOINT);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_LINE_TAG) {
+                                listBuilder.reset(pointListType);
+
+                                inputVal.reset();
+                                double startX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ALineSerializerDeserializer.getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                double startY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ALineSerializerDeserializer.getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                aPoint.setValue(startX, startY);
+                                pointSerde.serialize(aPoint, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+                                listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+
+                                inputVal.reset();
+                                double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                aPoint.setValue(endX, endY);
+                                pointSerde.serialize(aPoint, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+                                listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+                                listBuilder.write(out, true);
+
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_RECTANGLE_TAG) {
+                                listBuilder.reset(pointListType);
+
+                                inputVal.reset();
+                                double x1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ARectangleSerializerDeserializer.getBottomLeftCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                double y1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ARectangleSerializerDeserializer.getBottomLeftCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                aPoint.setValue(x1, y1);
+                                pointSerde.serialize(aPoint, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+                                listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+
+                                inputVal.reset();
+                                double x2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ARectangleSerializerDeserializer.getUpperRightCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                double y2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        ARectangleSerializerDeserializer.getUpperRightCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                aPoint.setValue(x2, y2);
+                                pointSerde.serialize(aPoint, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+                                listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+                                listBuilder.write(out, true);
+
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_POLYGON_TAG) {
+                                int numOfPoints = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(bytes,
+                                        APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
+
+                                if (numOfPoints < 3) {
+                                    throw new HyracksDataException("Polygon must have at least 3 points.");
+                                }
+                                listBuilder.reset(pointListType);
+                                for (int i = 0; i < numOfPoints; ++i) {
+                                    inputVal.reset();
+                                    double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                            APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(i, Coordinate.X));
+                                    double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                            APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(i, Coordinate.Y));
+                                    aPoint.setValue(x, y);
+                                    pointSerde.serialize(aPoint, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+                                    listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+                                }
+                                listBuilder.write(out, true);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("get-points does not support the type: " + bytes[0]
+                                        + " It is only implemented for LINE, RECTANGLE, or POLYGON.");
+                            }
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/PointXCoordinateAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/PointXCoordinateAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fcfd20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/PointXCoordinateAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class PointXCoordinateAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "get-x", 1);
+    private static final byte SER_POINT_TAG = ATypeTag.POINT.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new PointXCoordinateAccessor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    private final AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+                            double x;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_POINT_TAG) {
+                                x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                aDouble.setValue(x);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("get-x does not support the type: " + bytes[0]
+                                        + " It is only implemented for POINT.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/PointYCoordinateAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/PointYCoordinateAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c47efa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/PointYCoordinateAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class PointYCoordinateAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "get-y", 1);
+    private static final byte SER_POINT_TAG = ATypeTag.POINT.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new PointYCoordinateAccessor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    private final AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+                            double y;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_POINT_TAG) {
+                                y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes,
+                                        APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                aDouble.setValue(y);
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("get-y does not support the type: " + bytes[0]
+                                        + " It is only implemented for POINT.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalDayAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalDayAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05391de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalDayAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TemporalDayAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "day", 1);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TemporalDayAccessor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calSystem = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    // for output: type integer
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aMutableInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(calSystem.getDurationDay(ADurationSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getDayTime(bytes, 1)));
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            long chrononTimeInMs = 0;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, 1)
+                                        * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Inapplicable input type: " + bytes[0]);
+                            }
+
+                            int year = calSystem.getYear(chrononTimeInMs);
+                            int month = calSystem.getMonthOfYear(chrononTimeInMs, year);
+                            int day = calSystem.getDayOfMonthYear(chrononTimeInMs, year, month);
+
+                            aMutableInt32.setValue(day);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalHourAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalHourAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eba012f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalHourAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TemporalHourAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "hour", 1);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TemporalHourAccessor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calSystem = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    // for output: type integer
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aMutableInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(calSystem.getDurationHour(ADurationSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getDayTime(bytes, 1)));
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            long chrononTimeInMs = 0;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Inapplicable input type: " + bytes[0]);
+                            }
+
+                            int hour = calSystem.getHourOfDay(chrononTimeInMs);
+
+                            aMutableInt32.setValue(hour);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMillisecondAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMillisecondAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ecc1a35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMillisecondAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TemporalMillisecondAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "millisecond", 1);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TemporalMillisecondAccessor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calSystem = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    // for output: type integer
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aMutableInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(calSystem.getDurationMillisecond(ADurationSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getDayTime(bytes, 1)));
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            long chrononTimeInMs = 0;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Inapplicable input type: " + bytes[0]);
+                            }
+
+                            int ms = calSystem.getMillisOfSec(chrononTimeInMs);
+
+                            aMutableInt32.setValue(ms);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMinuteAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMinuteAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f436016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMinuteAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TemporalMinuteAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "minute", 1);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TemporalMinuteAccessor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calSystem = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    // for output: type integer
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aMutableInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(calSystem.getDurationMinute(ADurationSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getDayTime(bytes, 1)));
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            long chrononTimeInMs = 0;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Inapplicable input type: " + bytes[0]);
+                            }
+
+                            int min = calSystem.getMinOfHour(chrononTimeInMs);
+
+                            aMutableInt32.setValue(min);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMonthAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMonthAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb68f7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalMonthAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TemporalMonthAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "month", 1);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TemporalMonthAccessor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calSystem = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    // for output: type integer
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aMutableInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(calSystem.getDurationMonth(ADurationSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getYearMonth(bytes, 1)));
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            long chrononTimeInMs = 0;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, 1)
+                                        * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Inapplicable input type: " + bytes[0]);
+                            }
+
+                            int year = calSystem.getYear(chrononTimeInMs);
+                            int month = calSystem.getMonthOfYear(chrononTimeInMs, year);
+
+                            aMutableInt32.setValue(month);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalSecondAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalSecondAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b9ee95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalSecondAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TemporalSecondAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "second", 1);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TemporalSecondAccessor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calSystem = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    // for output: type integer
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aMutableInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(calSystem.getDurationSecond(ADurationSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getDayTime(bytes, 1)));
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            long chrononTimeInMs = 0;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Inapplicable input type: " + bytes[0]);
+                            }
+
+                            int sec = calSystem.getSecOfMin(chrononTimeInMs);
+
+                            aMutableInt32.setValue(sec);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalYearAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalYearAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41dacfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/accessors/TemporalYearAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TemporalYearAccessor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "year", 1);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TemporalYearAccessor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calSystem = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    // for output: type integer
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aMutableInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(calSystem.getDurationYear(ADurationSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getYearMonth(bytes, 1)));
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            long chrononTimeInMs = 0;
+                            if (bytes[0] == SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, 1)
+                                        * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                chrononTimeInMs = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(bytes, 1);
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else if (bytes[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                int year;
+                                if (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 3) == '-') {
+                                    // in case of a negative year
+                                    year = -1
+                                            * ((UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 4) - '0') * 1000
+                                                    + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 5) - '0') * 100
+                                                    + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 6) - '0') * 10 + (UTF8StringPointable
+                                                    .charAt(bytes, 7) - '0'));
+                                } else {
+                                    year = (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 3) - '0') * 1000
+                                            + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 4) - '0') * 100
+                                            + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 5) - '0') * 10
+                                            + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, 6) - '0');
+                                }
+                                aMutableInt32.setValue(year);
+                                intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Inapplicable input type: " + bytes[0]);
+                            }
+
+                            int year = calSystem.getYear(chrononTimeInMs);
+
+                            aMutableInt32.setValue(year);
+                            intSerde.serialize(aMutableInt32, out);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/base/AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/base/AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
index 06aa928..a2f00ff 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/base/AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/base/AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionDescriptorTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor;
 
-public abstract class AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor implements IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public abstract class AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends AbstractFunctionDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AbstractAsterixListIterator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AbstractAsterixListIterator.java
index 0b9aca8..efae5f9 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AbstractAsterixListIterator.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AbstractAsterixListIterator.java
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
     protected int startOff = -1;
     protected IBinaryComparator cmp;
 
+    // Ignore case for strings. Defaults to true.
+    protected final boolean ignoreCase = true;
+
     @Override
     public int compare(IListIterator cmpIter) {
         return cmp.compare(data, pos, -1, cmpIter.getData(), cmpIter.getPos(), -1);
@@ -80,7 +83,16 @@
                 break;
             }
             case STRING: {
-                cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryComparator();
+                if (ignoreCase) {
+                    cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_LOWERCASE_POINTABLE_INSTANCE
+                            .createBinaryComparator();
+                } else {
+                    cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryComparator();
+                }
+                break;
+            }
+            default: {
+                cmp = null;
                 break;
             }
         }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AccessibleByteArrayEval.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AccessibleByteArrayEval.java
index 4a769ba..4e225d0 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AccessibleByteArrayEval.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AccessibleByteArrayEval.java
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 import java.io.DataOutputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class AccessibleByteArrayEval implements IEvaluator {
+public class AccessibleByteArrayEval implements ICopyEvaluator {
 
     private DataOutput out;
     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream baaos;
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AsterixListAccessor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AsterixListAccessor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58cbd07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/AsterixListAccessor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
+
+/**
+ * Utility class for accessing serialized unordered and ordered lists. 
+ */
+public class AsterixListAccessor {
+
+	protected byte[] listBytes;
+	protected int start;
+	protected ATypeTag listType;
+	protected ATypeTag itemType;
+	protected int size;
+	
+	public ATypeTag getListType() {
+		return listType;
+	}
+
+	public ATypeTag getItemType() {
+		return itemType;
+	}
+
+	public boolean itemsAreSelfDescribing() {
+		return itemType == ATypeTag.ANY;
+	}
+
+	public void reset(byte[] listBytes, int start) throws AsterixException {
+		this.listBytes = listBytes;
+		this.start = start;
+		listType = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(listBytes[start]);
+		if (listType != ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST && listType != ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST) {
+			throw new AsterixException("Unsupported type: " + listType);
+		}
+		itemType = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(listBytes[start + 1]);
+		if (listType == ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST) {
+			size = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(listBytes, start);
+		} else {
+			size = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(listBytes, start);
+		}
+	}
+
+	public int size() {
+		return size;
+	}
+	
+	public int getItemOffset(int itemIndex) throws AsterixException {
+		if (listType == ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST) {
+			return AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getItemOffset(listBytes, start, itemIndex);
+		} else {
+			return AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getItemOffset(listBytes, start, itemIndex);
+		}
+	}
+	
+	public int getItemLength(int itemOffset) throws AsterixException {
+		ATypeTag itemType = getItemType(itemOffset);
+		return NonTaggedFormatUtil.getFieldValueLength(listBytes, itemOffset, itemType, itemsAreSelfDescribing());
+	}
+	
+	public ATypeTag getItemType(int itemOffset) throws AsterixException {
+		if (itemType == ATypeTag.ANY) {
+			return EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(listBytes[itemOffset]);
+		} else {
+			return itemType;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	public void writeItem(int itemIndex, DataOutput dos) throws AsterixException, IOException {
+		int itemOffset = getItemOffset(itemIndex);
+		int itemLength = getItemLength(itemOffset);
+		if (itemsAreSelfDescribing()) {
+			++itemLength;
+		} else {
+			dos.writeByte(itemType.serialize());
+		}
+		dos.write(listBytes, itemOffset, itemLength);
+	}
+	
+	public byte[] getByteArray() {
+		return listBytes;
+	}
+	
+	public int getStart() {
+		return start;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.java
index 324fd7a..db3bc40 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
@@ -5,31 +20,32 @@
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+public class ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private IEvaluatorFactory[] args;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args;
     private ARecordType recType;
 
-    public ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, ARecordType recType) {
+    public ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, ARecordType recType) {
         this.args = args;
         this.recType = recType;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
         int n = args.length / 2;
-        IEvaluator[] evalFields = new IEvaluator[n];
+        ICopyEvaluator[] evalFields = new ICopyEvaluator[n];
         ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
         for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
             evalFields[i] = args[2 * i + 1].createEvaluator(fieldValueBuffer);
@@ -38,9 +54,9 @@
         return new ClosedRecordConstructorEval(recType, evalFields, fieldValueBuffer, out);
     }
 
-    public static class ClosedRecordConstructorEval implements IEvaluator {
+    public static class ClosedRecordConstructorEval implements ICopyEvaluator {
 
-        private IEvaluator[] evalFields;
+        private ICopyEvaluator[] evalFields;
         private DataOutput out;
         private IARecordBuilder recBuilder = new RecordBuilder();
         private ARecordType recType;
@@ -48,7 +64,7 @@
         private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
         private boolean first = true;
 
-        public ClosedRecordConstructorEval(ARecordType recType, IEvaluator[] evalFields,
+        public ClosedRecordConstructorEval(ARecordType recType, ICopyEvaluator[] evalFields,
                 ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer, DataOutput out) {
             this.evalFields = evalFields;
             this.fieldValueBuffer = fieldValueBuffer;
@@ -67,13 +83,13 @@
                 for (int i = 0; i < evalFields.length; i++) {
                     fieldValueBuffer.reset();
                     evalFields[i].evaluate(tuple);
-                    if (fieldValueBuffer.getBytes()[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                    if (fieldValueBuffer.getByteArray()[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                         recBuilder.addField(i, fieldValueBuffer);
                     }
                 }
                 recBuilder.write(out, true);
-            } catch (IOException ioe) {
-                throw new AlgebricksException(ioe);
+            } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/CreateMBREvalFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/CreateMBREvalFactory.java
index a83cf68..616cbdc 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/CreateMBREvalFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/CreateMBREvalFactory.java
@@ -14,33 +14,35 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARectangleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class CreateMBREvalFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+public class CreateMBREvalFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory;
-    private IEvaluatorFactory dimensionEvalFactory;
-    private IEvaluatorFactory coordinateEvalFactory;
+    private static final byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
 
-    public CreateMBREvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory, IEvaluatorFactory dimensionEvalFactory,
-            IEvaluatorFactory coordinateEvalFactory) {
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory dimensionEvalFactory;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory coordinateEvalFactory;
+
+    public CreateMBREvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory, ICopyEvaluatorFactory dimensionEvalFactory,
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory coordinateEvalFactory) {
         this.recordEvalFactory = recordEvalFactory;
         this.dimensionEvalFactory = dimensionEvalFactory;
         this.coordinateEvalFactory = coordinateEvalFactory;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluator() {
+    public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
             private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
@@ -48,9 +50,9 @@
             private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
             private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput2 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
 
-            private IEvaluator eval0 = recordEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput0);
-            private IEvaluator eval1 = dimensionEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput1);
-            private IEvaluator eval2 = coordinateEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput2);
+            private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = recordEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput0);
+            private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = dimensionEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput1);
+            private ICopyEvaluator eval2 = coordinateEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput2);
 
             @Override
             public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -61,13 +63,19 @@
                 outInput2.reset();
                 eval2.evaluate(tuple);
 
+                // type-check: (Point/Line/Polygon/Circle/Rectangle/Null, Int32, Int32)
+                if (outInput1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG
+                        || outInput2.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException("Expects Types: (Point/Line/Polygon/Circle/Rectangle/Null, Int32, Int32).");
+                }
+
                 try {
 
-                    int dimension = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInput1.getBytes(), 1);
-                    int coordinate = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInput2.getBytes(), 1);
+                    int dimension = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInput1.getByteArray(), 1);
+                    int coordinate = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInput2.getByteArray(), 1);
                     double value;
                     if (dimension == 2) {
-                        ATypeTag tag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getBytes()[0]);
+                        ATypeTag tag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getByteArray()[0]);
                         switch (tag) {
                             case POINT:
                                 switch (coordinate) {
@@ -75,7 +83,7 @@
                                             // for
                                             // max x, and 3 for max y
                                     case 2: {
-                                        double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
 
                                         value = x;
@@ -83,7 +91,7 @@
                                         break;
                                     case 1:
                                     case 3: {
-                                        double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
                                         value = y;
@@ -101,9 +109,9 @@
                                     case 0: {
                                         value = Double.MAX_VALUE;
                                         double startX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                        double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
 
                                         value = Math.min(Math.min(startX, endX), value);
@@ -112,9 +120,9 @@
                                     case 1: {
                                         value = Double.MAX_VALUE;
                                         double startY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                                        double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
                                         value = Math.min(Math.min(startY, endY), value);
@@ -123,9 +131,9 @@
                                     case 2: {
                                         value = Double.MIN_VALUE;
                                         double startX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                        double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
 
                                         value = Math.max(Math.min(startX, endX), value);
@@ -134,9 +142,9 @@
                                     case 3: {
                                         value = Double.MIN_VALUE;
                                         double startY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                                        double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
                                         value = Math.max(Math.min(startY, endY), value);
@@ -149,14 +157,14 @@
                                 }
                                 break;
                             case POLYGON:
-                                int numOfPoints = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                int numOfPoints = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                         APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
                                 switch (coordinate) {
                                     case 0: {
                                         value = Double.MAX_VALUE;
                                         for (int i = 0; i < numOfPoints; i++) {
                                             double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
                                                             .getCoordinateOffset(i, Coordinate.X));
                                             value = Math.min(x, value);
                                         }
@@ -166,7 +174,7 @@
                                         value = Double.MAX_VALUE;
                                         for (int i = 0; i < numOfPoints; i++) {
                                             double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
                                                             .getCoordinateOffset(i, Coordinate.Y));
                                             value = Math.min(y, value);
                                         }
@@ -176,7 +184,7 @@
                                         value = Double.MIN_VALUE;
                                         for (int i = 0; i < numOfPoints; i++) {
                                             double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
                                                             .getCoordinateOffset(i, Coordinate.X));
                                             value = Math.max(x, value);
                                         }
@@ -186,7 +194,7 @@
                                         value = Double.MIN_VALUE;
                                         for (int i = 0; i < numOfPoints; i++) {
                                             double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), APolygonSerializerDeserializer
                                                             .getCoordinateOffset(i, Coordinate.Y));
                                             value = Math.max(y, value);
                                         }
@@ -201,45 +209,45 @@
                             case CIRCLE:
                                 switch (coordinate) {
                                     case 0: {
-                                        double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ACircleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
-                                                ACircleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                        .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                .getByteArray(), ACircleSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
 
                                         value = x - radius;
                                     }
                                         break;
                                     case 1: {
-                                        double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ACircleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
-                                                ACircleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                        .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                .getByteArray(), ACircleSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
                                         value = y - radius;
                                     }
                                         break;
                                     case 2: {
-                                        double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double x = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ACircleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
-                                                ACircleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                        .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                .getByteArray(), ACircleSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
 
                                         value = x + radius;
                                     }
                                         break;
                                     case 3: {
-                                        double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        double y = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ACircleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
-                                                ACircleSerializerDeserializer
-                                                        .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                        double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                .getByteArray(), ACircleSerializerDeserializer
+                                                .getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
                                         value = y + radius;
                                     }
@@ -254,25 +262,25 @@
                                 value = Double.MAX_VALUE;
                                 switch (coordinate) {
                                     case 0: {
-                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getBottomLeftCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
                                     }
                                         break;
                                     case 1: {
-                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getBottomLeftCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
                                     }
                                         break;
                                     case 2: {
-                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getUpperRightCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
                                     }
                                         break;
                                     case 3: {
-                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                        value = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                 ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                         .getUpperRightCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
                                     }
@@ -283,9 +291,14 @@
                                     }
                                 }
                                 break;
+                            case NULL: {
+                                out.writeByte(ATypeTag.NULL.serialize());
+                                return;
+                            }
                             default:
                                 throw new NotImplementedException(
-                                        "create-mbr is only implemented for POINT, LINE, POLYGON, CIRCLE and RECTANGLE.");
+                                        "create-mbr is only implemented for POINT, LINE, POLYGON, CIRCLE and RECTANGLE. Encountered type: "
+                                                + tag + ".");
 
                         }
                     } else {
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/EditDistanceEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/EditDistanceEvaluator.java
index 05194dd..3d35afd 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/EditDistanceEvaluator.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/EditDistanceEvaluator.java
@@ -10,23 +10,23 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityMetricEditDistance;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class EditDistanceEvaluator implements IEvaluator {
+public class EditDistanceEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
 
     // assuming type indicator in serde format
     protected final int typeIndicatorSize = 1;
 
     protected final DataOutput out;
     protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    protected final IEvaluator firstStringEval;
-    protected final IEvaluator secondStringEval;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator firstStringEval;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator secondStringEval;
     protected final SimilarityMetricEditDistance ed = new SimilarityMetricEditDistance();
     protected final AsterixOrderedListIterator firstOrdListIter = new AsterixOrderedListIterator();
     protected final AsterixOrderedListIterator secondOrdListIter = new AsterixOrderedListIterator();
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     protected ATypeTag firstTypeTag;
     protected ATypeTag secondTypeTag;
 
-    public EditDistanceEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public EditDistanceEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
         out = output.getDataOutput();
         firstStringEval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
         secondStringEval = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
@@ -56,15 +56,15 @@
         if (!checkArgTypes(firstTypeTag, secondTypeTag))
             return;
 
-        itemTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[firstStart + 1]);
+        itemTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[firstStart + 1]);
         if (itemTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY)
             throw new AlgebricksException("\n Edit Distance can only be called on homogenous lists");
 
-        itemTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[secondStart + 1]);
+        itemTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[secondStart + 1]);
         if (itemTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY)
             throw new AlgebricksException("\n Edit Distance can only be called on homogenous lists");
 
-        editDistance = computeResult(argOut.getBytes(), firstStart, secondStart, firstTypeTag);
+        editDistance = computeResult(argOut.getByteArray(), firstStart, secondStart, firstTypeTag);
 
         try {
             writeResult(editDistance);
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@
         secondStart = argOut.getLength();
         secondStringEval.evaluate(tuple);
 
-        firstTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[firstStart]);
-        secondTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[secondStart]);
+        firstTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[firstStart]);
+        secondTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[secondStart]);
     }
 
     protected int computeResult(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart, ATypeTag argType)
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory.java
index acbe9a2..af0a29c 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory.java
@@ -14,28 +14,28 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
-public class FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+public class FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory;
-    private IEvaluatorFactory fieldIndexEvalFactory;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory fieldIndexEvalFactory;
     private int nullBitmapSize;
     private ARecordType recordType;
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_RECORD_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.RECORD.serialize();
 
-    public FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory, IEvaluatorFactory fieldIndexEvalFactory,
+    public FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory, ICopyEvaluatorFactory fieldIndexEvalFactory,
             ARecordType recordType) {
         this.recordEvalFactory = recordEvalFactory;
         this.fieldIndexEvalFactory = fieldIndexEvalFactory;
@@ -48,15 +48,15 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluator() {
+    public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
             private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
             private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
             private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-            private IEvaluator eval0 = recordEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput0);
-            private IEvaluator eval1 = fieldIndexEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput1);
+            private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = recordEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput0);
+            private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = fieldIndexEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput1);
             @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
             private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                     .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
                     eval0.evaluate(tuple);
                     outInput1.reset();
                     eval1.evaluate(tuple);
-                    byte[] serRecord = outInput0.getBytes();
+                    byte[] serRecord = outInput0.getByteArray();
 
                     if (serRecord[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                         nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
                                 + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serRecord[0]));
                     }
 
-                    fieldIndex = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInput1.getBytes(), 1);
+                    fieldIndex = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInput1.getByteArray(), 1);
                     fieldValueOffset = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getFieldOffsetById(serRecord, fieldIndex,
                             nullBitmapSize, recordType.isOpen());
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FunctionManagerImpl.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FunctionManagerImpl.java
index 99fcc00..6f834a7 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FunctionManagerImpl.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/FunctionManagerImpl.java
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -6,38 +21,41 @@
 import java.util.Map;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionManager;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.utils.Pair;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 
 public class FunctionManagerImpl implements IFunctionManager {
-    private final Map<FunctionIdentifier, IFunctionDescriptor> functions;
+    private final Map<Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer>, IFunctionDescriptorFactory> functions;
 
     public FunctionManagerImpl() {
-        functions = new HashMap<FunctionIdentifier, IFunctionDescriptor>();
+        functions = new HashMap<Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer>, IFunctionDescriptorFactory>();
     }
 
     @Override
     public synchronized IFunctionDescriptor lookupFunction(FunctionIdentifier fid) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return functions.get(fid);
+        Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer> key = new Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer>(fid, fid.getArity());
+        return functions.get(key).createFunctionDescriptor();
     }
 
     @Override
-    public synchronized void registerFunction(IFunctionDescriptor descriptor) throws AlgebricksException {
-        functions.put(descriptor.getIdentifier(), descriptor);
+    public synchronized void registerFunction(IFunctionDescriptorFactory descriptorFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        FunctionIdentifier fid = descriptorFactory.createFunctionDescriptor().getIdentifier();
+        functions.put(new Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer>(fid, fid.getArity()), descriptorFactory);
     }
 
     @Override
-    public synchronized void unregisterFunction(IFunctionDescriptor descriptor) throws AlgebricksException {
-        FunctionIdentifier fid = descriptor.getIdentifier();
-        IFunctionDescriptor desc = functions.get(fid);
-        if (descriptor == desc) {
-            functions.remove(fid);
-        }
+    public synchronized void unregisterFunction(IFunctionDescriptorFactory descriptorFactory)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        FunctionIdentifier fid = descriptorFactory.createFunctionDescriptor().getIdentifier();
+        Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer> key = new Pair<FunctionIdentifier, Integer>(fid, fid.getArity());
+        functions.remove(key);
     }
 
     @Override
-    public synchronized Iterator<IFunctionDescriptor> iterator() {
-        return new ArrayList<IFunctionDescriptor>(functions.values()).iterator();
+    public synchronized Iterator<IFunctionDescriptorFactory> iterator() {
+        return new ArrayList<IFunctionDescriptorFactory>(functions.values()).iterator();
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/GramTokensEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/GramTokensEvaluator.java
index 0fb473d..d336c05 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/GramTokensEvaluator.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/GramTokensEvaluator.java
@@ -3,51 +3,43 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAOrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.IntArray;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.IBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.IToken;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.BooleanSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.IBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
 
-public class GramTokensEvaluator implements IEvaluator {
+public class GramTokensEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
 
     // assuming type indicator in serde format
     private final int typeIndicatorSize = 1;
 
-    protected final DataOutput out;
-    protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    protected final IEvaluator stringEval;
-    protected final IEvaluator gramLengthEval;
-    protected final IEvaluator prePostEval;
+    private final DataOutput out;
+    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private final ICopyEvaluator stringEval;
+    private final ICopyEvaluator gramLengthEval;
+    private final ICopyEvaluator prePostEval;
 
     private final NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer tokenizer;
+    private final OrderedListBuilder listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
+    private final AOrderedListType listType;
 
-    protected final IntArray itemOffsets = new IntArray();
-    protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage tokenBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-
-    private IAOrderedListBuilder listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
-    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    private BuiltinType itemType;
-
-    public GramTokensEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output, IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer,
+    public GramTokensEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output, IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer,
             BuiltinType itemType) throws AlgebricksException {
         out = output.getDataOutput();
         stringEval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
         gramLengthEval = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
         prePostEval = args[2].createEvaluator(argOut);
         this.tokenizer = (NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer) tokenizer;
-        this.itemType = itemType;
+        this.listType = new AOrderedListType(itemType, null);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -59,22 +51,18 @@
         int prePostOff = argOut.getLength();
         prePostEval.evaluate(tuple);
 
-        byte[] bytes = argOut.getBytes();
+        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
         int gramLength = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(bytes, gramLengthOff + typeIndicatorSize);
         tokenizer.setGramlength(gramLength);
         boolean prePost = BooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(bytes, prePostOff + typeIndicatorSize);
         tokenizer.setPrePost(prePost);
         tokenizer.reset(bytes, 0, gramLengthOff);
-        tokenBuffer.reset();
 
         try {
-            listBuilder.reset(new AOrderedListType(itemType, null));
+            listBuilder.reset(listType);
             while (tokenizer.hasNext()) {
-                inputVal.reset();
                 tokenizer.next();
-                IToken token = tokenizer.getToken();
-                token.serializeToken(inputVal.getDataOutput());
-                listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+                listBuilder.addItem(tokenizer.getToken());
             }
             listBuilder.write(out, true);
         } catch (IOException e) {
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityFiltersCache.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityFiltersCache.java
index 7b25c6e..159468a 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityFiltersCache.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityFiltersCache.java
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityFilters;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityFiltersFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.util.ByteBufferInputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.UTF8StringSerializerDeserializer;
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab73df2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.BinaryHashMap.BinaryEntry;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.IntegerPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator extends SimilarityJaccardEvaluator {
+
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator jaccThreshEval;
+    protected float jaccThresh = -1f;
+
+    protected OrderedListBuilder listBuilder;
+    protected ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal;
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    protected final ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+    protected final AOrderedListType listType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.ANY, "list");
+
+    public SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        super(args, output);
+        jaccThreshEval = args[2].createEvaluator(argOut);
+        listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
+        inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void runArgEvals(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        super.runArgEvals(tuple);
+        int jaccThreshStart = argOut.getLength();
+        jaccThreshEval.evaluate(tuple);
+        jaccThresh = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), jaccThreshStart
+                + TYPE_INDICATOR_SIZE);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected int probeHashMap(AbstractAsterixListIterator probeIter, int buildListSize, int probeListSize) {
+        // Apply length filter.
+        int lengthLowerBound = (int) Math.ceil(jaccThresh * probeListSize);
+        if ((lengthLowerBound > buildListSize) || (buildListSize > (int) Math.floor(1.0f / jaccThresh * probeListSize))) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        // Probe phase: Probe items from second list, and compute intersection size.
+        int intersectionSize = 0;
+        int probeListCount = 0;
+        int minUnionSize = probeListSize;
+        while (probeIter.hasNext()) {
+            probeListCount++;
+            byte[] buf = probeIter.getData();
+            int off = probeIter.getPos();
+            int len = getItemLen(buf, off);
+            keyEntry.set(buf, off, len);            
+            BinaryEntry entry = hashMap.get(keyEntry);
+            if (entry != null) {
+                // Increment second value.
+                int firstValInt = IntegerPointable.getInteger(entry.buf, entry.off);
+                // Irrelevant for the intersection size.
+                if (firstValInt == 0) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                int secondValInt = IntegerPointable.getInteger(entry.buf, entry.off + 4);
+                // Subtract old min value.
+                intersectionSize -= (firstValInt < secondValInt) ? firstValInt : secondValInt;
+                secondValInt++;
+                // Add new min value.
+                intersectionSize += (firstValInt < secondValInt) ? firstValInt : secondValInt;
+                IntegerPointable.setInteger(entry.buf, entry.off + 4, secondValInt);
+            } else {
+                // Could not find element in other set. Increase min union size by 1.
+                minUnionSize++;
+                // Check whether jaccThresh can still be satisfied if there was a mismatch.
+                int maxIntersectionSize = intersectionSize + (probeListSize - probeListCount);
+                int lowerBound = (int) Math.floor(jaccThresh * minUnionSize);
+                if (maxIntersectionSize < lowerBound) {
+                    // Cannot satisfy jaccThresh.
+                    return -1;
+                }
+            }
+            probeIter.next();
+        }
+        return intersectionSize;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    protected void writeResult(float jacc) throws IOException {
+        listBuilder.reset(listType);
+        boolean matches = (jacc < jaccThresh) ? false : true;
+        inputVal.reset();
+        booleanSerde.serialize(matches ? ABoolean.TRUE : ABoolean.FALSE, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+        listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+
+        inputVal.reset();
+        aFloat.setValue((matches) ? jacc : 0.0f);
+        floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+        listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+
+        listBuilder.write(out, true);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardEvaluator.java
index dee26fb..9f5c9c8 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardEvaluator.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardEvaluator.java
@@ -2,33 +2,43 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.Arrays;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AFloat;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityMetricJaccard;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.BinaryHashMap;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.BinaryHashMap.BinaryEntry;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryHashFunction;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.IntegerPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-// assumes that both arguments are sorted by the same ordering
+public class SimilarityJaccardEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
 
-public class SimilarityJaccardEvaluator implements IEvaluator {
+    // Parameters for hash table.
+    protected final int TABLE_SIZE = 100;
+    protected final int TABLE_FRAME_SIZE = 32768;
 
-    // assuming type indicator in serde format
-    protected final int typeIndicatorSize = 1;
+    // Assuming type indicator in serde format.
+    protected final int TYPE_INDICATOR_SIZE = 1;
 
     protected final DataOutput out;
     protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    protected final IEvaluator firstOrdListEval;
-    protected final IEvaluator secondOrdListEval;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator firstOrdListEval;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator secondOrdListEval;
 
     protected final AsterixOrderedListIterator fstOrdListIter = new AsterixOrderedListIterator();
     protected final AsterixOrderedListIterator sndOrdListIter = new AsterixOrderedListIterator();
@@ -38,32 +48,46 @@
     protected AbstractAsterixListIterator firstListIter;
     protected AbstractAsterixListIterator secondListIter;
 
-    protected final SimilarityMetricJaccard jaccard = new SimilarityMetricJaccard();
     protected final AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     protected final ISerializerDeserializer<AFloat> floatSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
 
-    protected ATypeTag itemTypeTag;
-
     protected ATypeTag firstTypeTag;
     protected ATypeTag secondTypeTag;
     protected int firstStart = -1;
     protected int secondStart = -1;
     protected float jaccSim = 0.0f;
+    protected ATypeTag itemTypeTag;
 
-    public SimilarityJaccardEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+    protected BinaryHashMap hashMap;
+    protected BinaryEntry keyEntry = new BinaryEntry();
+    protected BinaryEntry valEntry = new BinaryEntry();
+
+    // Ignore case for strings. Defaults to true.
+    protected final boolean ignoreCase = true;
+
+    public SimilarityJaccardEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
         out = output.getDataOutput();
         firstOrdListEval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
         secondOrdListEval = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
+        byte[] emptyValBuf = new byte[8];
+        Arrays.fill(emptyValBuf, (byte) 0);
+        valEntry.set(emptyValBuf, 0, 8);
     }
 
     @Override
     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
         runArgEvals(tuple);
-        if (!checkArgTypes(firstTypeTag, secondTypeTag))
+        if (!checkArgTypes(firstTypeTag, secondTypeTag)) {
             return;
-        jaccSim = computeResult(argOut.getBytes(), firstStart, secondStart, firstTypeTag);
+        }
+        if (prepareLists(argOut.getByteArray(), firstStart, secondStart, firstTypeTag)) {
+            jaccSim = computeResult(argOut.getByteArray(), firstStart, secondStart, firstTypeTag);
+        } else {
+            jaccSim = 0.0f;
+        }
         try {
             writeResult(jaccSim);
         } catch (IOException e) {
@@ -79,30 +103,165 @@
         secondStart = argOut.getLength();
         secondOrdListEval.evaluate(tuple);
 
-        firstTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[firstStart]);
-        secondTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[secondStart]);
+        firstTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[firstStart]);
+        secondTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[secondStart]);
     }
 
-    protected float computeResult(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart, ATypeTag argType)
+    protected boolean prepareLists(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart, ATypeTag argType)
             throws AlgebricksException {
         firstListIter.reset(bytes, firstStart);
         secondListIter.reset(bytes, secondStart);
         // Check for special case where one of the lists is empty, since list
         // types won't match.
         if (firstListIter.size() == 0 || secondListIter.size() == 0) {
-            try {
-                writeResult(0.0f);
-            } catch (IOException e) {
-                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (firstTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY || secondTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException("\n Jaccard can only be called on homogenous lists");
+        }
+        // TODO: Check item types are compatible.
+        itemTypeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(bytes[firstStart + 1]);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    protected float computeResult(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart, ATypeTag argType)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        setHashMap(bytes, firstStart, secondStart);
+        // We will subtract the intersection size later to get the real union size.
+        int firstListSize = firstListIter.size();
+        int secondListSize = secondListIter.size();
+        int unionSize = firstListSize + secondListSize;
+        // Choose smaller list as build, and larger one as probe.
+        AbstractAsterixListIterator buildList = (firstListSize < secondListSize) ? firstListIter : secondListIter;
+        AbstractAsterixListIterator probeList = (buildList == firstListIter) ? secondListIter : firstListIter;
+        int buildListSize = (buildList == firstListIter) ? firstListSize : secondListSize;
+        int probeListSize = (probeList == firstListIter) ? firstListSize : secondListSize;
+
+        buildHashMap(buildList);
+        int intersectionSize = probeHashMap(probeList, buildListSize, probeListSize);
+        // Special indicator for the "check" version of jaccard.
+        if (intersectionSize < 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        unionSize -= intersectionSize;
+        return (float) intersectionSize / (float) unionSize;
+    }
+
+    protected void buildHashMap(AbstractAsterixListIterator buildIter) {
+        // Build phase: Add items into hash map, starting with first list.
+        // Value in map is a pair of integers. Set first integer to 1.
+        IntegerPointable.setInteger(valEntry.buf, 0, 1);
+        while (buildIter.hasNext()) {
+            byte[] buf = buildIter.getData();
+            int off = buildIter.getPos();
+            int len = getItemLen(buf, off);
+            keyEntry.set(buf, off, len);
+            BinaryEntry entry = hashMap.put(keyEntry, valEntry);
+            if (entry != null) {
+                // Increment value.
+                int firstValInt = IntegerPointable.getInteger(entry.buf, entry.off);
+                IntegerPointable.setInteger(entry.buf, entry.off, firstValInt + 1);
+            }
+            buildIter.next();
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected int probeHashMap(AbstractAsterixListIterator probeIter, int probeListSize, int buildListSize) {
+        // Probe phase: Probe items from second list, and compute intersection size.
+        int intersectionSize = 0;
+        while (probeIter.hasNext()) {
+            byte[] buf = probeIter.getData();
+            int off = probeIter.getPos();
+            int len = getItemLen(buf, off);
+            keyEntry.set(buf, off, len);
+            BinaryEntry entry = hashMap.get(keyEntry);
+            if (entry != null) {
+                // Increment second value.
+                int firstValInt = IntegerPointable.getInteger(entry.buf, entry.off);
+                // Irrelevant for the intersection size.
+                if (firstValInt == 0) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                int secondValInt = IntegerPointable.getInteger(entry.buf, entry.off + 4);
+                // Subtract old min value.
+                intersectionSize -= (firstValInt < secondValInt) ? firstValInt : secondValInt;
+                secondValInt++;
+                // Add new min value.
+                intersectionSize += (firstValInt < secondValInt) ? firstValInt : secondValInt;
+                IntegerPointable.setInteger(entry.buf, entry.off + 4, secondValInt);
+            }
+            probeIter.next();
+        }
+        return intersectionSize;
+    }
+
+    protected void setHashMap(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart) {
+        if (hashMap != null) {
+            hashMap.clear();
+            return;
+        }
+        IBinaryHashFunction hashFunc = null;
+        IBinaryComparator cmp = null;
+        switch (itemTypeTag) {
+            case INT32: {
+                hashFunc = AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider.INTEGER_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryHashFunction();
+                cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INTEGER_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryComparator();
+                break;
+            }
+            case FLOAT: {
+                hashFunc = AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider.FLOAT_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryHashFunction();
+                cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.FLOAT_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryComparator();
+                break;
+            }
+            case DOUBLE: {
+                hashFunc = AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider.DOUBLE_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryHashFunction();
+                cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.DOUBLE_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryComparator();
+                break;
+            }
+            case STRING: {
+                if (ignoreCase) {
+                    // Ignore case in comparisons and hashing.
+                    hashFunc = AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_LOWERCASE_POINTABLE_INSTANCE
+                            .createBinaryHashFunction();
+                    cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_LOWERCASE_POINTABLE_INSTANCE
+                            .createBinaryComparator();
+                } else {
+                    hashFunc = AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_POINTABLE_INSTANCE
+                            .createBinaryHashFunction();
+                    cmp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_POINTABLE_INSTANCE.createBinaryComparator();
+                }
+                break;
+            }
+            default: {
+                break;
             }
         }
-        if (firstTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY || secondTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY)
-            throw new AlgebricksException("\n Jaccard can only be called on homogenous lists");
-        return jaccard.getSimilarity(firstListIter, secondListIter);
+        hashMap = new BinaryHashMap(TABLE_SIZE, TABLE_FRAME_SIZE, hashFunc, cmp);
+    }
+
+    protected int getItemLen(byte[] bytes, int itemOff) {
+        switch (itemTypeTag) {
+            case INT32: {
+                return 4;
+            }
+            case FLOAT: {
+                return 4;
+            }
+            case DOUBLE: {
+                return 8;
+            }
+            case STRING: {
+                // 2 bytes for the UTF8 len, plus the string data.
+                return 2 + UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(bytes, itemOff);
+            }
+            default: {
+                return -1;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     protected boolean checkArgTypes(ATypeTag typeTag1, ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
-        // jaccard between null and anything else is 0
+        // Jaccard between null and anything else is 0
         if (typeTag1 == ATypeTag.NULL || typeTag2 == ATypeTag.NULL) {
             try {
                 writeResult(0.0f);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator.java
index 93954af..7686cbe 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator.java
@@ -17,27 +17,27 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.PartialIntersect;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityFiltersJaccard;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityMetric;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
-public class SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator implements IEvaluator {
+public class SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
     // assuming type indicator in serde format
     protected final int typeIndicatorSize = 1;
 
     protected final DataOutput out;
     protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    protected final IEvaluator evalLen1;
-    protected final IEvaluator evalTokens1;
-    protected final IEvaluator evalLen2;
-    protected final IEvaluator evalTokens2;
-    protected final IEvaluator evalTokenPrefix;
-    protected final IEvaluator evalThreshold;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator evalLen1;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator evalTokens1;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator evalLen2;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator evalTokens2;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator evalTokenPrefix;
+    protected final ICopyEvaluator evalThreshold;
 
     protected float similarityThresholdCache;
     protected SimilarityFiltersJaccard similarityFilters;
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
     protected final ISerializerDeserializer<AFloat> reusSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
 
-    public SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+    public SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
             throws AlgebricksException {
         out = output.getDataOutput();
         evalLen1 = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
         sim = 0;
         inputVal.reset();
         evalThreshold.evaluate(tuple);
-        float similarityThreshold = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+        float similarityThreshold = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
         if (similarityThreshold != similarityThresholdCache || similarityFilters == null) {
             similarityFilters = new SimilarityFiltersJaccard(similarityThreshold);
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@
 
         inputVal.reset();
         evalLen1.evaluate(tuple);
-        int length1 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+        int length1 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
         inputVal.reset();
         evalLen2.evaluate(tuple);
-        int length2 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+        int length2 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
         //
         // -- - length filter - --
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
             inputVal.reset();
             evalTokens1.evaluate(tuple);
 
-            byte[] serList = inputVal.getBytes();
+            byte[] serList = inputVal.getByteArray();
             if (serList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && serList[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
                 throw new AlgebricksException("Scan collection is not defined for values of type"
                         + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[0]));
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
 
             int lengthTokens1;
             if (serList[0] == SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                lengthTokens1 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
+                lengthTokens1 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getByteArray());
                 // read tokens
                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens1; i++) {
                     int itemOffset;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@
                     tokens1.add(IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(serList, itemOffset));
                 }
             } else {
-                lengthTokens1 = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
+                lengthTokens1 = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getByteArray());
                 // read tokens
                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens1; i++) {
                     int itemOffset;
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
             inputVal.reset();
             evalTokens2.evaluate(tuple);
 
-            serList = inputVal.getBytes();
+            serList = inputVal.getByteArray();
             if (serList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && serList[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
                 throw new AlgebricksException("Scan collection is not defined for values of type"
                         + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[0]));
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
 
             int lengthTokens2;
             if (serList[0] == SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                lengthTokens2 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
+                lengthTokens2 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getByteArray());
                 // read tokens
                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens2; i++) {
                     int itemOffset;
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@
                     tokens2.add(IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(serList, itemOffset));
                 }
             } else {
-                lengthTokens2 = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
+                lengthTokens2 = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getByteArray());
                 // read tokens
                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens2; i++) {
                     int itemOffset;
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
             // -- - token prefix - --
             inputVal.reset();
             evalTokenPrefix.evaluate(tuple);
-            int tokenPrefix = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+            int tokenPrefix = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
             //
             // -- - position filter - --
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckEvaluator.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a192c5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckEvaluator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityMetricJaccard;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+public class SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckEvaluator extends SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator {
+
+    protected final SimilarityMetricJaccard jaccard = new SimilarityMetricJaccard();
+    
+    public SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        super(args, output);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected float computeResult(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart, ATypeTag argType)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        return jaccard.getSimilarity(firstListIter, secondListIter, jaccThresh);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardSortedEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardSortedEvaluator.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3be0280
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/SimilarityJaccardSortedEvaluator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityMetricJaccard;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+// Assumes that both arguments are sorted by the same ordering.
+public class SimilarityJaccardSortedEvaluator extends SimilarityJaccardEvaluator {
+
+    protected final SimilarityMetricJaccard jaccard = new SimilarityMetricJaccard();
+    
+	public SimilarityJaccardSortedEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args,
+			IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+		super(args, output);
+	}
+
+    protected float computeResult(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart, ATypeTag argType)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        return jaccard.getSimilarity(firstListIter, secondListIter);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/WordTokensEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/WordTokensEvaluator.java
index d17f569..a98b754 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/WordTokensEvaluator.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/common/WordTokensEvaluator.java
@@ -3,58 +3,45 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAOrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.IntArray;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.IBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.IToken;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.IBinaryTokenizer;
 
-public class WordTokensEvaluator implements IEvaluator {
-    protected final DataOutput out;
-    protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    protected final IEvaluator stringEval;
+public class WordTokensEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
+    private final DataOutput out;
+    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private final ICopyEvaluator stringEval;
 
-    protected final IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer;
+    private final IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer;
+    private final OrderedListBuilder listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
+    private final AOrderedListType listType;
 
-    protected final IntArray itemOffsets = new IntArray();
-    protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage tokenBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-
-    private IAOrderedListBuilder listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
-    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    private BuiltinType itemType;
-
-    public WordTokensEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output, IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer,
+    public WordTokensEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output, IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer,
             BuiltinType itemType) throws AlgebricksException {
         out = output.getDataOutput();
         stringEval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
         this.tokenizer = tokenizer;
-        this.itemType = itemType;
+        this.listType = new AOrderedListType(itemType, null);
     }
 
     @Override
     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
         argOut.reset();
         stringEval.evaluate(tuple);
-        byte[] bytes = argOut.getBytes();
+        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
         tokenizer.reset(bytes, 0, argOut.getLength());
-        tokenBuffer.reset();
-
         try {
-            listBuilder.reset(new AOrderedListType(itemType, null));
+            listBuilder.reset(listType);
             while (tokenizer.hasNext()) {
-                inputVal.reset();
                 tokenizer.next();
-                IToken token = tokenizer.getToken();
-                token.serializeToken(inputVal.getDataOutput());
-                listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+                listBuilder.addItem(tokenizer.getToken());
             }
             listBuilder.write(out, true);
         } catch (IOException e) {
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/AbstractComparisonEvaluator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/AbstractComparisonEvaluator.java
index 798853e..1565cb9 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/AbstractComparisonEvaluator.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/AbstractComparisonEvaluator.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.comparators.ADateOrTimeAscBinaryComparatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.comparators.ADateTimeAscBinaryComparatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
@@ -16,17 +17,17 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.FloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
-public abstract class AbstractComparisonEvaluator implements IEvaluator {
+public abstract class AbstractComparisonEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
 
     protected enum ComparisonResult {
         LESS_THAN,
@@ -38,8 +39,8 @@
     protected DataOutput out;
     protected ArrayBackedValueStorage outLeft = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
     protected ArrayBackedValueStorage outRight = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    protected IEvaluator evalLeft;
-    protected IEvaluator evalRight;
+    protected ICopyEvaluator evalLeft;
+    protected ICopyEvaluator evalRight;
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     protected ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
@@ -50,9 +51,11 @@
             .createBinaryComparator();
     protected IBinaryComparator dateTimeBinaryComp = ADateTimeAscBinaryComparatorFactory.INSTANCE
             .createBinaryComparator();
+    protected IBinaryComparator dateOrTimeBinaryComp = ADateOrTimeAscBinaryComparatorFactory.INSTANCE
+            .createBinaryComparator();
 
-    public AbstractComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
-            IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public AbstractComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
         this.out = out;
         this.evalLeft = evalLeftFactory.createEvaluator(outLeft);
         this.evalRight = evalRightFactory.createEvaluator(outRight);
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@
         if (outLeft.getLength() == 0) {
             isLeftNull = true;
         } else {
-            typeTag1 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outLeft.getBytes()[0]);
+            typeTag1 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outLeft.getByteArray()[0]);
             if (typeTag1 == ATypeTag.NULL) {
                 isLeftNull = true;
             }
@@ -82,7 +85,7 @@
         if (outRight.getLength() == 0) {
             isRightNull = true;
         } else {
-            typeTag2 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outRight.getBytes()[0]);
+            typeTag2 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outRight.getByteArray()[0]);
             if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.NULL) {
                 isRightNull = true;
             }
@@ -119,6 +122,10 @@
             case DATETIME: {
                 return compareDateTimeWithArg(typeTag2);
             }
+            case DATE:
+            case TIME: {
+                return compareDateOrTimeWithArg(typeTag2);
+            }
             default: {
                 throw new AlgebricksException("Comparison is undefined between types " + typeTag1 + " and " + typeTag2
                         + " .");
@@ -126,12 +133,12 @@
         }
     }
 
-    private ComparisonResult compareDateTimeWithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
+    private ComparisonResult compareDateOrTimeWithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
         if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.NULL) {
             return ComparisonResult.GREATER_THAN;
-        } else if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.DATETIME) {
-            int result = dateTimeBinaryComp.compare(outLeft.getBytes(), 1, outLeft.getLength() - 1,
-                    outRight.getBytes(), 1, outRight.getLength() - 1);
+        } else if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.DATE || typeTag2 == ATypeTag.TIME) {
+            int result = dateOrTimeBinaryComp.compare(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1, outLeft.getLength() - 1,
+                    outRight.getByteArray(), 1, outRight.getLength() - 1);
             if (result == 0)
                 return ComparisonResult.EQUAL;
             else if (result < 0)
@@ -139,13 +146,29 @@
             else
                 return ComparisonResult.GREATER_THAN;
         }
-        throw new AlgebricksException("Comparison is undefined between types ADateTime and " + typeTag2 + " .");
+        throw new AlgebricksException("Comparison is undefined between types Date/Time and " + typeTag2 + " .");
+    }
+
+    private ComparisonResult compareDateTimeWithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
+        if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+            return ComparisonResult.GREATER_THAN;
+        } else if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.DATETIME) {
+            int result = dateTimeBinaryComp.compare(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1, outLeft.getLength() - 1,
+                    outRight.getByteArray(), 1, outRight.getLength() - 1);
+            if (result == 0)
+                return ComparisonResult.EQUAL;
+            else if (result < 0)
+                return ComparisonResult.LESS_THAN;
+            else
+                return ComparisonResult.GREATER_THAN;
+        }
+        throw new AlgebricksException("Comparison is undefined between types Datetime and " + typeTag2 + " .");
     }
 
     private ComparisonResult compareBooleanWithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
         if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.BOOLEAN) {
-            byte b0 = outLeft.getBytes()[1];
-            byte b1 = outRight.getBytes()[1];
+            byte b0 = outLeft.getByteArray()[1];
+            byte b1 = outRight.getByteArray()[1];
             return compareByte(b0, b1);
         }
         throw new AlgebricksException("Comparison is undefined between types ABoolean and " + typeTag2 + " .");
@@ -153,8 +176,8 @@
 
     private ComparisonResult compareStringWithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
         if (typeTag2 == ATypeTag.STRING) {
-            int result = strBinaryComp.compare(outLeft.getBytes(), 1, outLeft.getLength() - 1, outRight.getBytes(), 1,
-                    outRight.getLength() - 1);
+            int result = strBinaryComp.compare(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1, outLeft.getLength() - 1,
+                    outRight.getByteArray(), 1, outRight.getLength() - 1);
             if (result == 0)
                 return ComparisonResult.EQUAL;
             else if (result < 0)
@@ -166,30 +189,30 @@
     }
 
     private ComparisonResult compareDoubleWithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
-        double s = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outLeft.getBytes(), 1);
+        double s = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1);
         switch (typeTag2) {
             case INT8: {
-                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             case INT16: {
-                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             case INT32: {
-                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             case INT64: {
-                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             case FLOAT: {
-                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             case DOUBLE: {
-                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             default: {
@@ -199,30 +222,30 @@
     }
 
     private ComparisonResult compareFloatWithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
-        float s = FloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outLeft.getBytes(), 1);
+        float s = FloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1);
         switch (typeTag2) {
             case INT8: {
-                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case INT16: {
-                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case INT32: {
-                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case INT64: {
-                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case FLOAT: {
-                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case DOUBLE: {
-                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             default: {
@@ -232,30 +255,30 @@
     }
 
     private ComparisonResult compareInt64WithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
-        long s = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outLeft.getBytes(), 1);
+        long s = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1);
         switch (typeTag2) {
             case INT8: {
-                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareLong(s, v2);
             }
             case INT16: {
-                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareLong(s, v2);
             }
             case INT32: {
-                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareLong(s, v2);
             }
             case INT64: {
-                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareLong(s, v2);
             }
             case FLOAT: {
-                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case DOUBLE: {
-                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             default: {
@@ -265,30 +288,30 @@
     }
 
     private ComparisonResult compareInt32WithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
-        int s = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(outLeft.getBytes(), 1);
+        int s = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1);
         switch (typeTag2) {
             case INT8: {
-                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareInt(s, v2);
             }
             case INT16: {
-                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareInt(s, v2);
             }
             case INT32: {
-                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareInt(s, v2);
             }
             case INT64: {
-                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareLong(s, v2);
             }
             case FLOAT: {
-                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case DOUBLE: {
-                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             default: {
@@ -298,30 +321,30 @@
     }
 
     private ComparisonResult compareInt16WithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
-        short s = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outLeft.getBytes(), 1);
+        short s = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1);
         switch (typeTag2) {
             case INT8: {
-                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareShort(s, v2);
             }
             case INT16: {
-                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareShort(s, v2);
             }
             case INT32: {
-                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareInt(s, v2);
             }
             case INT64: {
-                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareLong(s, v2);
             }
             case FLOAT: {
-                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case DOUBLE: {
-                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             default: {
@@ -331,30 +354,30 @@
     }
 
     private ComparisonResult compareInt8WithArg(ATypeTag typeTag2) throws AlgebricksException {
-        byte s = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outLeft.getBytes(), 1);
+        byte s = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outLeft.getByteArray(), 1);
         switch (typeTag2) {
             case INT8: {
-                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                byte v2 = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareByte(s, v2);
             }
             case INT16: {
-                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                short v2 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareShort(s, v2);
             }
             case INT32: {
-                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                int v2 = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareInt(s, v2);
             }
             case INT64: {
-                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                long v2 = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareLong(s, v2);
             }
             case FLOAT: {
-                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                float v2 = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareFloat(s, v2);
             }
             case DOUBLE: {
-                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getBytes(), 1);
+                double v2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outRight.getByteArray(), 1);
                 return compareDouble(s, v2);
             }
             default: {
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/ComparisonEvalFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/ComparisonEvalFactory.java
index 1e87b75..ed77276 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/ComparisonEvalFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/comparisons/ComparisonEvalFactory.java
@@ -4,23 +4,23 @@
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions.ComparisonKind;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class ComparisonEvalFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+public class ComparisonEvalFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory;
-    private IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory;
+    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory;
     private ComparisonKind comparisonKind;
 
-    public ComparisonEvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory, IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory,
+    public ComparisonEvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory,
             ComparisonKind comparisonKind) {
         this.evalLeftFactory = evalLeftFactory;
         this.evalRightFactory = evalRightFactory;
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
         DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
         switch (comparisonKind) {
             // Should we do any normalization?
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@
     }
 
     static class EqualityComparisonEvaluator extends AbstractComparisonEvaluator {
-        public EqualityComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public EqualityComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
             super(out, evalLeftFactory, evalRightFactory);
         }
 
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@
     }
 
     static class InequalityComparisonEvaluator extends AbstractComparisonEvaluator {
-        public InequalityComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public InequalityComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
             super(out, evalLeftFactory, evalRightFactory);
         }
 
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@
     }
 
     static class GreaterThanOrEqualComparisonEvaluator extends AbstractComparisonEvaluator {
-        public GreaterThanOrEqualComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public GreaterThanOrEqualComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
             super(out, evalLeftFactory, evalRightFactory);
         }
 
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@
     }
 
     static class GreaterThanComparisonEvaluator extends AbstractComparisonEvaluator {
-        public GreaterThanComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public GreaterThanComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
             super(out, evalLeftFactory, evalRightFactory);
         }
 
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@
     }
 
     static class LessThanOrEqualComparisonEvaluator extends AbstractComparisonEvaluator {
-        public LessThanOrEqualComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public LessThanOrEqualComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
             super(out, evalLeftFactory, evalRightFactory);
         }
 
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@
     }
 
     static class LessThanComparisonEvaluator extends AbstractComparisonEvaluator {
-        public LessThanComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, IEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public LessThanComparisonEvaluator(DataOutput out, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
             super(out, evalLeftFactory, evalRightFactory);
         }
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ABooleanConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ABooleanConstructorDescriptor.java
index 4d3b9cd..ab3c1e7 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ABooleanConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ABooleanConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,46 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ABooleanConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "boolean", 1,
-            false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ABooleanConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of boolean";
                     private final byte[] TRUE = { 0, 4, 't', 'r', 'u', 'e' };
                     private final byte[] FALSE = { 0, 5, 'f', 'a', 'l', 's', 'e' };
@@ -59,7 +78,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 if (utf8BinaryComparator.compare(serString, 1, outInput.getLength(), TRUE, 0, 6) == 0) {
                                     booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, out);
@@ -86,7 +105,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.BOOLEAN_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ACircleConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ACircleConstructorDescriptor.java
index 9aee67e..0c00337 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ACircleConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ACircleConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,46 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ACircle;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableCircle;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ACircleConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "circle", 1, true);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ACircleConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of circle";
                     private AMutablePoint aPoint = new AMutablePoint(0, 0);
                     private AMutableCircle aCircle = new AMutableCircle(null, 0);
@@ -57,7 +77,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 String s = new String(serString, 3, outInput.getLength() - 3, "UTF-8");
                                 int commaIndex = s.indexOf(',');
@@ -81,7 +101,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CIRCLE_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java
index c2aaca8..a1f9911 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,51 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADateParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ADateConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "date", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
 
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ADateConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
-                    private int offset;
-                    private short year, month, day, hour, minute, value;
-                    private byte timezonePart = 0;
-                    private boolean positive = true;
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of date";
-                    private AMutableDate aDate = new AMutableDate(0, 0, 0, 0);
+                    private AMutableDate aDate = new AMutableDate(0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ADate> dateSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATE);
@@ -59,75 +78,43 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                offset = 3;
 
-                                if (serString[offset] == '-') {
-                                    offset++;
-                                    positive = false;
+                                int stringLength = (serString[1] & 0xff << 8) + (serString[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                int startOffset = 3;
+                                while (serString[startOffset] == ' ') {
+                                    startOffset++;
+                                }
+                                int endOffset = stringLength - 1 + 3;
+                                while (serString[endOffset] == ' ') {
+                                    endOffset--;
                                 }
 
-                                if (serString[offset + 4] != '-' || serString[offset + 7] != '-')
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                                long chrononTimeInMs = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(serString, startOffset,
+                                        endOffset - startOffset + 1);
 
-                                year = getValue(serString, offset, 4);
-                                month = getValue(serString, offset + 5, 2);
-                                day = getValue(serString, offset + 8, 2);
-
-                                if (year < 0 || year > 9999 || month < 0 || month > 12 || day < 0 || day > 31)
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                offset += 10;
-
-                                if (outInput.getLength() > offset) {
-                                    if (serString[offset] == 'Z')
-                                        timezonePart = 0;
-                                    else {
-                                        if ((serString[offset] != '+' && serString[offset] != '-')
-                                                || (serString[offset + 3] != ':'))
-                                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                        hour = getValue(serString, offset + 1, 2);
-                                        minute = getValue(serString, offset + 4, 2);
-
-                                        if (hour < 0 || hour > 24 || (hour == 24 && minute != 0)
-                                                || (minute != 0 && minute != 15 && minute != 30 && minute != 45))
-                                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                        if (serString[offset] == '-')
-                                            timezonePart = (byte) -((hour * 4) + minute / 15);
-                                        else
-                                            timezonePart = (byte) ((hour * 4) + minute / 15);
-                                    }
-
+                                short temp = 0;
+                                if (chrononTimeInMs < 0
+                                        && chrononTimeInMs % GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY != 0) {
+                                    temp = 1;
                                 }
 
-                                if (!positive)
-                                    year *= -1;
+                                aDate.setValue((int) (chrononTimeInMs / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY) - temp);
 
-                                aDate.setValue(year, month, day, timezonePart);
                                 dateSerde.serialize(aDate, out);
-                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            else
+                            } else {
                                 throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                            }
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
                         }
                     }
-
-                    private short getValue(byte[] b, int offset, int numberOfDigits) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        value = 0;
-                        for (int i = 0; i < numberOfDigits; i++) {
-                            if ((b[offset] >= '0' && b[offset] <= '9'))
-                                value = (short) (value * 10 + b[offset++] - '0');
-                            else
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                        }
-                        return value;
-                    }
                 };
             }
         };
@@ -135,7 +122,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DATE_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
index 5b79309..83f4c8b 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,52 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADateTime;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDateTime;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADateParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "datetime", 1,
-            false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
 
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
-                    private int offset;
-                    private short hour, minute, second, msecond, year, month, day, timezoneHour, timezoneMinute, value;
-                    private byte timezonePart = 0;
-                    private boolean positive = true;
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of datetime";
-                    private AMutableDateTime aDateTime = new AMutableDateTime(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+                    private AMutableDateTime aDateTime = new AMutableDateTime(0L);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ADateTime> datetimeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATETIME);
@@ -60,102 +78,41 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
 
-                                offset = 3;
-                                if (serString[offset] == '-') {
-                                    offset++;
-                                    positive = false;
-                                }
+                                int stringLength = (serString[1] & 0xff << 8) + (serString[2] & 0xff << 0);
 
-                                if (serString[offset + 4] != '-' || serString[offset + 7] != '-')
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                                // +1 if it is negative (-)
+                                short timeOffset = (short) ((serString[3] == '-') ? 1 : 0);
 
-                                year = getValue(serString, offset, 4);
-                                month = getValue(serString, offset + 5, 2);
-                                day = getValue(serString, offset + 8, 2);
+                                timeOffset += 8;
 
-                                if (year < 0 || year > 9999 || month < 0 || month > 12 || day < 0 || day > 31)
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                if (!positive)
-                                    year *= -1;
-
-                                if (serString[offset + 10] != 'T')
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                offset += 11;
-
-                                if (serString[offset + 2] != ':' || serString[offset + 5] != ':')
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                hour = getValue(serString, offset, 2);
-                                minute = getValue(serString, offset + 3, 2);
-                                second = getValue(serString, offset + 6, 2);
-
-                                msecond = 0;
-                                if (serString[offset + 8] == ':') {
-                                    msecond = getValue(serString, offset + 9, 3);
-                                    if (hour < 0 || hour > 24 || minute < 0 || minute > 59 || second < 0 || second > 59
-                                            || msecond < 0 || msecond > 999
-                                            || (hour == 24 && (minute != 0 || second != 0 || msecond != 0)))
-                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                    offset += 12;
-                                } else {
-                                    if (hour < 0 || hour > 24 || minute < 0 || minute > 59 || second < 0 || second > 59
-                                            || (hour == 24 && (minute != 0 || second != 0)))
-                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                    offset += 8;
-                                }
-
-                                if (outInput.getLength() > offset) {
-                                    if (serString[offset] == 'Z')
-                                        timezonePart = 0;
-                                    else {
-                                        if ((serString[offset] != '+' && serString[offset] != '-')
-                                                || (serString[offset + 3] != ':'))
-                                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                        timezoneHour = getValue(serString, offset + 1, 2);
-                                        timezoneMinute = getValue(serString, offset + 4, 2);
-
-                                        if (timezoneHour < 0
-                                                || timezoneHour > 24
-                                                || (timezoneHour == 24 && timezoneMinute != 0)
-                                                || (timezoneMinute != 0 && timezoneMinute != 15 && timezoneMinute != 30 && timezoneMinute != 45))
-                                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                        if (serString[offset] == '-')
-                                            timezonePart = (byte) -((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
-                                        else
-                                            timezonePart = (byte) ((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
+                                if (serString[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                    timeOffset += 2;
+                                    if (serString[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage + ": missing T");
                                     }
-
                                 }
 
-                                aDateTime.setValue(year, month, day, hour, minute, second, msecond, 0, timezonePart);
+                                long chrononTimeInMs = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(serString, 3, timeOffset);
+
+                                chrononTimeInMs += ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(serString, 3 + timeOffset + 1,
+                                        stringLength - timeOffset - 1);
+
+                                aDateTime.setValue(chrononTimeInMs);
                                 datetimeSerde.serialize(aDateTime, out);
-                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            else
+                            } else {
                                 throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                            }
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
                         }
                     }
-
-                    private short getValue(byte[] b, int offset, int numberOfDigits) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        value = 0;
-                        for (int i = 0; i < numberOfDigits; i++) {
-                            if ((b[offset] >= '0' && b[offset] <= '9'))
-                                value = (short) (value * 10 + b[offset++] - '0');
-                            else
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                        }
-                        return value;
-                    }
                 };
             }
         };
@@ -163,7 +120,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DATETIME_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADoubleConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADoubleConstructorDescriptor.java
index 48a35e4..0689fd7 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADoubleConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADoubleConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,48 +1,67 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ADoubleConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "double", 1,
-            false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ADoubleConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of double";
                     private final byte[] POSITIVE_INF = { 0, 3, 'I', 'N', 'F' };
                     private final byte[] NEGATIVE_INF = { 0, 4, '-', 'I', 'N', 'F' };
@@ -70,7 +89,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
 
                                 if (utf8BinaryComparator
@@ -192,7 +211,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DOUBLE_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADurationConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADurationConstructorDescriptor.java
index f014ad6..a84ae1d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADurationConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADurationConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,50 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADuration;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADurationParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ADurationConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "duration", 1,
-            false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
 
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ADurationConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
-                    private int offset;
-                    private int value = 0, hour = 0, minute = 0, second = 0, year = 0, month = 0, day = 0;
-                    private boolean isYear = true, isMonth = true, isDay = true, isHour = true, isMinute = true,
-                            isSecond = true, isTime = false, timeItem = true, positive = true;
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of duration";
                     private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -60,121 +76,22 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
+
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                offset = 3;
-                                if (serString[offset] == '-') {
-                                    offset++;
-                                    positive = false;
-                                }
-                                if (serString[offset++] != 'D')
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
 
-                                for (; offset < outInput.getLength(); offset++) {
-                                    if (serString[offset] >= '0' && serString[offset] <= '9')
-                                        value = value * 10 + serString[offset] - '0';
-                                    else {
-                                        switch (serString[offset]) {
-                                            case 'Y':
-                                                if (isYear) {
-                                                    year = value;
-                                                    isYear = false;
-                                                } else
-                                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                break;
-                                            case 'M':
-                                                if (!isTime) {
-                                                    if (isMonth) {
-                                                        if (value < 0 || value > 11)
-                                                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                        else {
-                                                            month = value;
-                                                            isMonth = false;
-                                                        }
-                                                    } else
-                                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                } else if (isMinute) {
-                                                    if (value < 0 || value > 59)
-                                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                    else {
-                                                        minute = value;
-                                                        isMinute = false;
-                                                        timeItem = false;
-                                                    }
-                                                } else
-                                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                break;
-                                            case 'D':
-                                                if (isDay) {
-                                                    if (value < 0 || value > 30)
-                                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                    else {
-                                                        day = value;
-                                                        isDay = false;
-                                                    }
-                                                } else
-                                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                break;
-                                            case 'T':
-                                                if (!isTime) {
-                                                    isTime = true;
-                                                    timeItem = true;
-                                                } else
-                                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                break;
+                                int stringLength = (serString[1] & 0xff << 8) + (serString[2] & 0xff << 0);
 
-                                            case 'H':
-                                                if (isHour) {
-                                                    if (value < 0 || value > 23)
-                                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                    else {
-                                                        hour = value;
-                                                        isHour = false;
-                                                        timeItem = false;
-                                                    }
-                                                } else
-                                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                break;
-                                            case 'S':
-                                                if (isSecond) {
-                                                    if (value < 0 || value > 59)
-                                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                    else {
-                                                        second = value;
-                                                        isSecond = false;
-                                                        timeItem = false;
-                                                    }
-                                                } else
-                                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                                break;
-                                            default:
-                                                throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                                ADurationParserFactory.parseDuration(serString, 3, stringLength, aDuration);
 
-                                        }
-                                        value = 0;
-                                    }
-                                }
-
-                                if (isTime && timeItem)
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                if (isYear && isMonth && isDay && !isTime)
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                if (positive)
-                                    aDuration.setValue(year * 12 + month, day * 24 * 3600 + 3600 * hour + 60 * minute
-                                            + second);
-                                else
-                                    aDuration.setValue(-1 * (year * 12 + month), -1
-                                            * (day * 24 * 3600 + 3600 * hour + 60 * minute + second));
                                 durationSerde.serialize(aDuration, out);
-                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            else
+                            } else {
                                 throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                        } catch (IOException e1) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                            }
+                        } catch (Exception e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
                         }
                     }
                 };
@@ -184,7 +101,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DURATION_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AFloatConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AFloatConstructorDescriptor.java
index 0af6328..dde302c 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AFloatConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AFloatConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,46 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AFloat;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AFloatConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "float", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AFloatConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of float";
                     private final byte[] POSITIVE_INF = { 0, 3, 'I', 'N', 'F' };
                     private final byte[] NEGATIVE_INF = { 0, 4, '-', 'I', 'N', 'F' };
@@ -69,7 +89,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 if (utf8BinaryComparator
                                         .compare(serString, 1, outInput.getLength(), POSITIVE_INF, 0, 5) == 0) {
@@ -194,6 +214,6 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.FLOAT_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt16ConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt16ConstructorDescriptor.java
index 5aa7b02..3cb9d46 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt16ConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt16ConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,45 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt16;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AInt16ConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "int16", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AInt16ConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private short value;
                     private int offset;
                     private boolean positive;
@@ -58,7 +78,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 offset = 3;
                                 value = 0;
@@ -100,7 +120,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INT16_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt32ConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt32ConstructorDescriptor.java
index 41dea45..0091bbb 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt32ConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt32ConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,45 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AInt32ConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "int32", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AInt32ConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private int value, offset;
                     private boolean positive;
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int32";
@@ -57,7 +77,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 offset = 3;
                                 value = 0;
@@ -99,7 +119,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INT32_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt64ConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt64ConstructorDescriptor.java
index 2528f11..6fa4925 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt64ConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt64ConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,45 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt64;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AInt64ConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "int64", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AInt64ConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private long value;
                     private int offset;
                     private boolean positive;
@@ -58,7 +78,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 offset = 3;
                                 value = 0;
@@ -78,8 +98,9 @@
                                     else
                                         throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
                                 }
-                                if (value < 0)
+                                if (value < 0 && value != -9223372036854775808L) {
                                     throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                                }
                                 if (value > 0 && !positive)
                                     value *= -1;
 
@@ -100,7 +121,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INT64_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt8ConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt8ConstructorDescriptor.java
index acd7d12..c14b4fa 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt8ConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AInt8ConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,45 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt8;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AInt8ConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "int8", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AInt8ConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private byte value;
                     private int offset;
                     private boolean positive;
@@ -58,7 +78,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 offset = 3;
                                 value = 0;
@@ -100,7 +120,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INT8_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0414874
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADateParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "interval-from-date", 2);
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+                    private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of interval (from Date)";
+                    //TODO: Where to move and fix these?
+                    private AMutableInterval aInterval = new AMutableInterval(0L, 0L, (byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInterval> intervalSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINTERVAL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+
+                                int stringLength = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                // start date
+                                long intervalStart = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        stringLength) / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+
+                                // end date
+                                stringLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                long intervalEnd = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        stringLength) / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+
+                                if (intervalEnd < intervalStart) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            "Interval end must not be less than the interval start.");
+                                }
+
+                                aInterval.setValue(intervalStart, intervalEnd, ATypeTag.DATE.serialize());
+                                intervalSerde.serialize(aInterval, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Wrong format for interval constructor from dates.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b3e2b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADateParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AIntervalFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "interval-from-datetime", 2);
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AIntervalFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+                    private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of interval (from Date)";
+                    //TODO: Where to move and fix these?
+                    private AMutableInterval aInterval = new AMutableInterval(0L, 0L, (byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInterval> intervalSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINTERVAL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                // start datetime
+                                int stringLength = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                // get offset for time part: +1 if it is negative (-)
+                                short timeOffset = (short) ((argOut0.getByteArray()[3] == '-') ? 1 : 0);
+                                timeOffset += 8;
+                                if (argOut0.getByteArray()[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                    timeOffset += 2;
+                                    if (argOut0.getByteArray()[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage + ": missing T");
+                                    }
+                                }
+
+                                long intervalStart = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        timeOffset);
+                                intervalStart += ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(argOut0.getByteArray(),
+                                        3 + timeOffset + 1, stringLength - timeOffset - 1);
+
+                                // end datetime
+                                stringLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                // get offset for time part: +1 if it is negative (-)
+                                timeOffset = (short) ((argOut1.getByteArray()[3] == '-') ? 1 : 0);
+                                timeOffset += 8;
+                                if (argOut1.getByteArray()[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                    timeOffset += 2;
+                                    if (argOut1.getByteArray()[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage + ": missing T");
+                                    }
+                                }
+
+                                long intervalEnd = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        timeOffset);
+                                intervalEnd += ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(argOut1.getByteArray(),
+                                        3 + timeOffset + 1, stringLength - timeOffset - 1);
+
+                                if (intervalEnd < intervalStart) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            "Interval end must not be less than the interval start.");
+                                }
+
+                                aInterval.setValue(intervalStart, intervalEnd, ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize());
+                                intervalSerde.serialize(aInterval, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Wrong format for interval constructor from dates.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..042a33b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AIntervalFromTimeConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "interval-from-time", 2);
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AIntervalFromTimeConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+                    private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of interval (from Date)";
+                    //TODO: Where to move and fix these?
+                    private AMutableInterval aInterval = new AMutableInterval(0L, 0L, (byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInterval> intervalSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINTERVAL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                // start date
+                                int stringLength = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                long intervalStart = ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        stringLength);
+                                if (intervalStart < 0) {
+                                    intervalStart += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                                }
+
+                                // end date
+                                stringLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                long intervalEnd = ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        stringLength);
+                                if (intervalEnd < 0) {
+                                    intervalEnd += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                                }
+
+                                if (intervalEnd < intervalStart) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            "Interval end must not be less than the interval start.");
+                                }
+
+                                aInterval.setValue(intervalStart, intervalEnd, ATypeTag.TIME.serialize());
+                                intervalSerde.serialize(aInterval, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Wrong format for interval constructor from dates.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromDateConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromDateConstructorDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5a0db9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromDateConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADateParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADurationParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AIntervalStartFromDateConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "interval-start-from-date", 2);
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AIntervalStartFromDateConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+                    private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of interval (from Date)";
+
+                    private AMutableInterval aInterval = new AMutableInterval(0L, 0L, (byte) 0);
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0L);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInterval> intervalSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINTERVAL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+
+                                // start date
+                                int stringLength = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                long intervalStart = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        stringLength);
+
+                                // duration
+                                stringLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                ADurationParserFactory
+                                        .parseDuration(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3, stringLength, aDuration);
+
+                                long intervalEnd = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(intervalStart,
+                                        aDuration.getMonths(), aDuration.getMilliseconds());
+
+                                intervalStart = GregorianCalendarSystem.getChrononInDays(intervalStart);
+                                intervalEnd = GregorianCalendarSystem.getChrononInDays(intervalEnd);
+
+                                if (intervalEnd < intervalStart) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            "Interval end must not be less than the interval start.");
+                                }
+
+                                aInterval.setValue(intervalStart, intervalEnd, ATypeTag.DATE.serialize());
+                                intervalSerde.serialize(aInterval, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Wrong format for interval constructor from dates.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d821fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADateParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADurationParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AIntervalStartFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "interval-start-from-datetime", 2);
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AIntervalStartFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+                    private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of interval (from Date)";
+
+                    private AMutableInterval aInterval = new AMutableInterval(0L, 0L, (byte) 0);
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0L);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInterval> intervalSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINTERVAL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                // start date
+
+                                int stringLength = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                // get offset for time part: +1 if it is negative (-)
+                                short timeOffset = (short) ((argOut0.getByteArray()[3] == '-') ? 1 : 0);
+
+                                timeOffset += 8;
+
+                                if (argOut0.getByteArray()[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                    timeOffset += 2;
+                                    if (argOut0.getByteArray()[3 + timeOffset] != 'T') {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage + ": missing T");
+                                    }
+                                }
+
+                                long intervalStart = ADateParserFactory.parseDatePart(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        timeOffset);
+                                intervalStart += ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(argOut0.getByteArray(),
+                                        3 + timeOffset + 1, stringLength - timeOffset - 1);
+
+                                // duration
+                                stringLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                ADurationParserFactory
+                                        .parseDuration(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3, stringLength, aDuration);
+
+                                long intervalEnd = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(intervalStart,
+                                        aDuration.getMonths(), aDuration.getMilliseconds());
+
+                                if (intervalEnd < intervalStart) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            "Interval end must not be less than the interval start.");
+                                }
+
+                                aInterval.setValue(intervalStart, intervalEnd, ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize());
+                                intervalSerde.serialize(aInterval, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Wrong format for interval constructor from dates.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8135598
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AIntervalStartFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInterval;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ADurationParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AIntervalStartFromTimeConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "interval-start-from-time", 2);
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AIntervalStartFromTimeConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+                    private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of interval (from Date)";
+
+                    private AMutableInterval aInterval = new AMutableInterval(0L, 0L, (byte) 0);
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0L);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInterval> intervalSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINTERVAL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                // start time
+
+                                int stringLength = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                int intervalStart = ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3,
+                                        stringLength);
+
+                                if (intervalStart < 0) {
+                                    intervalStart += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                                }
+
+                                // duration
+
+                                stringLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                        + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+
+                                ADurationParserFactory
+                                        .parseDuration(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3, stringLength, aDuration);
+
+                                if (aDuration.getMonths() != 0) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException("Cannot add a year-month duration to a time value.");
+                                }
+
+                                int intervalEnd = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(intervalStart,
+                                        aDuration.getMilliseconds());
+
+                                if (intervalEnd > GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY) {
+
+                                    intervalEnd = intervalEnd - (int) (GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY);
+                                }
+
+                                if (intervalEnd < intervalStart) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            "Interval end must not be less than the interval start.");
+                                }
+
+                                aInterval.setValue(intervalStart, intervalEnd, ATypeTag.TIME.serialize());
+                                intervalSerde.serialize(aInterval, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException("Wrong format for interval constructor from dates.");
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ALineConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ALineConstructorDescriptor.java
index d13d646..f287141 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ALineConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ALineConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,46 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ALine;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableLine;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ALineConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "line", 1, true);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ALineConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of line";
                     private AMutableLine aLine = new AMutableLine(null, null);
                     private AMutablePoint[] aPoint = { new AMutablePoint(0, 0), new AMutablePoint(0, 0) };
@@ -57,7 +77,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 String s = new String(serString, 3, outInput.getLength() - 3, "UTF-8");
                                 int commaIndex = s.indexOf(',');
@@ -84,7 +104,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LINE_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ANullConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ANullConstructorDescriptor.java
index a706b7b..df00c74 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ANullConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ANullConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,47 +1,67 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ANullConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "null", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ANullConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of null";
                     private final byte[] NULL = { 0, 4, 'n', 'u', 'l', 'l' };
                     IBinaryComparator utf8BinaryComparator = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.UTF8STRING_POINTABLE_INSTANCE
-                    .createBinaryComparator();
+                            .createBinaryComparator();
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
@@ -52,7 +72,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 if (utf8BinaryComparator.compare(serString, 1, outInput.getLength(), NULL, 0, 6) == 0) {
                                     nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
@@ -72,7 +92,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NULL_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APoint3DConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APoint3DConstructorDescriptor.java
index b5b4392..3c9a8b4 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APoint3DConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APoint3DConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,46 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint3D;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.APoint3D;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class APoint3DConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "point3d", 1,
-            true);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new APoint3DConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of point3d";
                     private AMutablePoint3D aPoint3D = new AMutablePoint3D(0, 0, 0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -56,7 +75,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 String s = new String(serString, 3, outInput.getLength() - 3, "UTF-8");
                                 int firstCommaIndex = s.indexOf(',');
@@ -81,7 +100,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.POINT3D_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APointConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APointConstructorDescriptor.java
index f036207..89c4baf 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APointConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APointConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,45 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.APoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class APointConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "point", 1, true);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new APointConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of point";
                     private AMutablePoint aPoint = new AMutablePoint(0, 0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -55,7 +75,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 String s = new String(serString, 3, outInput.getLength() - 3, "UTF-8");
                                 aPoint.setValue(Double.parseDouble(s.substring(0, s.indexOf(','))),
@@ -76,7 +96,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.POINT_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APolygonConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APolygonConstructorDescriptor.java
index ef2ba05..e17a212 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APolygonConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/APolygonConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,46 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class APolygonConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "polygon", 1,
-            true);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_POLYGON_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.POLYGON.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new APolygonConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of polygon";
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
@@ -52,7 +71,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 String s = new String(serString, 3, outInput.getLength() - 3, "UTF-8");
                                 String[] points = s.split(" ");
@@ -78,7 +97,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.POLYGON_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ARectangleConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ARectangleConstructorDescriptor.java
index c7e2de7..598ff92 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ARectangleConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ARectangleConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,47 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableRectangle;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ARectangle;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ARectangleConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "rectangle", 1,
-            true);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ARectangleConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of rectangle";
                     private AMutableRectangle aRectangle = new AMutableRectangle(null, null);
                     private AMutablePoint[] aPoint = { new AMutablePoint(0, 0), new AMutablePoint(0, 0) };
@@ -58,7 +77,7 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 String s = new String(serString, 3, outInput.getLength() - 3, "UTF-8");
                                 int commaIndex = s.indexOf(',');
@@ -68,11 +87,14 @@
                                 commaIndex = s.indexOf(',', spaceIndex + 1);
                                 aPoint[1].setValue(Double.parseDouble(s.substring(spaceIndex + 1, commaIndex)),
                                         Double.parseDouble(s.substring(commaIndex + 1, s.length())));
-                                if (aPoint[0].getX() > aPoint[1].getX() || aPoint[0].getY() > aPoint[1].getY()) {
+                                if (aPoint[0].getX() > aPoint[1].getX() && aPoint[0].getY() > aPoint[1].getY()) {
+                                    aRectangle.setValue(aPoint[1], aPoint[0]);
+                                } else if (aPoint[0].getX() < aPoint[1].getX() && aPoint[0].getY() < aPoint[1].getY()) {
+                                    aRectangle.setValue(aPoint[0], aPoint[1]);
+                                } else {
                                     throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                                            "The low point in the rectangle cannot be larger than the high point");
+                                            "Rectangle arugment must be either (bottom left point, top right point) or (top right point, bottom left point)");
                                 }
-                                aRectangle.setValue(aPoint[0], aPoint[1]);
                                 rectangle2DSerde.serialize(aRectangle, out);
                             } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
@@ -89,7 +111,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.RECTANGLE_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AStringConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AStringConstructorDescriptor.java
index 361220e..54ab21f 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AStringConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/AStringConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,43 +1,62 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AStringConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "string", 1,
-            false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AStringConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of string";
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
@@ -49,9 +68,9 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                out.write(outInput.getBytes(), outInput.getStartIndex(), outInput.getLength());
+                                out.write(outInput.getByteArray(), outInput.getStartOffset(), outInput.getLength());
                             } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
                             else
@@ -67,7 +86,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java
index 0f86b94..f2ad400 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,50 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableTime;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ATime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ATimeConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "time", 1, false);
     private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
 
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ATimeConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
-                    private int offset;
-                    private short hour, minute, second, msecond, timezoneHour, timezoneMinute, value;
-                    private byte timezonePart = 0;
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
                     private String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of time";
-                    private AMutableTime aTime = new AMutableTime(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+                    private AMutableTime aTime = new AMutableTime(0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ATime> timeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ATIME);
@@ -58,77 +78,31 @@
                         try {
                             outInput.reset();
                             eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] serString = outInput.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                offset = 3;
-                                if (serString[offset + 2] != ':' || serString[offset + 5] != ':')
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
 
-                                hour = getValue(serString, offset, 2);
-                                minute = getValue(serString, offset + 3, 2);
-                                second = getValue(serString, offset + 6, 2);
-                                msecond = 0;
+                                int stringLength = (serString[1] & 0xff << 8) + (serString[2] & 0xff << 0);
 
-                                if (serString[offset + 8] == ':') {
-                                    msecond = getValue(serString, offset + 9, 3);
-                                    if (hour < 0 || hour > 24 || minute < 0 || minute > 59 || second < 0 || second > 59
-                                            || msecond < 0 || msecond > 999
-                                            || (hour == 24 && (minute != 0 || second != 0 || msecond != 0)))
-                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                    offset += 12;
-                                } else {
-                                    if (hour < 0 || hour > 24 || minute < 0 || minute > 59 || second < 0 || second > 59
-                                            || (hour == 24 && (minute != 0 || second != 0)))
-                                        throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                                    offset += 8;
+                                int chrononTimeInMs = ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(serString, 3, stringLength);
+
+                                if (chrononTimeInMs < 0) {
+                                    chrononTimeInMs += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
                                 }
 
-                                if (outInput.getLength() > offset) {
-                                    if (serString[offset] == 'Z')
-                                        timezonePart = 0;
-                                    else {
-                                        if ((serString[offset] != '+' && serString[offset] != '-')
-                                                || (serString[offset + 3] != ':'))
-                                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                        timezoneHour = getValue(serString, offset + 1, 2);
-                                        timezoneMinute = getValue(serString, offset + 4, 2);
-
-                                        if (timezoneHour < 0
-                                                || timezoneHour > 24
-                                                || (timezoneHour == 24 && timezoneMinute != 0)
-                                                || (timezoneMinute != 0 && timezoneMinute != 15 && timezoneMinute != 30 && timezoneMinute != 45))
-                                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-
-                                        if (serString[offset] == '-')
-                                            timezonePart = (byte) -((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
-                                        else
-                                            timezonePart = (byte) ((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
-                                    }
-                                }
-
-                                aTime.setValue(hour, minute, second, msecond, 0, timezonePart);
+                                aTime.setValue(chrononTimeInMs);
                                 timeSerde.serialize(aTime, out);
 
-                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            else
+                            } else {
                                 throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                            }
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        } catch (Exception e2) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
                         }
                     }
-
-                    private short getValue(byte[] b, int offset, int numberOfDigits) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        value = 0;
-                        for (int i = 0; i < numberOfDigits; i++) {
-                            if ((b[offset] >= '0' && b[offset] <= '9'))
-                                value = (short) (value * 10 + b[offset++] - '0');
-                            else
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                        }
-                        return value;
-                    }
                 };
             }
         };
@@ -136,7 +110,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.TIME_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a54e3b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval.java
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public abstract class AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval implements ICopyEvaluator {
+
+    private DataOutput dout;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ICopyEvaluator evalLeft;
+    private ICopyEvaluator evalRight;
+    private final FunctionIdentifier funcID;
+    @SuppressWarnings({ "rawtypes" })
+    private ISerializerDeserializer boolSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+
+    public AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval(DataOutput dout, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalLeftFactory,
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalRightFactory, FunctionIdentifier funcID) throws AlgebricksException {
+        this.dout = dout;
+        this.evalLeft = evalLeftFactory.createEvaluator(array0);
+        this.evalRight = evalRightFactory.createEvaluator(array1);
+        this.funcID = funcID;
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    @Override
+    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        array0.reset();
+        evalLeft.evaluate(tuple);
+        array1.reset();
+        evalRight.evaluate(tuple);
+
+        try {
+            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG && array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                boolSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, dout);
+                return;
+            } else if ((array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG && array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG)
+                    || (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)) {
+                boolSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, dout);
+                return;
+            } else if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                    || array1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(funcID.getName() + ": expects input type STRING or NULL, but got "
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0]) + " and "
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array1.getByteArray()[0]) + ")!");
+            }
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+        byte[] b1 = array0.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b2 = array1.getByteArray();
+
+        int lLen = array0.getLength();
+        int rLen = array1.getLength();
+
+        int lStart = array0.getStartOffset();
+        int rStart = array1.getStartOffset();
+        ABoolean res = compute(b1, lLen, lStart, b2, rLen, rStart, array0, array1) ? ABoolean.TRUE : ABoolean.FALSE;
+        try {
+            boolSerde.serialize(res, dout);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected abstract boolean compute(byte[] lBytes, int lLen, int lStart, byte[] rBytes, int rLen, int rStart,
+            ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) throws AlgebricksException;
+
+    protected String toRegex(AString pattern) {
+        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+        String str = pattern.getStringValue();
+        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
+            char c = str.charAt(i);
+            if (c == '\\' && (i < str.length() - 1) && (str.charAt(i + 1) == '_' || str.charAt(i + 1) == '%')) {
+                sb.append(str.charAt(i + 1));
+                ++i;
+            } else if (c == '%') {
+                sb.append(".*");
+            } else if (c == '_') {
+                sb.append(".");
+            } else {
+                if (Arrays.binarySearch(reservedRegexChars, c) >= 0) {
+                    sb.append('\\');
+                }
+                sb.append(c);
+            }
+        }
+        return sb.toString();
+    }
+
+    private final static char[] reservedRegexChars = new char[] { '\\', '(', ')', '[', ']', '{', '}', '.', '^', '$',
+            '*', '|' };
+    static {
+        Arrays.sort(reservedRegexChars);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractNumericArithmeticEval.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractNumericArithmeticEval.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..895e575
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractNumericArithmeticEval.java
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+@SuppressWarnings("serial")
+public abstract class AbstractNumericArithmeticEval extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    abstract protected long evaluateInteger(long lhs, long rhs) throws HyracksDataException;
+
+    abstract protected double evaluateDouble(double lhs, double rhs) throws HyracksDataException;
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    // one temp. buffer re-used by both children
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalLeft = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalRight = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private double[] operandsFloating = new double[args.length];
+                    private long[] operandsInteger = new long[args.length];
+                    private int resultType;
+                    static protected final int typeInt8 = 1;
+                    static protected final int typeInt16 = 2;
+                    static protected final int typeInt32 = 3;
+                    static protected final int typeInt64 = 4;
+                    static protected final int typeFloat = 5;
+                    static protected final int typeDouble = 6;
+
+                    protected AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    protected AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    protected AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    protected AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    protected AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    protected AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    private ATypeTag typeTag;
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        try {
+                            resultType = 0;
+                            int currentType = 0;
+                            for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
+                                argOut.reset();
+                                if (i == 0)
+                                    evalLeft.evaluate(tuple);
+                                else
+                                    evalRight.evaluate(tuple);
+                                typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]);
+                                switch (typeTag) {
+                                    case INT8: {
+                                        currentType = typeInt8;
+                                        operandsInteger[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(),
+                                                1);
+                                        operandsFloating[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case INT16: {
+                                        currentType = typeInt16;
+                                        operandsInteger[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        operandsFloating[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case INT32: {
+                                        currentType = typeInt32;
+                                        operandsInteger[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(),
+                                                1);
+                                        operandsFloating[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case INT64: {
+                                        currentType = typeInt64;
+                                        operandsInteger[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        operandsFloating[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case FLOAT: {
+                                        currentType = typeFloat;
+                                        operandsFloating[i] = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case DOUBLE: {
+                                        currentType = typeDouble;
+                                        operandsFloating[i] = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
+                                                argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case NULL: {
+                                        serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                        serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                        return;
+                                    }
+                                    default: {
+                                        throw new NotImplementedException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                                + (i == 0 ? ": Left" : ": Right")
+                                                + " operand expects INT8/INT16/INT32/INT64/FLOAT/DOUBLE/NULL, but got "
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0]));
+                                    }
+                                }
+
+                                if (resultType < currentType) {
+                                    resultType = currentType;
+                                }
+                            }
+
+                            long lres = 0;
+                            double dres = 0;
+                            switch (resultType) {
+                                case typeInt8:
+                                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                    lres = evaluateInteger(operandsInteger[0], operandsInteger[1]);
+                                    if (lres > Byte.MAX_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Overflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    if (lres < Byte.MIN_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Underflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    aInt8.setValue((byte) lres);
+                                    serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                                    break;
+                                case typeInt16:
+                                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                    lres = evaluateInteger(operandsInteger[0], operandsInteger[1]);
+                                    if (lres > Short.MAX_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Overflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    if (lres < Short.MIN_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Underflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    aInt16.setValue((short) lres);
+                                    serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                                    break;
+                                case typeInt32:
+                                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                    lres = evaluateInteger(operandsInteger[0], operandsInteger[1]);
+                                    if (lres > Integer.MAX_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Overflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    if (lres < Integer.MIN_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Underflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    aInt32.setValue((int) lres);
+                                    serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                                    break;
+                                case typeInt64:
+                                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                    lres = evaluateInteger(operandsInteger[0], operandsInteger[1]);
+                                    aInt64.setValue(lres);
+                                    serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                                    break;
+                                case typeFloat:
+                                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                    dres = evaluateDouble(operandsFloating[0], operandsFloating[1]);
+                                    if (dres > Float.MAX_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Overflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    if (dres < -Float.MAX_VALUE) {
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Underflow happened.");
+                                    }
+                                    aFloat.setValue((float) dres);
+                                    serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                                    break;
+                                case typeDouble:
+                                    serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                    aDouble.setValue(evaluateDouble(operandsFloating[0], operandsFloating[1]));
+                                    serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                                    break;
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hde) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hde);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractQuadStringStringEval.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractQuadStringStringEval.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce9ecd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractQuadStringStringEval.java
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+/*
+ * To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
+ * and open the template in the editor.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * @author ilovesoup
+ */
+public abstract class AbstractQuadStringStringEval implements ICopyEvaluator {
+
+    private DataOutput dout;
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array2 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array3 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval0;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval1;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval2;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval3;
+
+    private final FunctionIdentifier funcID;
+
+    private AMutableString resultBuffer = new AMutableString("");
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer strSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
+
+    public AbstractQuadStringStringEval(DataOutput dout, ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval0, ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval1,
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval2, ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval3, FunctionIdentifier funcID)
+            throws AlgebricksException {
+        this.dout = dout;
+        this.eval0 = eval0.createEvaluator(array0);
+        this.eval1 = eval1.createEvaluator(array1);
+        this.eval2 = eval2.createEvaluator(array2);
+        this.eval3 = eval3.createEvaluator(array3);
+        this.funcID = funcID;
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    @Override
+    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        array0.reset();
+        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+        array1.reset();
+        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+        array2.reset();
+        eval2.evaluate(tuple);
+        array3.reset();
+        eval3.evaluate(tuple);
+
+        try {
+            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, dout);
+                return;
+            } else if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                if ((array1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && array1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                        || (array2.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && array2.getByteArray()[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                        || (array3.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && array3.getByteArray()[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)) {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException(funcID.getName()
+                            + ": expects input type (STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL), but got ("
+                            + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                            + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array1.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                            + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array2.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                            + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array3.getByteArray()[0]) + ".");
+                }
+
+            } else {
+                throw new AlgebricksException("Expects String or NULL Type.");
+            }
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+        byte[] b0 = array0.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b1 = array1.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b2 = array2.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b3 = array3.getByteArray();
+
+        int len0 = array0.getLength();
+        int len1 = array1.getLength();
+        int len2 = array2.getLength();
+        int len3 = array3.getLength();
+
+        int s0 = array0.getStartOffset();
+        int s1 = array1.getStartOffset();
+        int s2 = array2.getStartOffset();
+        int s3 = array3.getStartOffset();
+
+        String res = compute(b0, len0, s0, b1, len1, s1, b2, len2, s2, b3, len3, s3, array0, array1);
+        resultBuffer.setValue(res);
+        try {
+            strSerde.serialize(resultBuffer, dout);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected abstract String compute(byte[] b0, int l0, int s0, byte[] b1, int l1, int s1, byte[] b2, int l2, int s2,
+            byte[] b3, int l3, int s3, ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1)
+            throws AlgebricksException;
+
+    protected String toRegex(AString pattern) {
+        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+        String str = pattern.getStringValue();
+        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
+            char c = str.charAt(i);
+            if (c == '\\' && (i < str.length() - 1) && (str.charAt(i + 1) == '_' || str.charAt(i + 1) == '%')) {
+                sb.append(str.charAt(i + 1));
+                ++i;
+            } else if (c == '%') {
+                sb.append(".*");
+            } else if (c == '_') {
+                sb.append(".");
+            } else {
+                if (Arrays.binarySearch(reservedRegexChars, c) >= 0) {
+                    sb.append('\\');
+                }
+                sb.append(c);
+            }
+        }
+        return sb.toString();
+    }
+
+    protected int toFlag(AString pattern) {
+        String str = pattern.getStringValue();
+        int flag = 0;
+        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
+            char c = str.charAt(i);
+            switch (c) {
+                case 's':
+                    flag |= Pattern.DOTALL;
+                    break;
+                case 'm':
+                    flag |= Pattern.MULTILINE;
+                    break;
+                case 'i':
+                    flag |= Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE;
+                    break;
+                case 'x':
+                    flag |= Pattern.COMMENTS;
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+        return flag;
+    }
+
+    private final static char[] reservedRegexChars = new char[] { '\\', '(', ')', '[', ']', '{', '}', '.', '^', '$',
+            '*', '|' };
+
+    static {
+        Arrays.sort(reservedRegexChars);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractStringContainsEval.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractStringContainsEval.java
index ba6a644..81782c8 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractStringContainsEval.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractStringContainsEval.java
@@ -4,32 +4,42 @@
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public abstract class AbstractStringContainsEval implements IEvaluator {
+public abstract class AbstractStringContainsEval implements ICopyEvaluator {
 
     private DataOutput dout;
 
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
     private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
     private ArrayBackedValueStorage array1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-    private IEvaluator evalString;
-    private IEvaluator evalPattern;
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    private ICopyEvaluator evalString;
+    private ICopyEvaluator evalPattern;
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
     private ISerializerDeserializer boolSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
 
-    public AbstractStringContainsEval(DataOutput dout, IEvaluatorFactory evalStringFactory,
-            IEvaluatorFactory evalPatternFactory) throws AlgebricksException {
+    private final FunctionIdentifier funcID;
+
+    public AbstractStringContainsEval(DataOutput dout, ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalStringFactory,
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalPatternFactory, FunctionIdentifier funcID) throws AlgebricksException {
         this.dout = dout;
         this.evalString = evalStringFactory.createEvaluator(array0);
         this.evalPattern = evalPatternFactory.createEvaluator(array1);
+        this.funcID = funcID;
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -39,8 +49,33 @@
         evalPattern.evaluate(tuple);
         array0.reset();
         evalString.evaluate(tuple);
-        byte[] b1 = array0.getBytes();
-        byte[] b2 = array1.getBytes();
+
+        try {
+            if (array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG || array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                    boolSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, dout);
+                    return;
+                }
+            } else if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                if (array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                    boolSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, dout);
+                    return;
+                }
+
+            }
+
+            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG || array1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(funcID.getName()
+                        + ": expects input type (STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL), but got ("
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array1.getByteArray()[0]) + ").");
+            }
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+        byte[] b1 = array0.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b2 = array1.getByteArray();
         ABoolean res = findMatch(b1, b2) ? ABoolean.TRUE : ABoolean.FALSE;
         try {
             boolSerde.serialize(res, dout);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractTripleStringBoolEval.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractTripleStringBoolEval.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3be797
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractTripleStringBoolEval.java
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public abstract class AbstractTripleStringBoolEval implements ICopyEvaluator {
+
+    private DataOutput dout;
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array2 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval0;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval1;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval2;
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer boolSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+
+    private final FunctionIdentifier funcID;
+
+    public AbstractTripleStringBoolEval(DataOutput dout, ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval0, ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval1,
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval2, FunctionIdentifier funcID) throws AlgebricksException {
+        this.dout = dout;
+        this.eval0 = eval0.createEvaluator(array0);
+        this.eval1 = eval1.createEvaluator(array1);
+        this.eval2 = eval2.createEvaluator(array2);
+        this.funcID = funcID;
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    @Override
+    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        array0.reset();
+        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+        array1.reset();
+        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+        array2.reset();
+        eval2.evaluate(tuple);
+
+        try {
+            if ((array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG && array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG)
+                    || (array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG && array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG)) {
+                boolSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, dout);
+                return;
+            } else if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG && array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                boolSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, dout);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG || array1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                    || array2.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(funcID.getName()
+                        + ": expects iput type (STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL, STRING) but got ("
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array1.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array2.getByteArray()[0]) + ")");
+            }
+
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+        byte[] b0 = array0.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b1 = array1.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b2 = array2.getByteArray();
+
+        int len0 = array0.getLength();
+        int len1 = array1.getLength();
+        int len2 = array2.getLength();
+
+        int s0 = array0.getStartOffset();
+        int s1 = array1.getStartOffset();
+        int s2 = array2.getStartOffset();
+
+        ABoolean res = compute(b0, len0, s0, b1, len1, s1, b2, len2, s2, array0, array1) ? ABoolean.TRUE
+                : ABoolean.FALSE;
+        try {
+            boolSerde.serialize(res, dout);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected abstract boolean compute(byte[] b0, int l0, int s0, byte[] b1, int l1, int s1, byte[] b2, int l2, int s2,
+            ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) throws AlgebricksException;
+
+    protected String toRegex(AString pattern) {
+        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+        String str = pattern.getStringValue();
+        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
+            char c = str.charAt(i);
+            if (c == '\\' && (i < str.length() - 1) && (str.charAt(i + 1) == '_' || str.charAt(i + 1) == '%')) {
+                sb.append(str.charAt(i + 1));
+                ++i;
+            } else if (c == '%') {
+                sb.append(".*");
+            } else if (c == '_') {
+                sb.append(".");
+            } else {
+                if (Arrays.binarySearch(reservedRegexChars, c) >= 0) {
+                    sb.append('\\');
+                }
+                sb.append(c);
+            }
+        }
+        return sb.toString();
+    }
+
+    protected int toFlag(AString pattern) {
+        String str = pattern.getStringValue();
+        int flag = 0;
+        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
+            char c = str.charAt(i);
+            switch (c) {
+                case 's':
+                    flag |= Pattern.DOTALL;
+                    break;
+                case 'm':
+                    flag |= Pattern.MULTILINE;
+                    break;
+                case 'i':
+                    flag |= Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE;
+                    break;
+                case 'x':
+                    flag |= Pattern.COMMENTS;
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+        return flag;
+    }
+
+    private final static char[] reservedRegexChars = new char[] { '\\', '(', ')', '[', ']', '{', '}', '.', '^', '$',
+            '*', '|' };
+
+    static {
+        Arrays.sort(reservedRegexChars);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractTripleStringStringEval.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractTripleStringStringEval.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41d0b3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AbstractTripleStringStringEval.java
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public abstract class AbstractTripleStringStringEval implements ICopyEvaluator {
+
+    private DataOutput dout;
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array2 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval0;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval1;
+    private ICopyEvaluator eval2;
+
+    private AMutableString resultBuffer = new AMutableString("");
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+    private ISerializerDeserializer strSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
+
+    private final FunctionIdentifier funcID;
+
+    public AbstractTripleStringStringEval(DataOutput dout, ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval0, ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval1,
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory eval2, FunctionIdentifier funcID) throws AlgebricksException {
+        this.dout = dout;
+        this.eval0 = eval0.createEvaluator(array0);
+        this.eval1 = eval1.createEvaluator(array1);
+        this.eval2 = eval2.createEvaluator(array2);
+        this.funcID = funcID;
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    @Override
+    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+        array0.reset();
+        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+        array1.reset();
+        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+        array2.reset();
+        eval2.evaluate(tuple);
+
+        try {
+            // type-check: (string?, string, string)
+
+            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                if (array1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && array2.getByteArray()[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, dout);
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG || array1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                    || array2.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(funcID.getName()
+                        + ": expects input type (STRING/NULL, STRING, STRING), but got ("
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array1.getByteArray()[0]) + ", "
+                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array2.getByteArray()[0]) + ").");
+            }
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+        byte[] b0 = array0.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b1 = array1.getByteArray();
+        byte[] b2 = array2.getByteArray();
+
+        int len0 = array0.getLength();
+        int len1 = array1.getLength();
+        int len2 = array2.getLength();
+
+        int s0 = array0.getStartOffset();
+        int s1 = array1.getStartOffset();
+        int s2 = array2.getStartOffset();
+
+        String res = compute(b0, len0, s0, b1, len1, s1, b2, len2, s2, array0, array1);
+        resultBuffer.setValue(res);
+        try {
+            strSerde.serialize(resultBuffer, dout);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected abstract String compute(byte[] b0, int l0, int s0, byte[] b1, int l1, int s1, byte[] b2, int l2, int s2,
+            ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) throws AlgebricksException;
+
+    protected String toRegex(AString pattern) {
+        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+        String str = pattern.getStringValue();
+        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
+            char c = str.charAt(i);
+            if (c == '\\' && (i < str.length() - 1) && (str.charAt(i + 1) == '_' || str.charAt(i + 1) == '%')) {
+                sb.append(str.charAt(i + 1));
+                ++i;
+            } else if (c == '%') {
+                sb.append(".*");
+            } else if (c == '_') {
+                sb.append(".");
+            } else {
+                if (Arrays.binarySearch(reservedRegexChars, c) >= 0) {
+                    sb.append('\\');
+                }
+                sb.append(c);
+            }
+        }
+        return sb.toString();
+    }
+
+    protected int toFlag(AString pattern) {
+        String str = pattern.getStringValue();
+        int flag = 0;
+        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
+            char c = str.charAt(i);
+            switch (c) {
+                case 's':
+                    flag |= Pattern.DOTALL;
+                    break;
+                case 'm':
+                    flag |= Pattern.MULTILINE;
+                    break;
+                case 'i':
+                    flag |= Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE;
+                    break;
+                case 'x':
+                    flag |= Pattern.COMMENTS;
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+        return flag;
+    }
+
+    private final static char[] reservedRegexChars = new char[] { '\\', '(', ')', '[', ']', '{', '}', '.', '^', '$',
+            '*', '|' };
+
+    static {
+        Arrays.sort(reservedRegexChars);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AndDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AndDescriptor.java
index eb361be..a090dc2 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AndDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AndDescriptor.java
@@ -1,52 +1,57 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ABooleanSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AndDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions.ALGEBRICKS_NS,
-            "and", FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
 
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AndDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.AND;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 // one temp. buffer re-used by all children
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                final IEvaluator[] evals = new IEvaluator[args.length];
+                final ICopyEvaluator[] evals = new ICopyEvaluator[args.length];
                 for (int i = 0; i < evals.length; i++) {
                     evals[i] = args[i].createEvaluator(argOut);
                 }
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
@@ -63,11 +68,11 @@
                             for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
                                 argOut.reset();
                                 evals[i].evaluate(tuple);
-                                if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                     metNull = true;
                                     continue;
                                 }
-                                boolean argResult = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                boolean argResult = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                 res = res && argResult;
                             }
                             if (metNull) {
@@ -88,5 +93,4 @@
             }
         };
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor.java
index 0710283..d704812 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor.java
@@ -4,46 +4,51 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "any-collection-member", 1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new AnyCollectionMemberEvalFactory(args[0]);
     }
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ANY_COLLECTION_MEMBER;
     }
 
-    private static class AnyCollectionMemberEvalFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+    private static class AnyCollectionMemberEvalFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-        private IEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory;
         private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
         private final static byte SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST.serialize();
         private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
@@ -51,17 +56,17 @@
         private ATypeTag itemTag;
         private boolean selfDescList = false;
 
-        public AnyCollectionMemberEvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory arg) {
+        public AnyCollectionMemberEvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory arg) {
             this.listEvalFactory = arg;
         }
 
         @Override
-        public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-            return new IEvaluator() {
+        public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                 private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                 private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInputList = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                private IEvaluator evalList = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputList);
+                private ICopyEvaluator evalList = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputList);
                 @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                 private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
@@ -74,7 +79,7 @@
                     try {
                         outInputList.reset();
                         evalList.evaluate(tuple);
-                        byte[] serList = outInputList.getBytes();
+                        byte[] serList = outInputList.getByteArray();
 
                         if (serList[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                             nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
@@ -82,7 +87,8 @@
                         }
 
                         if (serList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && serList[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("List's get-any-item is not defined for values of type"
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ANY_COLLECTION_MEMBER.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type ORDEREDLIST/UNORDEREDLIST, but got "
                                     + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[0]));
                         }
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/BinaryHashMap.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/BinaryHashMap.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..240f8c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/BinaryHashMap.java
@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.DataInput;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.utils.Pair;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryHashFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+
+/**
+ * The most simple implementation of a static hashtable you could imagine.
+ * Intended to work with binary data and be able to map arbitrary key types to
+ * arbitrary value types, given that they have implementations of
+ * IBinaryHashFunction and IBinaryComparator.
+ * 
+ * Uses 2 bytes each to indicate the length of the key and the value.
+ * Uses 8 byte pointers for the linked list (4 bytes frame index, 4 bytes frame offset).
+ * 
+ * This class is NOT thread safe.
+ * 
+ */
+public class BinaryHashMap {
+	// Special value to indicate an empty "bucket" in the header array.
+	private static final long NULL_PTR = -1;
+	private static final int PTR_SIZE = 8;
+	private static final int SLOT_SIZE = 2;
+	private static final int ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE = PTR_SIZE + 2 * SLOT_SIZE;
+	private final IBinaryHashFunction hashFunc;
+	private final IBinaryComparator cmp;
+	private final BinaryEntry returnValue = new BinaryEntry();
+	
+	private final long[] listHeads;
+	private final int frameSize;
+	private final List<ByteBuffer> frames = new ArrayList<ByteBuffer>();
+	private int currFrameIndex;
+	private int nextOff;
+	private int size;
+	
+	// Can be used for key or value.
+	public static class BinaryEntry {
+		public byte[] buf;
+		public int off;
+		public int len;
+		
+		public void set(byte[] buf, int off, int len) {
+			this.buf = buf;
+			this.off = off;
+			this.len = len;
+		}
+		
+		// Inefficient. Just for debugging.
+		@SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+		public String print(ISerializerDeserializer serde) throws HyracksDataException {
+			ByteArrayInputStream inStream = new ByteArrayInputStream(buf, off, len);
+            DataInput dataIn = new DataInputStream(inStream);
+            return serde.deserialize(dataIn).toString();
+		}
+	}
+	
+	public BinaryHashMap(int tableSize, int frameSize, IBinaryHashFunction hashFunc, IBinaryComparator cmp) {
+		listHeads = new long[tableSize];
+		this.frameSize = frameSize;		
+		this.hashFunc = hashFunc;
+		this.cmp = cmp;
+		frames.add(ByteBuffer.allocate(frameSize));
+		clear();
+	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * Inserts key, value into the hash map. If key already exists, returns
+	 * existing entry. Otherwise, returns null.
+	 * 
+	 * @param key
+	 * @param value
+	 * @return
+	 */
+	public BinaryEntry put(BinaryEntry key, BinaryEntry value) {
+		return getPutInternal(key, value, true);
+	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * Retrieves value for given key. Returns null if key doesn't exist.
+	 * 
+	 * @param key
+	 * @param value
+	 * @return
+	 */
+	public BinaryEntry get(BinaryEntry key) {
+		return getPutInternal(key, null, false);
+	}
+	
+	private BinaryEntry getPutInternal(BinaryEntry key, BinaryEntry value, boolean put) {
+		int bucket = Math.abs(hashFunc.hash(key.buf, key.off, key.len) % listHeads.length);
+		long headPtr = listHeads[bucket];
+		if (headPtr == NULL_PTR) {
+			// Key definitely doesn't exist yet.
+			if (put) {
+				listHeads[bucket] = appendEntry(key, value);
+			}
+			return null;
+		}
+		// Follow the chain until we found an entry matching the given key.
+		int frameOff;
+		ByteBuffer frame;
+		do {				
+			int frameIndex = getFrameIndex(headPtr);
+			frameOff = getFrameOffset(headPtr);
+			frame = frames.get(frameIndex);
+			int entryKeyOff = frameOff + ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE;
+			int entryKeyLen = frame.getShort(frameOff);
+			if (cmp.compare(frame.array(), entryKeyOff, entryKeyLen, key.buf,
+					key.off, key.len) == 0) {
+				// Key found, set values and return.
+				int entryValOff = frameOff + ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE + entryKeyLen;
+				int entryValLen = frame.getShort(frameOff + SLOT_SIZE);
+				returnValue.set(frame.array(), entryValOff, entryValLen);
+				return returnValue;
+			}
+			headPtr = frame.getLong(frameOff + 2 * SLOT_SIZE);
+		} while (headPtr != NULL_PTR);
+		// We've followed the chain to its end, and didn't find the key.
+		if (put) {
+			// Append the new entry, and set a pointer to it in the last entry we've checked.
+			long newPtr = appendEntry(key, value);
+			frame.putLong(frameOff + 2 * SLOT_SIZE, newPtr);
+		}
+		return null;
+	}
+	
+	public long appendEntry(BinaryEntry key, BinaryEntry value) {
+		ByteBuffer frame = frames.get(currFrameIndex);
+		int requiredSpace = key.len + value.len + ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE;
+		if (nextOff + requiredSpace >= frameSize) {
+			// Entry doesn't fit on frame, allocate a new one.
+			if (requiredSpace > frameSize) {
+				throw new IllegalStateException("Key and value greater than framesize.");
+			}
+			frames.add(ByteBuffer.allocate(frameSize));
+			currFrameIndex++;
+			nextOff = 0;
+			frame = frames.get(currFrameIndex);
+		}
+		writeEntryHeader(frame, nextOff, key.len, value.len, NULL_PTR);
+		System.arraycopy(key.buf, key.off, frame.array(), nextOff + ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE, key.len);
+		System.arraycopy(value.buf, value.off, frame.array(), nextOff + ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE + key.len, value.len);
+		long entryPtr = getEntryPtr(currFrameIndex, nextOff);
+		nextOff += requiredSpace;
+		size++;
+		return entryPtr;
+	}
+	
+	private void writeEntryHeader(ByteBuffer frame, int targetOff, int keyLen, int valLen, long ptr) {
+		frame.putShort(targetOff, (short) keyLen);
+		frame.putShort(targetOff + SLOT_SIZE, (short) valLen);
+		frame.putLong(targetOff + 2 * SLOT_SIZE, ptr);
+	}
+
+	private long getEntryPtr(int frameIndex, int frameOff) {
+        return (((long) frameIndex) << 32) + frameOff;
+    }
+
+    private int getFrameIndex(long ptr) {
+        return (int) ((ptr >> 32) & 0xffffffff);
+    }
+
+    private int getFrameOffset(long ptr) {
+        return (int) (ptr & 0xffffffff);
+    }
+
+	public int size() {
+		return size;
+	}
+
+	public boolean isEmpty() {
+		return size > 0;
+	}
+
+	public void clear() {
+		// Initialize all entries to point to nothing.
+		Arrays.fill(listHeads, NULL_PTR);
+		currFrameIndex = 0;
+		nextOff = 0;
+		size = 0;
+	}
+	
+	public Iterator<Pair<BinaryEntry, BinaryEntry>> iterator() {
+		return new BinaryHashMapIterator();
+	}
+	
+	public class BinaryHashMapIterator implements Iterator<Pair<BinaryEntry, BinaryEntry> > {
+		private final Pair<BinaryEntry, BinaryEntry> val = new Pair<BinaryEntry, BinaryEntry>(new BinaryEntry(), new BinaryEntry());
+		private int listHeadIndex;
+		private ByteBuffer frame;
+		private int frameIndex;
+		private int frameOff;
+		
+		public BinaryHashMapIterator() {
+			listHeadIndex = 0;
+			frame = null;
+			frameIndex = -1;
+			frameOff = -1;
+		}
+		
+		@Override
+		public boolean hasNext() {
+			if (frame != null) {
+				long nextPtr = frame.getLong(frameOff + 2 * SLOT_SIZE);
+				if (nextPtr == NULL_PTR) {
+					// End of current list.
+					listHeadIndex++;
+					return nextListHead();
+				} else {
+					// Follow pointer.
+					setValue(nextPtr);
+					return true;
+				}
+			}
+			return nextListHead();
+		}
+
+		private boolean nextListHead() {
+			// Position to first non-null list-head pointer.
+			while(listHeadIndex < listHeads.length && listHeads[listHeadIndex] == NULL_PTR) {
+				listHeadIndex++;
+			}
+			if (listHeadIndex < listHeads.length) {
+				// Positioned to first non-null list head.
+				setValue(listHeads[listHeadIndex]);
+				return true;
+			} else {
+				// No more lists.
+				frame = null;
+				return false;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		private void setValue(long ptr) {
+			frameIndex = getFrameIndex(ptr);
+			frameOff = getFrameOffset(ptr);
+			frame = frames.get(frameIndex);
+			int entryKeyOff = frameOff + ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE;
+			int entryKeyLen = frame.getShort(frameOff);
+			int entryValOff = frameOff + ENTRY_HEADER_SIZE + entryKeyLen;
+			int entryValLen = frame.getShort(frameOff + SLOT_SIZE);
+			val.first.set(frame.array(), entryKeyOff, entryKeyLen);
+			val.second.set(frame.array(), entryValOff, entryValLen);
+		}
+		
+		@Override
+		public Pair<BinaryEntry, BinaryEntry> next() {
+			return val;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public void remove() {
+			throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Remove not implemented");
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CastRecordDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CastRecordDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8bb4d49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CastRecordDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.pointables.PointableAllocator;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.pointables.base.IVisitablePointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.pointables.cast.ACastVisitor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.utils.Triple;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class CastRecordDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CastRecordDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    private ARecordType reqType;
+    private ARecordType inputType;
+
+    public void reset(ARecordType reqType, ARecordType inputType) {
+        this.reqType = reqType;
+        this.inputType = inputType;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CAST_RECORD;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        final ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory = args[0];
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                final ArrayBackedValueStorage recordBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                final ICopyEvaluator recEvaluator = recordEvalFactory.createEvaluator(recordBuffer);
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    // pointable allocator
+                    private PointableAllocator allocator = new PointableAllocator();
+                    final IVisitablePointable recAccessor = allocator.allocateRecordValue(inputType);
+                    final IVisitablePointable resultAccessor = allocator.allocateRecordValue(reqType);
+                    final ACastVisitor castVisitor = new ACastVisitor();
+                    final Triple<IVisitablePointable, IAType, Boolean> arg = new Triple<IVisitablePointable, IAType, Boolean>(
+                            resultAccessor, reqType, Boolean.FALSE);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            recordBuffer.reset();
+                            recEvaluator.evaluate(tuple);
+                            recAccessor.set(recordBuffer);
+                            recAccessor.accept(castVisitor, arg);
+                            out.write(resultAccessor.getByteArray(), resultAccessor.getStartOffset(),
+                                    resultAccessor.getLength());
+                        } catch (Exception ioe) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(ioe);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor.java
index 8dfaf69..cdfd9d3 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,16 +1,21 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 
 public class ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
-    protected static final FunctionIdentifier FID_CLOSED = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "closed-record-constructor", FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
@@ -22,11 +27,11 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID_CLOSED;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CLOSED_RECORD_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new ClosedRecordConstructorEvalFactory(args, recType);
     }
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CodePointToStringDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CodePointToStringDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a3e1b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CodePointToStringDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class CodePointToStringDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CodePointToStringDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+    private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+
+    private final static byte[] currentUTF8 = new byte[6];
+    private final byte stringTypeTag = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            private int codePointToUTF8(int c) {
+                if (c < 0x80) {
+                    currentUTF8[0] = (byte) (c & 0x7F /* mask 7 lsb: 0b1111111 */);
+                    return 1;
+                } else if (c < 0x0800) {
+                    currentUTF8[0] = (byte) (c >> 6 & 0x1F | 0xC0);
+                    currentUTF8[1] = (byte) (c & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    return 2;
+                } else if (c < 0x010000) {
+                    currentUTF8[0] = (byte) (c >> 12 & 0x0F | 0xE0);
+                    currentUTF8[1] = (byte) (c >> 6 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[2] = (byte) (c & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    return 3;
+                } else if (c < 0x200000) {
+                    currentUTF8[0] = (byte) (c >> 18 & 0x07 | 0xF0);
+                    currentUTF8[1] = (byte) (c >> 12 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[2] = (byte) (c >> 6 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[3] = (byte) (c & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    return 4;
+                } else if (c < 0x4000000) {
+                    currentUTF8[0] = (byte) (c >> 24 & 0x03 | 0xF8);
+                    currentUTF8[1] = (byte) (c >> 18 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[2] = (byte) (c >> 12 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[3] = (byte) (c >> 6 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[4] = (byte) (c & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    return 5;
+                } else if (c < 0x80000000) {
+                    currentUTF8[0] = (byte) (c >> 30 & 0x01 | 0xFC);
+                    currentUTF8[1] = (byte) (c >> 24 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[2] = (byte) (c >> 18 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[3] = (byte) (c >> 12 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[4] = (byte) (c >> 6 & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    currentUTF8[5] = (byte) (c & 0x3F | 0x80);
+                    return 6;
+                }
+                return 0;
+            }
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory = args[0];
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInputList = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalList = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputList);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            outInputList.reset();
+                            evalList.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] serOrderedList = outInputList.getByteArray();
+                            if (serOrderedList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && serOrderedList[1] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CODEPOINT_TO_STRING.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type ORDEREDLIST but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serOrderedList[0]));
+                            }
+                            int size = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(serOrderedList);
+                            try {
+                                // calculate length first
+                                int utf_8_len = 0;
+                                for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+                                    int itemOffset = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer
+                                            .getItemOffset(serOrderedList, i);
+                                    int codePoint = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(serOrderedList, itemOffset);
+                                    utf_8_len += codePointToUTF8(codePoint);
+                                }
+                                out.writeByte(stringTypeTag);
+                                StringUtils.writeUTF8Len(utf_8_len, out);
+                                for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+                                    int itemOffset = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer
+                                            .getItemOffset(serOrderedList, i);
+                                    int codePoint = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(serOrderedList, itemOffset);
+                                    utf_8_len = codePointToUTF8(codePoint);
+                                    for (int j = 0; j < utf_8_len; j++) {
+                                        out.writeByte(currentUTF8[j]);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            } catch (AsterixException ex) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                            }
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1.getMessage());
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CODEPOINT_TO_STRING;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CodepointIterator.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CodepointIterator.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f103e0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CodepointIterator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+
+/**
+ *
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class CodepointIterator {
+    public void reset(byte [] buf, int startPos) {
+        this.buf = buf;
+        this.curPos = startPos + 2;
+        this.startPos = startPos;
+        len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(buf, startPos);        
+    }
+    
+    public int size() { return len; }
+
+    private byte[] buf;
+    private int curPos = 0;
+    private int len = 0;
+    private int startPos = 0;
+
+    public int getCodePoint() {
+        return UTF8ToCodePoint(buf, curPos);
+    }
+
+    public static int UTF8ToCodePoint(byte[] b, int s) {
+        if (b[s] >> 7 == 0) {
+            // 1 byte
+            return b[s];
+        } else if ((b[s] & 0xe0) == 0xc0) { /*
+             * 0xe0 = 0b1110000
+             */
+            // 2 bytes
+            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x1f)) << 6
+                    | /*
+                     * 0x3f = 0b00111111
+                     */ ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f));
+        } else if ((b[s] & 0xf0) == 0xe0) {
+            // 3bytes
+            return ((int) (b[s] & 0xf)) << 12
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 6
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f));
+        } else if ((b[s] & 0xf8) == 0xf0) {
+            // 4bytes
+            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x7)) << 18
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 12
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f)) << 6
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 3] & 0x3f));
+        } else if ((b[s] & 0xfc) == 0xf8) {
+            // 5bytes
+            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x3)) << 24
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 18
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f)) << 12
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 3] & 0x3f)) << 6
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 4] & 0x3f));
+        } else if ((b[s] & 0xfe) == 0xfc) {
+            // 6bytes
+            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x1)) << 30
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 24
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f)) << 18
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 3] & 0x3f)) << 12
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 4] & 0x3f)) << 6
+                    | ((int) (b[s + 5] & 0x3f));
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    public void next() {
+        int step = UTF8StringPointable.charSize(buf, curPos);
+        if(step + curPos < len + 2 + startPos)
+            curPos += step;
+    }
+
+    public boolean hasNext() {
+        int step = UTF8StringPointable.charSize(buf, curPos);
+        if(step + curPos < len + 2 + startPos)
+            return true;   
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    public static int compare(CodepointIterator ls, CodepointIterator rs) {
+        CodepointIterator shortString = ls.size() < rs.size() ? ls : rs;
+        
+        while (true) {
+            int c1 = ls.getCodePoint();
+            int c2 = rs.getCodePoint();
+            if (c1 != c2) {
+                return c1 - c2;
+            }
+            if(shortString.hasNext()) {
+                ls.next();
+                rs.next();
+            } else {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        return ls.size() - rs.size();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ContainsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ContainsDescriptor.java
index 611a67b..8fe59a8 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ContainsDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/ContainsDescriptor.java
@@ -2,39 +2,43 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
 
 public class ContainsDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "contains", 2,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ContainsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new AbstractStringContainsEval(dout, args[0], args[1]) {
+                return new AbstractStringContainsEval(dout, args[0], args[1], AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CONTAINS) {
 
                     @Override
                     protected boolean findMatch(byte[] strBytes, byte[] patternBytes) {
-                        int utflen1 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLen(strBytes, 1);
-                        int utflen2 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLen(patternBytes, 1);
+                        int utflen1 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(strBytes, 1);
+                        int utflen2 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(patternBytes, 1);
 
                         int s1Start = 3;
                         int s2Start = 3;
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CONTAINS;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor.java
index 46ec534..0bdb7ff 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor.java
@@ -1,40 +1,42 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.GramTokensEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.ITokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.ITokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
 
 public class CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "counthashed-gram-tokens", 3, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.COUNTHASHED_GRAM_TOKENS;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory(ATypeTag.INT32.serialize(),
-                        ATypeTag.INT32.serialize());
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory();
                 NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer tokenizer = new NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer(3, true, false, true,
                         tokenFactory);
                 return new GramTokensEvaluator(args, output, tokenizer, BuiltinType.AINT32);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor.java
index d20d23d..be982c0 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor.java
@@ -1,41 +1,43 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.WordTokensEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.IBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.ITokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.IBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.ITokenFactory;
 
 public class CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "counthashed-word-tokens", 1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.COUNTHASHED_WORD_TOKENS;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory(ATypeTag.INT32.serialize(),
-                        ATypeTag.INT32.serialize());
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory();
                 IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer = new DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer(false, true, tokenFactory);
                 return new WordTokensEvaluator(args, output, tokenizer, BuiltinType.AINT32);
             }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateCircleDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateCircleDescriptor.java
index ecb6bff..c188228 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateCircleDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateCircleDescriptor.java
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
@@ -11,38 +10,50 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ACircle;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableCircle;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class CreateCircleDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "create-circle",
-            2, true);
+
+    private static final byte SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.POINT.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CreateCircleDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
                     private AMutablePoint aPoint = new AMutablePoint(0, 0);
                     private AMutableCircle aCircle = new AMutableCircle(null, 0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -56,12 +67,24 @@
                         outInput1.reset();
                         eval1.evaluate(tuple);
 
+                        // Type check: (point, double)
+                        if (outInput0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG
+                                || outInput1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_CIRCLE.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type (POINT, DOUBLE) but got ("
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ", "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ")");
+                        }
+
                         try {
-                            aPoint.setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                            aPoint.setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                     APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X)),
-                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y)));
-                            aCircle.setValue(aPoint, ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(), 1));
+                            aCircle.setValue(aPoint,
+                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(), 1));
                             circleSerde.serialize(aCircle, out);
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
@@ -74,7 +97,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_CIRCLE;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateLineDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateLineDescriptor.java
index 9ecd011..3021d70 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateLineDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateLineDescriptor.java
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
@@ -11,38 +10,50 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ALine;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableLine;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class CreateLineDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "create-line", 2,
-            true);
+
+    // allowed input type
+    private static final byte SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.POINT.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CreateLineDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
                     private AMutableLine aLine = new AMutableLine(null, null);
                     private AMutablePoint[] aPoint = { new AMutablePoint(0, 0), new AMutablePoint(0, 0) };
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -56,14 +67,25 @@
                         outInput1.reset();
                         eval1.evaluate(tuple);
 
+                        // type-check: (point, point)
+                        if (outInput0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG
+                                || outInput1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_LINE.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type: (POINT, POINT) but got ("
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ", "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ").");
+                        }
+
                         try {
-                            aPoint[0].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                            aPoint[0].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                     APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X)),
-                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y)));
-                            aPoint[1].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                            aPoint[1].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                     APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X)),
-                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y)));
                             aLine.setValue(aPoint[0], aPoint[1]);
                             lineSerde.serialize(aLine, out);
@@ -78,7 +100,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_LINE;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateMBRDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateMBRDescriptor.java
index 74e8cb1..ad6f6d4 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateMBRDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateMBRDescriptor.java
@@ -1,26 +1,31 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.CreateMBREvalFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 
 public class CreateMBRDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "create-mbr", 3,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CreateMBRDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
         return new CreateMBREvalFactory(args[0], args[1], args[2]);
     }
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_MBR;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePointDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePointDescriptor.java
index d75606a..e660815 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePointDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePointDescriptor.java
@@ -3,43 +3,54 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.APoint;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class CreatePointDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "create-point",
-            2, true);
+
+    // allowed input type
+    private static final byte SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CreatePointDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
                     private AMutablePoint aPoint = new AMutablePoint(0, 0);
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<APoint> pointSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
@@ -52,9 +63,20 @@
                         outInput1.reset();
                         eval1.evaluate(tuple);
 
+                        // type-check: (double, double)
+                        if (outInput0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG
+                                || outInput1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_POINT.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type: (DOUBLE, DOUBLE) but got ("
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ", "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ").");
+                        }
+
                         try {
-                            aPoint.setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(), 1),
-                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(), 1));
+                            aPoint.setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(), 1),
+                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(), 1));
                             pointSerde.serialize(aPoint, out);
 
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
@@ -68,7 +90,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_POINT;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePolygonDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePolygonDescriptor.java
index 6cfbe5b..4bd45bb 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePolygonDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreatePolygonDescriptor.java
@@ -3,35 +3,40 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class CreatePolygonDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "create-polygon",
-            FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CreatePolygonDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             private DataOutput out;
             private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                final IEvaluator[] argEvals = new IEvaluator[args.length];
+                final ICopyEvaluator[] argEvals = new ICopyEvaluator[args.length];
                 out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                 outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
@@ -40,7 +45,7 @@
                     argEvals[i] = args[i].createEvaluator(outInput);
                 }
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -55,7 +60,8 @@
                             outInput.reset();
                             argEvals[i].evaluate(tuple);
                             try {
-                                out.write(outInput.getBytes(), outInput.getStartIndex() + 1, outInput.getLength() - 1);
+                                out.write(outInput.getByteArray(), outInput.getStartOffset() + 1,
+                                        outInput.getLength() - 1);
                             } catch (IOException e) {
                                 throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                             }
@@ -68,7 +74,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_POLYGON;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateRectangleDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateRectangleDescriptor.java
index 504e666..a9c3b09 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateRectangleDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/CreateRectangleDescriptor.java
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
@@ -11,37 +10,49 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableRectangle;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ARectangle;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class CreateRectangleDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "create-rectangle", 2, true);
+
+    // allowed input type
+    private static final byte SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.POINT.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CreateRectangleDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
                     private AMutableRectangle aRectangle = new AMutableRectangle(null, null);
                     private AMutablePoint[] aPoint = { new AMutablePoint(0, 0), new AMutablePoint(0, 0) };
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -55,20 +66,33 @@
                         outInput1.reset();
                         eval1.evaluate(tuple);
 
+                        if (outInput0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG
+                                || outInput1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_POINT_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_RECTANGLE.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type: (POINT, POINT) but got ("
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ", "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ".");
+                        }
+
                         try {
-                            aPoint[0].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                            aPoint[0].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                     APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X)),
-                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y)));
-                            aPoint[1].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                            aPoint[1].setValue(ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                     APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X)),
-                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                    ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y)));
-                            if (aPoint[0].getX() > aPoint[1].getX() || aPoint[0].getY() > aPoint[1].getY()) {
+                            if (aPoint[0].getX() > aPoint[1].getX() && aPoint[0].getY() > aPoint[1].getY()) {
+                                aRectangle.setValue(aPoint[1], aPoint[0]);
+                            } else if (aPoint[0].getX() < aPoint[1].getX() && aPoint[0].getY() < aPoint[1].getY()) {
+                                aRectangle.setValue(aPoint[0], aPoint[1]);
+                            } else {
                                 throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                                        "The low point in the rectangle cannot be larger than the high point");
+                                        "Rectangle arugment must be either (bottom left point, top right point) or (top right point, bottom left point)");
                             }
-                            aRectangle.setValue(aPoint[0], aPoint[1]);
                             rectangle2DSerde.serialize(aRectangle, out);
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
@@ -81,7 +105,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CREATE_RECTANGLE;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceCheckDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceCheckDescriptor.java
index 23e5e1d..028c31b 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceCheckDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceCheckDescriptor.java
@@ -2,39 +2,43 @@
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAOrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.EditDistanceEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class EditDistanceCheckDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "edit-distance-check", 3, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new EditDistanceCheckDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 return new EditDistanceCheckEvaluator(args, output);
             }
         };
@@ -42,20 +46,20 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_CHECK;
     }
 
     private static class EditDistanceCheckEvaluator extends EditDistanceEvaluator {
 
-        private final IEvaluator edThreshEval;
+        private final ICopyEvaluator edThreshEval;
         private int edThresh = -1;
-        private IAOrderedListBuilder listBuilder;
+        private final OrderedListBuilder listBuilder;
         private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal;
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
         private final ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                 .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
 
-        public EditDistanceCheckEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+        public EditDistanceCheckEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
                 throws AlgebricksException {
             super(args, output);
             edThreshEval = args[2].createEvaluator(argOut);
@@ -68,7 +72,7 @@
             super.runArgEvals(tuple);
             int edThreshStart = argOut.getLength();
             edThreshEval.evaluate(tuple);
-            edThresh = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), edThreshStart + typeIndicatorSize);
+            edThresh = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), edThreshStart + typeIndicatorSize);
         }
 
         @Override
@@ -88,8 +92,8 @@
                 }
 
                 default: {
-                    throw new AlgebricksException("Invalid type " + argType
-                            + " passed as argument to edit distance function.");
+                    throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_CHECK.getName()
+                            + ": expects input type as STRING or ORDEREDLIST but got " + argType + ".");
                 }
 
             }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceDescriptor.java
index 740952e..7cb44cb 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceDescriptor.java
@@ -1,28 +1,32 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.EditDistanceEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 public class EditDistanceDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "edit-distance",
-            2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new EditDistanceDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 return new EditDistanceEvaluator(args, output);
             }
         };
@@ -30,7 +34,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceListIsFilterable.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceListIsFilterable.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5866bf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceListIsFilterable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
+
+/**
+ * Checks whether a list with an edit distance threshold can be filtered with a lower bounding on the number of common list elements.
+ * This function returns 'true' if the lower bound on the number of common elements is positive, 'false' otherwise.
+ * For example, this function is used during an indexed nested-loop join based on edit distance. We partition the tuples of the probing
+ * dataset into those that are filterable and those that are not. Those that are filterable are forwarded to the index. The others are
+ * are fed into a (non indexed) nested-loop join.
+ */
+public class EditDistanceListIsFilterable extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new EditDistanceListIsFilterable();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new EditDistanceListIsFilterableEvaluator(args, output);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_LIST_IS_FILTERABLE;
+    }
+
+    private static class EditDistanceListIsFilterableEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
+
+        protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage argBuf = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+        protected final IDataOutputProvider output;
+
+        protected final ICopyEvaluator listEval;
+        protected final ICopyEvaluator edThreshEval;
+
+        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+        private final ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+
+        public EditDistanceListIsFilterableEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+                throws AlgebricksException {
+            this.output = output;
+            listEval = args[0].createEvaluator(argBuf);
+            edThreshEval = args[1].createEvaluator(argBuf);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+            ATypeTag typeTag = null;
+
+            // Check type and compute string length.
+            argBuf.reset();
+            listEval.evaluate(tuple);
+            typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argBuf.getByteArray()[0]);
+            int listLen = 0;
+            switch (typeTag) {
+                case UNORDEREDLIST: {
+                    listLen = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(argBuf.getByteArray(), 0);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case ORDEREDLIST: {
+                    listLen = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(argBuf.getByteArray(), 0);
+                    break;
+                }
+                default: {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_LIST_IS_FILTERABLE.getName()
+                            + ": expects input type ORDEREDLIST or UNORDEREDLIST as the first argument, but got "
+                            + typeTag + ".");
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Check type and extract edit-distance threshold.
+            argBuf.reset();
+            edThreshEval.evaluate(tuple);
+            typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argBuf.getByteArray()[0]);
+            if (!typeTag.equals(ATypeTag.INT32)) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_LIST_IS_FILTERABLE.getName()
+                        + ": expected type INT32 as the second argument, but got " + typeTag + ".");
+            }
+            int edThresh = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argBuf.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+            // Compute result.
+            int lowerBound = listLen - edThresh;
+            try {
+                if (lowerBound <= 0) {
+                    booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, output.getDataOutput());
+                } else {
+                    booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, output.getDataOutput());
+                }
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceStringIsFilterable.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceStringIsFilterable.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..512a76b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EditDistanceStringIsFilterable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.BooleanSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
+
+/**
+ * Checks whether a string with an edit distance threshold can be filtered with a lower bounding on number of common grams.
+ * This function returns 'true' if the lower bound on the number of common grams is positive, 'false' otherwise.
+ * For example, this function is used during an indexed nested-loop join based on edit distance. We partition the tuples of the probing
+ * dataset into those that are filterable and those that are not. Those that are filterable are forwarded to the index. The others are
+ * are fed into a (non indexed) nested-loop join.
+ */
+public class EditDistanceStringIsFilterable extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new EditDistanceStringIsFilterable();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new EditDistanceStringIsFilterableEvaluator(args, output);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_STRING_IS_FILTERABLE;
+    }
+
+    private static class EditDistanceStringIsFilterableEvaluator implements ICopyEvaluator {
+
+        protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage argBuf = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+        protected final IDataOutputProvider output;
+
+        protected final ICopyEvaluator stringEval;
+        protected final ICopyEvaluator edThreshEval;
+        protected final ICopyEvaluator gramLenEval;
+        protected final ICopyEvaluator usePrePostEval;
+
+        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+        private final ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+
+        public EditDistanceStringIsFilterableEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+                throws AlgebricksException {
+            this.output = output;
+            stringEval = args[0].createEvaluator(argBuf);
+            edThreshEval = args[1].createEvaluator(argBuf);
+            gramLenEval = args[2].createEvaluator(argBuf);
+            usePrePostEval = args[3].createEvaluator(argBuf);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+            ATypeTag typeTag = null;
+
+            // Check type and compute string length.
+            argBuf.reset();
+            stringEval.evaluate(tuple);
+            typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argBuf.getByteArray()[0]);
+            if (!typeTag.equals(ATypeTag.STRING)) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_STRING_IS_FILTERABLE.getName()
+                        + ": expects input type STRING as first argument, but got " + typeTag + ".");
+            }
+            int utf8Length = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(argBuf.getByteArray(), 1);
+            int pos = 3;
+            int strLen = 0;
+            int end = pos + utf8Length;
+            while (pos < end) {
+                strLen++;
+                pos += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(argBuf.getByteArray(), pos);
+            }
+
+            // Check type and extract edit-distance threshold.
+            argBuf.reset();
+            edThreshEval.evaluate(tuple);
+            typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argBuf.getByteArray()[0]);
+            if (!typeTag.equals(ATypeTag.INT32)) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_STRING_IS_FILTERABLE.getName()
+                        + ": expects input type INT32 as second argument, but got " + typeTag + ".");
+            }
+            int edThresh = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argBuf.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+            // Check type and extract gram length.
+            argBuf.reset();
+            gramLenEval.evaluate(tuple);
+            typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argBuf.getByteArray()[0]);
+            if (!typeTag.equals(ATypeTag.INT32)) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_STRING_IS_FILTERABLE.getName()
+                        + ": expects input type INT32 as third argument, but got " + typeTag + ".");
+            }
+            int gramLen = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argBuf.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+            // Check type and extract usePrePost flag.
+            argBuf.reset();
+            usePrePostEval.evaluate(tuple);
+            typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argBuf.getByteArray()[0]);
+            if (!typeTag.equals(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN)) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EDIT_DISTANCE_STRING_IS_FILTERABLE.getName()
+                        + ": expects input type BOOLEAN as fourth argument, but got " + typeTag + ".");
+            }
+            boolean usePrePost = BooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argBuf.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+            // Compute result.			
+            int numGrams = (usePrePost) ? strLen + gramLen - 1 : strLen - gramLen + 1;
+            int lowerBound = numGrams - edThresh * gramLen;
+            try {
+                if (lowerBound <= 0 || strLen == 0) {
+                    booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, output.getDataOutput());
+                } else {
+                    booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, output.getDataOutput());
+                }
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EmbedTypeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EmbedTypeDescriptor.java
index 6f86da8..1477106 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EmbedTypeDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EmbedTypeDescriptor.java
@@ -1,20 +1,26 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class EmbedTypeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "embed-type", 1,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new EmbedTypeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     @SuppressWarnings("unused")
     private IAType fieldType;
 
@@ -23,15 +29,15 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
 
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 // TODO Auto-generated method stub
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -45,7 +51,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.EMBED_TYPE;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EndsWithDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EndsWithDescriptor.java
index a868a1a..bd5757d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EndsWithDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/EndsWithDescriptor.java
@@ -2,39 +2,43 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
 
 public class EndsWithDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "ends-with", 2,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new EndsWithDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new AbstractStringContainsEval(dout, args[0], args[1]) {
+                return new AbstractStringContainsEval(dout, args[0], args[1], AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ENDS_WITH) {
 
                     @Override
                     protected boolean findMatch(byte[] strBytes, byte[] patternBytes) {
-                        int utflen1 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLen(strBytes, 1);
-                        int utflen2 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLen(patternBytes, 1);
+                        int utflen1 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(strBytes, 1);
+                        int utflen2 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(patternBytes, 1);
 
                         int s1Start = 3;
                         int s2Start = 3;
@@ -67,7 +71,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ENDS_WITH;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor.java
index 7bb7dc3..e4aa596 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor.java
@@ -1,17 +1,23 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 
 public class FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "field-access-by-index", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     private ARecordType recType;
 
     public void reset(ARecordType recType) {
@@ -20,11 +26,11 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.FIELD_ACCESS_BY_INDEX;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory(args[0], args[1], recType);
     }
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByNameDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByNameDescriptor.java
index 7eb8fae..09a9940 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByNameDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FieldAccessByNameDescriptor.java
@@ -4,65 +4,71 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARecordSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class FieldAccessByNameDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private static final FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "field-access-by-name", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new FieldAccessByNameDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.FIELD_ACCESS_BY_NAME;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new FieldAccessByNameEvalFactory(args[0], args[1]);
     }
 
-    private static class FieldAccessByNameEvalFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+    private static class FieldAccessByNameEvalFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-        private IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory;
-        private IEvaluatorFactory fldNameEvalFactory;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory fldNameEvalFactory;
 
         private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
         private final static byte SER_RECORD_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.RECORD.serialize();
 
-        public FieldAccessByNameEvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory, IEvaluatorFactory fldNameEvalFactory) {
+        public FieldAccessByNameEvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory fldNameEvalFactory) {
             this.recordEvalFactory = recordEvalFactory;
             this.fldNameEvalFactory = fldNameEvalFactory;
         }
 
         @Override
-        public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-            return new IEvaluator() {
+        public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                 private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
                 private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                private IEvaluator eval0 = recordEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                private IEvaluator eval1 = fldNameEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = recordEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = fldNameEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInput1);
                 @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                 private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
@@ -78,7 +84,7 @@
                         eval0.evaluate(tuple);
                         outInput1.reset();
                         eval1.evaluate(tuple);
-                        byte[] serRecord = outInput0.getBytes();
+                        byte[] serRecord = outInput0.getByteArray();
 
                         if (serRecord[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                             nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
@@ -86,11 +92,12 @@
                         }
 
                         if (serRecord[0] != SER_RECORD_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("Field accessor is not defined for values of type"
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.FIELD_ACCESS_BY_NAME.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type NULL or RECORD, but got "
                                     + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serRecord[0]));
                         }
 
-                        byte[] serFldName = outInput1.getBytes();
+                        byte[] serFldName = outInput1.getByteArray();
                         fieldValueOffset = ARecordSerializerDeserializer.getFieldOffsetByName(serRecord, serFldName);
                         if (fieldValueOffset < 0) {
                             out.writeByte(ATypeTag.NULL.serialize());
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FuzzyEqDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FuzzyEqDescriptor.java
index 056bb61..b9f9d5e 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FuzzyEqDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/FuzzyEqDescriptor.java
@@ -1,26 +1,31 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 
 public class FuzzyEqDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "fuzzy-eq", 2,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new FuzzyEqDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
         throw new NotImplementedException();
     }
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.FUZZY_EQ;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GetItemDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GetItemDescriptor.java
index 828ca2f..b41347d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GetItemDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GetItemDescriptor.java
@@ -4,67 +4,73 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class GetItemDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "get-item", 2,
-            true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new GetItemDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new GetItemEvalFactory(args);
     }
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.GET_ITEM;
     }
 
-    private static class GetItemEvalFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+    private static class GetItemEvalFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-        private IEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory;
-        private IEvaluatorFactory indexEvalFactory;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory indexEvalFactory;
         private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
         private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+        private final static byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
         private byte serItemTypeTag;
         private ATypeTag itemTag;
         private boolean selfDescList = false;
 
-        public GetItemEvalFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        public GetItemEvalFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
             this.listEvalFactory = args[0];
             this.indexEvalFactory = args[1];
         }
 
         @Override
-        public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-            return new IEvaluator() {
+        public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                 private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                 private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInputList = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInputIdx = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                private IEvaluator evalList = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputList);
-                private IEvaluator evalIdx = indexEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputIdx);
+                private ICopyEvaluator evalList = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputList);
+                private ICopyEvaluator evalIdx = indexEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputIdx);
                 @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                 private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
@@ -80,25 +86,30 @@
                         evalList.evaluate(tuple);
                         outInputIdx.reset();
                         evalIdx.evaluate(tuple);
-                        byte[] serOrderedList = outInputList.getBytes();
+                        byte[] serOrderedList = outInputList.getByteArray();
 
                         if (serOrderedList[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                             nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
                             return;
                         }
 
-                        if (serOrderedList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("List's get-item can not be called on values of type"
-                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serOrderedList[0]));
+                        if (serOrderedList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG
+                                || outInputIdx.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.GET_ITEM.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type (NULL/ORDEREDLIST, INT32), but got ("
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serOrderedList[0]) + ", "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInputIdx.getByteArray()[0])
+                                    + ").");
                         }
 
-                        itemIndex = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInputIdx.getBytes(), 1);
+                        itemIndex = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(outInputIdx.getByteArray(), 1);
                         if (itemIndex >= AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(serOrderedList)) {
                             out.writeByte(SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG);
                             return;
                         }
                         if (itemIndex < 0)
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("Item index can be negative !!");
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.GET_ITEM.getName()
+                                    + ": item index can be negative!");
 
                         itemTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serOrderedList[1]);
                         if (itemTag == ATypeTag.ANY)
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GramTokensDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GramTokensDescriptor.java
index 7321766..1993453 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GramTokensDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/GramTokensDescriptor.java
@@ -1,39 +1,42 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.GramTokensEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.ITokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.UTF8NGramTokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.ITokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.UTF8NGramTokenFactory;
 
 public class GramTokensDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "gram-tokens",
-            3, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new GramTokensDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.GRAM_TOKENS;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new UTF8NGramTokenFactory(ATypeTag.STRING.serialize(),
-                        ATypeTag.INT32.serialize());
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new UTF8NGramTokenFactory();
                 NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer tokenizer = new NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer(3, true, true, true,
                         tokenFactory);
                 return new GramTokensEvaluator(args, output, tokenizer, BuiltinType.ASTRING);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedGramTokensDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedGramTokensDescriptor.java
index e2193f5..43fda6f 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedGramTokensDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedGramTokensDescriptor.java
@@ -1,39 +1,42 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.GramTokensEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.ITokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.ITokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
 
 public class HashedGramTokensDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "hashed-gram-tokens", 3, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new HashedGramTokensDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.HASHED_GRAM_TOKENS;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory(ATypeTag.INT32.serialize(),
-                        ATypeTag.INT32.serialize());
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8NGramTokenFactory();
                 NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer tokenizer = new NGramUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer(3, true, true, true,
                         tokenFactory);
                 return new GramTokensEvaluator(args, output, tokenizer, BuiltinType.AINT32);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedWordTokensDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedWordTokensDescriptor.java
index e223b2a..554044a 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedWordTokensDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/HashedWordTokensDescriptor.java
@@ -1,41 +1,43 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.WordTokensEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.IBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.ITokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.IBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.ITokenFactory;
 
 public class HashedWordTokensDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "hashed-word-tokens", 1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new HashedWordTokensDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.HASHED_WORD_TOKENS;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory(ATypeTag.INT32.serialize(),
-                        ATypeTag.INT32.serialize());
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new HashedUTF8WordTokenFactory();
                 IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer = new DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer(true, true, tokenFactory);
                 return new WordTokensEvaluator(args, output, tokenizer, BuiltinType.AINT32);
             }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/InjectFailureDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/InjectFailureDescriptor.java
index 863c213..e35c56f 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/InjectFailureDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/InjectFailureDescriptor.java
@@ -2,45 +2,50 @@
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ABooleanSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class InjectFailureDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "inject-failure", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new InjectFailureDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INJECT_FAILURE;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                final IEvaluator[] evals = new IEvaluator[args.length];
+                final ICopyEvaluator[] evals = new ICopyEvaluator[args.length];
                 evals[0] = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
                 evals[1] = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -48,17 +53,20 @@
                             // evaluator the failure condition
                             argOut.reset();
                             evals[1].evaluate(tuple);
-                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[0]);
+                            ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                    .deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]);
                             if (typeTag == ATypeTag.BOOLEAN) {
-                                boolean argResult = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                boolean argResult = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                 if (argResult)
-                                    throw new AlgebricksException("Injecting a intended failure");
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INJECT_FAILURE
+                                            + ": injecting a intended failure");
                             }
 
                             // evaluate the real evaluator
                             argOut.reset();
                             evals[0].evaluate(tuple);
-                            output.getDataOutput().write(argOut.getBytes(), argOut.getStartIndex(), argOut.getLength());
+                            output.getDataOutput().write(argOut.getByteArray(), argOut.getStartOffset(),
+                                    argOut.getLength());
                         } catch (IOException e) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/IsNullDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/IsNullDescriptor.java
index d6fe887..c25de2d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/IsNullDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/IsNullDescriptor.java
@@ -4,45 +4,50 @@
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AObjectSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class IsNullDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions.ALGEBRICKS_NS,
-            "is-null", 1, true);
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IsNullDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
 
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                         argOut.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        boolean isNull = argOut.getBytes()[argOut.getStartIndex()] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG;
+                        boolean isNull = argOut.getByteArray()[argOut.getStartOffset()] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG;
                         ABoolean res = isNull ? ABoolean.TRUE : ABoolean.FALSE;
                         try {
                             AObjectSerializerDeserializer.INSTANCE.serialize(res, out);
@@ -57,7 +62,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.IS_NULL;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LenDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LenDescriptor.java
index 077b704..48e575a 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LenDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LenDescriptor.java
@@ -3,48 +3,55 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class LenDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "len", 1, true);
     private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new LenDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private final IEvaluator evalList = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalList = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
 
                     // result
                     private final AMutableInt32 res = new AMutableInt32(0);
@@ -60,7 +67,7 @@
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalList.evaluate(tuple);
 
-                        byte[] serList = inputVal.getBytes();
+                        byte[] serList = inputVal.getByteArray();
 
                         if (serList[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                             try {
@@ -72,7 +79,9 @@
                         }
 
                         if (serList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && serList[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("len() can only be called on ordered or unordered lists.");
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LEN.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type ORDEREDLIST/UNORDEREDLIST but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[0]));
                         }
 
                         int numberOfitems = 0;
@@ -95,7 +104,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LEN;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LikeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LikeDescriptor.java
index 5f59851..58b5b7b 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LikeDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/LikeDescriptor.java
@@ -7,27 +7,29 @@
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.utils.UTF8CharSequence;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.logical.OrderOperator.IOrder.OrderKind;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 /**
@@ -38,35 +40,43 @@
 public class LikeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "like", 2, true);
+
+    // allowed input types
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new LikeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LIKE;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 final DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private boolean first = true;
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(array0);
-                    private IEvaluator evalPattern = args[1].createEvaluator(array0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(array0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalPattern = args[1].createEvaluator(array0);
                     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastPattern = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
                     private UTF8CharSequence carSeq = new UTF8CharSequence();
                     private IBinaryComparator strComp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE
-                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, OrderKind.ASC).createBinaryComparator();
+                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, true).createBinaryComparator();
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
@@ -85,24 +95,30 @@
                         try {
                             array0.reset();
                             evalPattern.evaluate(tuple);
-                            if (array0.getBytes()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, dout);
                                 return;
                             }
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LIKE
+                                        + ": expects input type STRING/NULL for the first argument but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ".");
+                            }
                             boolean newPattern = false;
                             if (first) {
                                 first = false;
                                 newPattern = true;
                             } else {
-                                int c = strComp.compare(array0.getBytes(), array0.getStartIndex(), array0.getLength(),
-                                        lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0, lastPattern.size());
+                                int c = strComp.compare(array0.getByteArray(), array0.getStartOffset(),
+                                        array0.getLength(), lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0, lastPattern.size());
                                 if (c != 0) {
                                     newPattern = true;
                                 }
                             }
                             if (newPattern) {
                                 lastPattern.reset();
-                                lastPattern.write(array0.getBytes(), array0.getStartIndex(), array0.getLength());
+                                lastPattern.write(array0.getByteArray(), array0.getStartOffset(), array0.getLength());
                                 // ! object creation !
                                 DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
                                         lastPattern.getByteArray()));
@@ -112,10 +128,16 @@
                             }
                             array0.reset();
                             evalString.evaluate(tuple);
-                            if (array0.getBytes()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, dout);
                                 return;
                             }
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.LIKE
+                                        + ": expects input type (STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL) but got (STRING, "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ").");
+                            }
                             carSeq.reset(array0, 1);
                             if (newPattern) {
                                 matcher = pattern.matcher(carSeq);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NotDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NotDescriptor.java
index 0f4b0a0..1553a1a 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NotDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NotDescriptor.java
@@ -6,49 +6,55 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class NotDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions.ALGEBRICKS_NS,
-            "not", 1, true);
 
     private final static byte SER_BOOLEAN_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.BOOLEAN.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NotDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NOT;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
 
-                    private String errorMessage = "Not() can only be applied on boolean";
+                    private String errorMessage = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NOT.getName()
+                            + ": expects input type BOOLEAN/NULL";
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
@@ -61,11 +67,11 @@
                         argOut.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
                         try {
-                            if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == SER_BOOLEAN_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                boolean argRes = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_BOOLEAN_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                boolean argRes = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                 ABoolean aResult = argRes ? (ABoolean.FALSE) : (ABoolean.TRUE);
                                 booleanSerde.serialize(aResult, out);
-                            } else if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
                             else
                                 throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NotNullDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NotNullDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c4126f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NotNullDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * This runtime function checks if the input is null.
+ * If the input is not null, just return it directly;
+ * Otherwise, throw a runtime exception.
+ */
+public class NotNullDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NotNullDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    private String errorMessage = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NOT_NULL
+                            + ": the input value cannot be NULL.";
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        try {
+                            outInput.reset();
+                            eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] data = outInput.getByteArray();
+                            if (data[outInput.getStartOffset()] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                            }
+                            out.write(data, outInput.getStartOffset(), outInput.getLength());
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NOT_NULL;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericAbsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericAbsDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ba5d40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericAbsDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+/*
+ * Numeric function Absolute value
+ * Author : Xiaoyu Ma@UC Irvine
+ * 01/30/2012
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class NumericAbsDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericAbsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ABS;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private byte serNullTypeTag = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt8TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt16TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt32TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt64TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT64.serialize();
+                    private byte serFloatTypeTag = ATypeTag.FLOAT.serialize();
+                    private byte serDoubleTypeTag = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+
+                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                byte val = (byte) AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt8.setValue((val <= 0) ? (byte) (0 - val) : val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                short val = (short) AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt16.setValue((val <= 0) ? (short) (0 - val) : val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                int val = (int) AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt32.setValue((val <= 0) ? (0 - val) : val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                long val = (long) AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt64.setValue((val <= 0L) ? (0L - val) : val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                float val = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aFloat.setValue((val <= 0.0f) ? 0.0f - val : val);
+                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                double val = (double) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aDouble.setValue((val <= 0.0D) ? 0.0D - val : val);
+                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ABS.getName()
+                                        + ": not implemented for "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericAddDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericAddDescriptor.java
index 8e4c319..0181698 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericAddDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericAddDescriptor.java
@@ -1,173 +1,38 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class NumericAddDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public class NumericAddDescriptor extends AbstractNumericArithmeticEval {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions.ALGEBRICKS_NS,
-            "numeric-add", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericAddDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ADD;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
-            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-
-            @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                return new IEvaluator() {
-                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
-                    // one temp. buffer re-used by both children
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalLeft = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private IEvaluator evalRight = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private double[] operands = new double[args.length];
-                    private boolean metInt8 = false, metInt16 = false, metInt32 = false, metInt64 = false,
-                            metFloat = false, metDouble = false;
-                    private ATypeTag typeTag;
-                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
-
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    @Override
-                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                        try {
-                            for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
-                                argOut.reset();
-                                if (i == 0)
-                                    evalLeft.evaluate(tuple);
-                                else
-                                    evalRight.evaluate(tuple);
-                                typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[0]);
-                                switch (typeTag) {
-                                    case INT8: {
-                                        metInt8 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT16: {
-                                        metInt16 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT32: {
-                                        metInt32 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT64: {
-                                        metInt64 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case FLOAT: {
-                                        metFloat = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case DOUBLE: {
-                                        metDouble = true;
-                                        operands[i] = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case NULL: {
-                                        serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                                        serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                                        return;
-                                    }
-                                    default: {
-                                        throw new NotImplementedException(i == 0 ? "Left"
-                                                : "Right"
-                                                        + " Operand of Addition can not be "
-                                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
-                                                                .getBytes()[0]));
-                                    }
-                                }
-                            }
-
-                            if (metDouble) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(operands[0] + operands[1]);
-                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                            } else if (metFloat) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue((float) (operands[0] + operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (metInt64) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue((long) (operands[0] + operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (metInt32) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue((int) (operands[0] + operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (metInt16) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue((short) (operands[0] + operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (metInt8) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-                                aInt8.setValue((byte) (operands[0] + operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-                            }
-
-                        } catch (HyracksDataException hde) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(hde);
-                        }
-                    }
-                };
-            }
-        };
+    protected long evaluateInteger(long x, long y) throws HyracksDataException {
+        long z = x + y;
+        if (x > 0) {
+            if (y > 0 && z < 0)
+                throw new ArithmeticException("Overflow adding " + x + " + " + y);
+        } else if (y < 0 && z > 0)
+            throw new ArithmeticException("Overflow adding " + x + " + " + y);
+        return z;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected double evaluateDouble(double lhs, double rhs) throws HyracksDataException {
+        return lhs + rhs;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericCeilingDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericCeilingDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5ae80b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericCeilingDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/*
+ * Numeric function ceiling
+ * Author : Xiaoyu Ma@UC Irvine
+ * 01/30/2012
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class NumericCeilingDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericCeilingDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_CEILING;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private byte serNullTypeTag = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt8TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt16TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt32TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt64TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT64.serialize();
+                    private byte serFloatTypeTag = ATypeTag.FLOAT.serialize();
+                    private byte serDoubleTypeTag = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+
+                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                byte val = (byte) AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt8.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                short val = (short) AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt16.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                int val = (int) AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt32.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                long val = (long) AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt64.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                float val = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aFloat.setValue((float) Math.ceil(val));
+                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                double val = (double) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aDouble.setValue(Math.ceil(val));
+                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_CEILING.getName()
+                                        + ": not implemented for "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericDivideDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericDivideDescriptor.java
index c7274f8..4cc3e03 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericDivideDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericDivideDescriptor.java
@@ -1,173 +1,34 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class NumericDivideDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public class NumericDivideDescriptor extends AbstractNumericArithmeticEval {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "numeric-divide",
-            2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericDivideDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_DIVIDE;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
-            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-
-            @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                return new IEvaluator() {
-                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
-                    // one temp. buffer re-used by both children
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalLeft = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private IEvaluator evalRight = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private double[] operands = new double[args.length];
-                    private boolean metInt8 = false, metInt16 = false, metInt32 = false, metInt64 = false,
-                            metFloat = false, metDouble = false;
-                    private ATypeTag typeTag;
-                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
-
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    @Override
-                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                        try {
-                            for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
-                                argOut.reset();
-                                if (i == 0)
-                                    evalLeft.evaluate(tuple);
-                                else
-                                    evalRight.evaluate(tuple);
-                                typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[0]);
-                                switch (typeTag) {
-                                    case INT8: {
-                                        metInt8 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT16: {
-                                        metInt16 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT32: {
-                                        metInt32 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT64: {
-                                        metInt64 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case FLOAT: {
-                                        metFloat = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case DOUBLE: {
-                                        metDouble = true;
-                                        operands[i] = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case NULL: {
-                                        serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                                        serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                                        return;
-                                    }
-                                    default: {
-                                        throw new NotImplementedException(i == 0 ? "Left"
-                                                : "Right"
-                                                        + " Operand of Division can not be "
-                                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
-                                                                .getBytes()[0]));
-                                    }
-                                }
-                            }
-
-                            if (metDouble) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(operands[0] / operands[1]);
-                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                            } else if (metFloat) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue((float) (operands[0] / operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (metInt64) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue((long) (operands[0] / operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (metInt32) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue((int) (operands[0] / operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (metInt16) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue((short) (operands[0] / operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (metInt8) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-                                aInt8.setValue((byte) (operands[0] / operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-                            }
-
-                        } catch (HyracksDataException hde) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(hde);
-                        }
-                    }
-                };
-            }
-        };
+    protected long evaluateInteger(long lhs, long rhs) throws HyracksDataException {
+        if (rhs == 0)
+            throw new HyracksDataException("Divide by Zero.");
+        return lhs / rhs;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected double evaluateDouble(double lhs, double rhs) {
+        return lhs / rhs;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericFloorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericFloorDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89deafd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericFloorDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+/*
+ * Numeric function Floor
+ * Author : Xiaoyu Ma@UC Irvine
+ * 01/30/2012
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class NumericFloorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericFloorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_FLOOR;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private byte serNullTypeTag = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt8TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt16TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt32TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt64TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT64.serialize();
+                    private byte serFloatTypeTag = ATypeTag.FLOAT.serialize();
+                    private byte serDoubleTypeTag = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+
+                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                byte val = (byte) AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt8.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                short val = (short) AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt16.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                int val = (int) AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt32.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                long val = (long) AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt64.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                float val = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aFloat.setValue((float) Math.floor(val));
+                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                double val = (double) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aDouble.setValue(Math.floor(val));
+                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_FLOOR.getName() + ": not implemented for "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericModuloDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericModuloDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3dff635
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericModuloDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * @author kisskys
+ */
+public class NumericModuloDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericModuloDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_MOD;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    // one temp. buffer re-used by both children
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalLeft = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalRight = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private double[] operands = new double[args.length];
+                    private boolean metInt8 = false, metInt16 = false, metInt32 = false, metInt64 = false,
+                            metFloat = false, metDouble = false;
+                    private ATypeTag typeTag;
+                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        try {
+                            for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
+                                argOut.reset();
+                                if (i == 0)
+                                    evalLeft.evaluate(tuple);
+                                else
+                                    evalRight.evaluate(tuple);
+                                typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]);
+                                switch (typeTag) {
+                                    case INT8: {
+                                        metInt8 = true;
+                                        operands[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case INT16: {
+                                        metInt16 = true;
+                                        operands[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case INT32: {
+                                        metInt32 = true;
+                                        operands[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case INT64: {
+                                        metInt64 = true;
+                                        operands[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case FLOAT: {
+                                        metFloat = true;
+                                        operands[i] = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case DOUBLE: {
+                                        metDouble = true;
+                                        operands[i] = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                    case NULL: {
+                                        serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                        serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                        return;
+                                    }
+                                    default: {
+                                        throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_MOD.getName()
+                                                + (i == 0 ? ": left" : ": right")
+                                                + " operand can not be "
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0]));
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+
+                            if (metDouble) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                aDouble.setValue(operands[0] % operands[1]);
+                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else if (metFloat) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                aFloat.setValue((float) (operands[0] % operands[1]));
+                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                            } else if (metInt64) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                aInt64.setValue((long) (operands[0] % operands[1]));
+                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                            } else if (metInt32) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                aInt32.setValue((int) (operands[0] % operands[1]));
+                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                            } else if (metInt16) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                aInt16.setValue((short) (operands[0] % operands[1]));
+                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                            } else if (metInt8) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                aInt8.setValue((byte) (operands[0] % operands[1]));
+                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                            }
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hde) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hde);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericMultiplyDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericMultiplyDescriptor.java
index 1970210..2dcb349 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericMultiplyDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericMultiplyDescriptor.java
@@ -1,172 +1,46 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
-public class NumericMultiplyDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public class NumericMultiplyDescriptor extends AbstractNumericArithmeticEval {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "numeric-multiply", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericMultiplyDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_MULTIPLY;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
-            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    protected long evaluateInteger(long lhs, long rhs) throws HyracksDataException {
+        int signLhs = lhs > 0 ? 1 : (lhs < 0 ? -1 : 0);
+        int signRhs = rhs > 0 ? 1 : (rhs < 0 ? -1 : 0);
+        long maximum = signLhs == signRhs ? Long.MAX_VALUE : Long.MIN_VALUE;
 
-            @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+        if (lhs != 0 && (rhs > 0 && rhs > maximum / lhs || rhs < 0 && rhs < maximum / lhs))
+            throw new HyracksDataException("Overflow Happened.");
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
-                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
-                    // one temp. buffer re-used by both children
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalLeft = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private IEvaluator evalRight = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private double[] operands = new double[args.length];
-                    private boolean metInt8 = false, metInt16 = false, metInt32 = false, metInt64 = false,
-                            metFloat = false, metDouble = false;
-                    private ATypeTag typeTag;
-                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
-
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    @Override
-                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-
-                        try {
-                            for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
-                                argOut.reset();
-                                if (i == 0)
-                                    evalLeft.evaluate(tuple);
-                                else
-                                    evalRight.evaluate(tuple);
-                                typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[0]);
-                                switch (typeTag) {
-                                    case INT8: {
-                                        metInt8 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT16: {
-                                        metInt16 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT32: {
-                                        metInt32 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case INT64: {
-                                        metInt64 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case FLOAT: {
-                                        metFloat = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case DOUBLE: {
-                                        metDouble = true;
-                                        operands[i] = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
-                                        break;
-                                    }
-                                    case NULL: {
-                                        serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                                        serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                                        return;
-                                    }
-                                    default: {
-                                        throw new NotImplementedException(i == 0 ? "Left"
-                                                : "Right"
-                                                        + " Operand of Multiplication can not be "
-                                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
-                                                                .getBytes()[0]));
-                                    }
-                                }
-                            }
-                            if (metDouble) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(operands[0] * operands[1]);
-                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                            } else if (metFloat) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue((float) (operands[0] * operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (metInt64) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue((long) (operands[0] * operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (metInt32) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue((int) (operands[0] * operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (metInt16) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue((short) (operands[0] * operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (metInt8) {
-                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-                                aInt8.setValue((byte) (operands[0] * operands[1]));
-                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-                            }
-
-                        } catch (HyracksDataException hde) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(hde);
-                        }
-                    }
-                };
-            }
-        };
+        return lhs * rhs;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected double evaluateDouble(double lhs, double rhs) throws HyracksDataException {
+        int signLhs = lhs > 0 ? 1 : (lhs < 0 ? -1 : 0);
+        int signRhs = rhs > 0 ? 1 : (rhs < 0 ? -1 : 0);
+        double maximum = signLhs == signRhs ? Double.MAX_VALUE : -Double.MAX_VALUE;
+
+        if (lhs != 0 && (rhs > 0 && rhs > maximum / lhs || rhs < 0 && rhs < maximum / lhs))
+            throw new HyracksDataException("Overflow Happened.");
+
+        return lhs * rhs;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..505277e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+/*
+ * Numeric function Round
+ * Author : Xiaoyu Ma@UC Irvine
+ * 01/30/2012
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class NumericRoundDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericRoundDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ROUND;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private byte serNullTypeTag = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt8TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt16TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt32TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt64TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT64.serialize();
+                    private byte serFloatTypeTag = ATypeTag.FLOAT.serialize();
+                    private byte serDoubleTypeTag = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+
+                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                byte val = (byte) AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt8.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                short val = (short) AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt16.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                int val = (int) AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt32.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                long val = (long) AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt64.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                float val = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                val = Math.round(val);
+                                aFloat.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                double val = (double) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                val = Math.round(val);
+                                aDouble.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ROUND.getName()
+                                        + ": not implemented for "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundHalfToEven2Descriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundHalfToEven2Descriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6613994
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundHalfToEven2Descriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+/*
+ * Numeric function Round half to even
+ * Author : Xiaoyu Ma@UC Irvine
+ * 01/30/2012
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.math.BigDecimal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class NumericRoundHalfToEven2Descriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericRoundHalfToEven2Descriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ROUND_HALF_TO_EVEN2;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator precision = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private byte serNullTypeTag = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt8TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt16TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt32TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt64TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT64.serialize();
+                    private byte serFloatTypeTag = ATypeTag.FLOAT.serialize();
+                    private byte serDoubleTypeTag = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+
+                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    private int getPrecision(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        precision.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                            return (int) AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                        } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                            return (int) AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                        } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                            return (int) AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                        } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                            return (int) AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                        } else {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ROUND_HALF_TO_EVEN2.getName()
+                                    + ": the precision argument should be an INT8/INT16/INT32/INT64.");
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                byte val = (byte) AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt8.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                short val = (short) AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt16.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                int val = (int) AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt32.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                long val = (long) AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt64.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                float val = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                if (Float.isNaN(val) || Float.isInfinite(val) || val == -0.0F || val == 0.0F) {
+                                    aFloat.setValue(val);
+                                    serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                                } else {
+                                    BigDecimal r = new BigDecimal(Float.toString(val));
+                                    aFloat.setValue(r.setScale(getPrecision(tuple), BigDecimal.ROUND_HALF_EVEN)
+                                            .floatValue());
+                                    serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                                }
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                double val = (double) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                if (Double.isNaN(val) || Double.isInfinite(val) || val == -0.0D || val == 0.0D) {
+                                    aDouble.setValue(val);
+                                    serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                                } else {
+                                    BigDecimal r = new BigDecimal(Double.toString(val));
+                                    aDouble.setValue(r.setScale(getPrecision(tuple), BigDecimal.ROUND_HALF_EVEN)
+                                            .doubleValue());
+                                    serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                                }
+                            } else {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(
+                                        AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ROUND_HALF_TO_EVEN2.getName()
+                                                + ": not implemented for "
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundHalfToEvenDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundHalfToEvenDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69cd990
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericRoundHalfToEvenDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+/*
+ * Numeric function Round half to even
+ * Author : Xiaoyu Ma@UC Irvine
+ * 01/30/2012
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class NumericRoundHalfToEvenDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericRoundHalfToEvenDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ROUND_HALF_TO_EVEN;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private byte serNullTypeTag = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt8TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt16TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt32TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+                    private byte serInt64TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT64.serialize();
+                    private byte serFloatTypeTag = ATypeTag.FLOAT.serialize();
+                    private byte serDoubleTypeTag = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+
+                    private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+                    private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+                    private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+                    private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+                    private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                                serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+                                byte val = (byte) AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt8.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+                                short val = (short) AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt16.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                                int val = (int) AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt32.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+                                long val = (long) AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aInt64.setValue(val);
+                                serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+                                float val = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aFloat.setValue((float) Math.rint(val));
+                                serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
+                                serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+                                double val = (double) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                aDouble.setValue(Math.rint(val));
+                                serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                            } else {
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(
+                                        AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_ROUND_HALF_TO_EVEN.getName()
+                                                + ": not implemented for "
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericSubtractDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericSubtractDescriptor.java
index 51dab06..ca68215 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericSubtractDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericSubtractDescriptor.java
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
@@ -17,46 +16,52 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class NumericSubtractDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "numeric-subtract", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericSubtractDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_SUBTRACT;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     // one temp. buffer re-used by both children
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalLeft = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private IEvaluator evalRight = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalLeft = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalRight = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
                     private double[] operands = new double[args.length];
                     private boolean metInt8 = false, metInt16 = false, metInt32 = false, metInt64 = false,
                             metFloat = false, metDouble = false;
@@ -67,7 +72,7 @@
                     private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
                     private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
                     private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
 
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -81,36 +86,36 @@
                                     evalLeft.evaluate(tuple);
                                 else
                                     evalRight.evaluate(tuple);
-                                typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[0]);
+                                typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]);
                                 switch (typeTag) {
                                     case INT8: {
                                         metInt8 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                        operands[i] = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                         break;
                                     }
                                     case INT16: {
                                         metInt16 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                        operands[i] = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                         break;
                                     }
                                     case INT32: {
                                         metInt32 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                        operands[i] = AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                         break;
                                     }
                                     case INT64: {
                                         metInt64 = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                        operands[i] = AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                         break;
                                     }
                                     case FLOAT: {
                                         metFloat = true;
-                                        operands[i] = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                        operands[i] = AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                         break;
                                     }
                                     case DOUBLE: {
                                         metDouble = true;
-                                        operands[i] = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                        operands[i] = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                         break;
                                     }
                                     case NULL: {
@@ -120,11 +125,12 @@
                                         return;
                                     }
                                     default: {
-                                        throw new NotImplementedException(i == 0 ? "Left"
-                                                : "Right"
-                                                        + " Operand of Substraction can not be "
+                                        throw new NotImplementedException(
+                                                AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_SUBTRACT.getName()
+                                                        + (i == 0 ? ": left" : ": right")
+                                                        + " operand can not be "
                                                         + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
-                                                                .getBytes()[0]));
+                                                                .getByteArray()[0]));
                                     }
                                 }
                             }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor.java
index 38808bb..4192b6d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor.java
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
@@ -17,40 +16,46 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "numeric-unary-minus", 1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
                     private byte serNullTypeTag = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
                     private byte serInt8TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
                     private byte serInt16TypeTag = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
@@ -64,7 +69,7 @@
                     private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
                     private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
                     private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer serde;
 
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -73,44 +78,45 @@
                         argOut.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
                         try {
-                            if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serNullTypeTag) {
                                 serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
                                 serde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
                                 return;
-                            } else if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt8TypeTag) {
                                 serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-                                aInt8.setValue((byte) -AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getBytes(), 1));
+                                aInt8.setValue((byte) -AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
                                 serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-                            } else if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt16TypeTag) {
                                 serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-                                aInt16.setValue((short) -AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getBytes(), 1));
+                                aInt16.setValue((short) -AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
                                 serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                            } else if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt32TypeTag) {
                                 serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                                aInt32.setValue(-AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), 1));
+                                aInt32.setValue(-AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
                                 serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                            } else if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serInt64TypeTag) {
                                 serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-                                aInt64.setValue(-AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getBytes(), 1));
+                                aInt64.setValue(-AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
                                 serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                            } else if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serFloatTypeTag) {
                                 serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-                                aFloat.setValue(-AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getBytes(), 1));
+                                aFloat.setValue(-AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
                                 serde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                            } else if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
+                            } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == serDoubleTypeTag) {
                                 serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                                         .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-                                aDouble.setValue(-ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(), 1));
+                                aDouble.setValue(-ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
                                 serde.serialize(aDouble, out);
                             } else {
-                                throw new NotImplementedException("Unary minus is not implemented for "
-                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getBytes()[0]));
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_UNARY_MINUS.getName()
+                                        + ": not implemented for "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
                             }
                         } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
@@ -123,7 +129,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.NUMERIC_UNARY_MINUS;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor.java
index f1cbdca..81ae62b 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -1,25 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
-    protected static final FunctionIdentifier FID_OPEN = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "open-record-constructor", FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
     private ARecordType recType;
@@ -32,19 +53,19 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID_OPEN;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.OPEN_RECORD_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 int n = args.length / 2;
-                final IEvaluator[] evalNames = new IEvaluator[n];
-                final IEvaluator[] evalFields = new IEvaluator[n];
+                final ICopyEvaluator[] evalNames = new ICopyEvaluator[n];
+                final ICopyEvaluator[] evalFields = new ICopyEvaluator[n];
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldNameBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
@@ -52,7 +73,7 @@
                     evalFields[i] = args[2 * i + 1].createEvaluator(fieldValueBuffer);
                 }
                 final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
                     private RecordBuilder recBuilder = new RecordBuilder();
                     private int closedFieldId;
                     private boolean first = true;
@@ -74,15 +95,15 @@
                                     evalNames[i].evaluate(tuple);
                                     recBuilder.addField(fieldNameBuffer, fieldValueBuffer);
                                 } else {
-                                    if (fieldValueBuffer.getBytes()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL.serialize()) {
+                                    if (fieldValueBuffer.getByteArray()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL.serialize()) {
                                         recBuilder.addField(closedFieldId, fieldValueBuffer);
                                     }
                                     closedFieldId++;
                                 }
                             }
                             recBuilder.write(out, true);
-                        } catch (IOException ioe) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(ioe);
+                        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrDescriptor.java
index 9ed1cfd..44bba5c 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrDescriptor.java
@@ -4,48 +4,53 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class OrDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions.ALGEBRICKS_NS, "or",
-            FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new OrDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.OR;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 // one temp. buffer re-used by all children
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                final IEvaluator[] evals = new IEvaluator[args.length];
+                final ICopyEvaluator[] evals = new ICopyEvaluator[args.length];
                 for (int i = 0; i < evals.length; i++) {
                     evals[i] = args[i].createEvaluator(argOut);
                 }
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
@@ -62,11 +67,11 @@
                             for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
                                 argOut.reset();
                                 evals[i].evaluate(tuple);
-                                if (argOut.getBytes()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                     metNull = true;
                                     continue;
                                 }
-                                boolean argResult = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                boolean argResult = ABooleanSerializerDeserializer.getBoolean(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
                                 if (argResult == true) {
                                     res = true;
                                     break;
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrderedListConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrderedListConstructorDescriptor.java
index 61c1d8c..bd19cad 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrderedListConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OrderedListConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -4,23 +4,28 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class OrderedListConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "ordered-list-constructor", FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new OrderedListConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     private AOrderedListType oltype;
 
@@ -30,24 +35,24 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ORDERED_LIST_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new OrderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory(args, oltype);
     }
 
-    private static class OrderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+    private static class OrderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-        private IEvaluatorFactory[] args;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args;
 
         private boolean selfDescList = false;
 
         private AOrderedListType orderedlistType;
 
-        public OrderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, AOrderedListType type) {
+        public OrderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, AOrderedListType type) {
             this.args = args;
 
             this.orderedlistType = type;
@@ -57,15 +62,15 @@
         }
 
         @Override
-        public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
             final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
             final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-            final IEvaluator[] argEvals = new IEvaluator[args.length];
+            final ICopyEvaluator[] argEvals = new ICopyEvaluator[args.length];
             for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
                 argEvals[i] = args[i].createEvaluator(inputVal);
             }
 
-            return new IEvaluator() {
+            return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                 private OrderedListBuilder builder = new OrderedListBuilder();
 
@@ -89,7 +94,7 @@
                     try {
                         for (int i = 0; i < argEvals.length; i++) {
                             inputVal.reset();
-                            argEvals[i].evaluate(tuple);
+                            argEvals[i].evaluate(tuple);                            
                             builder.addItem(inputVal);
                         }
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenDescriptor.java
index 1c1d9b48..10d8ff0 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenDescriptor.java
@@ -8,42 +8,57 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityFiltersCache;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityFilters;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class PrefixLenDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "prefix-len", 3,
-            true);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "prefix-len@3",
+            3);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new PrefixLenDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private final IEvaluator evalLen = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalSimilarity = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalThreshold = args[2].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalLen = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalSimilarity = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalThreshold = args[2].createEvaluator(inputVal);
 
                     private final SimilarityFiltersCache similarityFiltersCache = new SimilarityFiltersCache();
 
@@ -58,19 +73,34 @@
                         // length
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalLen.evaluate(tuple);
-                        int length = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type Int32 for the first argument, but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int length = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                         // similarity threshold
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalThreshold.evaluate(tuple);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type DOUBLE for the second argument, but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
                         float similarityThreshold = (float) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
-                                inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                         // similarity name
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalSimilarity.evaluate(tuple);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type STRING for the third argument, but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
                         SimilarityFilters similarityFilters = similarityFiltersCache.get(similarityThreshold,
-                                inputVal.getBytes());
+                                inputVal.getByteArray());
 
                         int prefixLength = similarityFilters.getPrefixLength(length);
                         res.setValue(prefixLength);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor.java
index fa6d47c..3e4a515 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor.java
@@ -3,45 +3,57 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityFiltersJaccard;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "prefix-len-jaccard", 2, true);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_FLOAT_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.FLOAT.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private final IEvaluator evalLen = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalThreshold = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalLen = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalThreshold = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
 
                     private float similarityThresholdCache;
                     private SimilarityFiltersJaccard similarityFilters;
@@ -57,13 +69,23 @@
                         // length
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalLen.evaluate(tuple);
-                        int length = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PREFIX_LEN_JACCARD.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type Int32 the first argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int length = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                         // similarity threshold
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalThreshold.evaluate(tuple);
-                        float similarityThreshold = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(inputVal.getBytes(),
-                                1);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_FLOAT_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PREFIX_LEN_JACCARD.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type FLOAT the first argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        float similarityThreshold = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(
+                                inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                         if (similarityThreshold != similarityThresholdCache || similarityFilters == null) {
                             similarityFilters = new SimilarityFiltersJaccard(similarityThreshold);
@@ -85,7 +107,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PREFIX_LEN_JACCARD;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/RegExpDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/RegExpDescriptor.java
index 0da578f..c91bcb2 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/RegExpDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/RegExpDescriptor.java
@@ -6,27 +6,29 @@
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.utils.UTF8CharSequence;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.logical.OrderOperator.IOrder.OrderKind;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 /**
@@ -37,36 +39,43 @@
 public class RegExpDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "reg-exp", 2,
-            true);
+
+    // allowed input types
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new RegExpDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.REG_EXP;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 final DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private boolean first = true;
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(array0);
-                    private IEvaluator evalPattern = args[1].createEvaluator(array0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(array0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalPattern = args[1].createEvaluator(array0);
                     private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastPattern = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
                     private UTF8CharSequence carSeq = new UTF8CharSequence();
                     private IBinaryComparator strComp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE
-                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, OrderKind.ASC).createBinaryComparator();
+                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, true).createBinaryComparator();
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
@@ -85,24 +94,29 @@
                         try {
                             array0.reset();
                             evalPattern.evaluate(tuple);
-                            if (array0.getBytes()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, dout);
                                 return;
                             }
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.REG_EXP.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type STRING/NULL for the first input argument but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
                             boolean newPattern = false;
                             if (first) {
                                 first = false;
                                 newPattern = true;
                             } else {
-                                int c = strComp.compare(array0.getBytes(), array0.getStartIndex(), array0.getLength(),
-                                        lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0, lastPattern.size());
+                                int c = strComp.compare(array0.getByteArray(), array0.getStartOffset(),
+                                        array0.getLength(), lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0, lastPattern.size());
                                 if (c != 0) {
                                     newPattern = true;
                                 }
                             }
                             if (newPattern) {
                                 lastPattern.reset();
-                                lastPattern.write(array0.getBytes(), array0.getStartIndex(), array0.getLength());
+                                lastPattern.write(array0.getByteArray(), array0.getStartOffset(), array0.getLength());
                                 // ! object creation !
                                 DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
                                         lastPattern.getByteArray()));
@@ -112,10 +126,15 @@
                             }
                             array0.reset();
                             evalString.evaluate(tuple);
-                            if (array0.getBytes()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, dout);
                                 return;
                             }
+                            if (array0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.REG_EXP.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type STRING/NULL for the second input argument but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(array0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
                             carSeq.reset(array0, 1);
                             if (newPattern) {
                                 matcher = pattern.matcher(carSeq);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityDescriptor.java
index cbfc727..123e653 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityDescriptor.java
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
@@ -20,45 +22,54 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.PartialIntersect;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityFilters;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.similarity.SimilarityMetric;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class SimilarityDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "similarity", 7,
-            true);
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "similarity@7",
+            7);
 
+    private final static byte SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST.serialize();
 
-    @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SimilarityDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private final IEvaluator evalLen1 = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalTokens1 = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalLen2 = args[2].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalTokens2 = args[3].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalTokenPrefix = args[4].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalSimilarity = args[5].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private final IEvaluator evalThreshold = args[6].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalLen1 = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalTokens1 = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalLen2 = args[2].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalTokens2 = args[3].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalTokenPrefix = args[4].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalSimilarity = args[5].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalThreshold = args[6].createEvaluator(inputVal);
 
                     private final SimilarityFiltersCache similarityFiltersCache = new SimilarityFiltersCache();
 
@@ -77,22 +88,42 @@
                         // similarity threshold
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalThreshold.evaluate(tuple);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DOUBLE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type DOUBLE for the first argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
                         float similarityThreshold = (float) ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
-                                inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                                inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                         // similarity name
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalSimilarity.evaluate(tuple);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type STRING for the second argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
                         SimilarityFilters similarityFilters = similarityFiltersCache.get(similarityThreshold,
-                                inputVal.getBytes());
+                                inputVal.getByteArray());
 
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalLen1.evaluate(tuple);
-                        int length1 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type INT32 for the thrid argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int length1 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                         inputVal.reset();
                         evalLen2.evaluate(tuple);
-                        int length2 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                        if (inputVal.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type INT32 for the fourth argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int length2 = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                         float sim = 0;
 
@@ -107,16 +138,16 @@
                             inputVal.reset();
                             evalTokens1.evaluate(tuple);
 
-                            byte[] serList = inputVal.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serList = inputVal.getByteArray();
                             if (serList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && serList[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException("Scan collection is not defined for values of type"
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName() + ": not defined for values of type"
                                         + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[0]));
                             }
 
                             int lengthTokens1;
                             if (serList[0] == SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                lengthTokens1 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer
-                                        .getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
+                                lengthTokens1 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal
+                                        .getByteArray());
                                 // read tokens
                                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens1; i++) {
                                     int itemOffset;
@@ -129,7 +160,7 @@
                                 }
                             } else {
                                 lengthTokens1 = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal
-                                        .getBytes());
+                                        .getByteArray());
                                 // read tokens
                                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens1; i++) {
                                     int itemOffset;
@@ -151,16 +182,16 @@
                             inputVal.reset();
                             evalTokens2.evaluate(tuple);
 
-                            serList = inputVal.getBytes();
+                            serList = inputVal.getByteArray();
                             if (serList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && serList[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException("Scan collection is not defined for values of type"
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName() + ": not defined for values of type"
                                         + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[0]));
                             }
 
                             int lengthTokens2;
                             if (serList[0] == SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                lengthTokens2 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer
-                                        .getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
+                                lengthTokens2 = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal
+                                        .getByteArray());
                                 // read tokens
                                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens2; i++) {
                                     int itemOffset;
@@ -173,7 +204,7 @@
                                 }
                             } else {
                                 lengthTokens2 = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal
-                                        .getBytes());
+                                        .getByteArray());
                                 // read tokens
                                 for (i = 0; i < lengthTokens2; i++) {
                                     int itemOffset;
@@ -193,7 +224,7 @@
                             // -- - token prefix - --
                             inputVal.reset();
                             evalTokenPrefix.evaluate(tuple);
-                            int tokenPrefix = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                            int tokenPrefix = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                             //
                             // -- - position filter - --
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor.java
index b84019d..eb13fde 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor.java
@@ -1,42 +1,32 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import java.io.IOException;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAOrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AFloatSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityJaccardEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
-
-//assumes that both arguments are sorted by the same ordering
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 public class SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "similarity-jaccard-check", 3, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 return new SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator(args, output);
             }
         };
@@ -44,68 +34,6 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SIMILARITY_JACCARD_CHECK;
     }
-
-    private static class SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator extends SimilarityJaccardEvaluator {
-
-        private final IEvaluator jaccThreshEval;
-        private float jaccThresh = -1f;
-
-        private IAOrderedListBuilder listBuilder;
-        private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal;
-        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-        private final ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
-        private final AOrderedListType listType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.ANY, "list");
-
-        public SimilarityJaccardCheckEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
-                throws AlgebricksException {
-            super(args, output);
-            jaccThreshEval = args[2].createEvaluator(argOut);
-            listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
-            inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        protected void runArgEvals(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-            super.runArgEvals(tuple);
-            int jaccThreshStart = argOut.getLength();
-            jaccThreshEval.evaluate(tuple);
-            jaccThresh = (float) AFloatSerializerDeserializer.getFloat(argOut.getBytes(), jaccThreshStart
-                    + typeIndicatorSize);
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        protected float computeResult(byte[] bytes, int firstStart, int secondStart, ATypeTag argType)
-                throws AlgebricksException {
-            firstListIter.reset(bytes, firstStart);
-            secondListIter.reset(bytes, secondStart);
-            // Check for special case where one of the lists is empty, since
-            // list types won't match.
-            if (firstListIter.size() == 0 || secondListIter.size() == 0) {
-                return (jaccThresh == 0.0f) ? 0.0f : -1.0f;
-            }
-            if (firstTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY || secondTypeTag == ATypeTag.ANY)
-                throw new AlgebricksException("\n Jaccard can only be called on homogenous lists");
-            return jaccard.getSimilarity(firstListIter, secondListIter, jaccThresh);
-        }
-
-        @Override
-        protected void writeResult(float jacc) throws IOException {
-            listBuilder.reset(listType);
-            boolean matches = (jacc < 0) ? false : true;
-            inputVal.reset();
-            booleanSerde.serialize(matches ? ABoolean.TRUE : ABoolean.FALSE, inputVal.getDataOutput());
-            listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
-
-            inputVal.reset();
-            aFloat.setValue((matches) ? jacc : 0.0f);
-            floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, inputVal.getDataOutput());
-            listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
-
-            listBuilder.write(out, true);
-        }
-    }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardDescriptor.java
index 4c598cc..f5f9caf 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardDescriptor.java
@@ -1,29 +1,32 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityJaccardEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-
-//assumes that both arguments are sorted by the same ordering
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 public class SimilarityJaccardDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "similarity-jaccard", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SimilarityJaccardDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 return new SimilarityJaccardEvaluator(args, output);
             }
         };
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SIMILARITY_JACCARD;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor.java
index c8b1c9b..b909bc0 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor.java
@@ -2,39 +2,43 @@
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAOrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AFloat;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 
 public class SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "similarity-jaccard-prefix-check", 6, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 return new SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckEvaluator(args, output);
             }
         };
@@ -42,12 +46,12 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SIMILARITY_JACCARD_PREFIX_CHECK;
     }
 
     private static class SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckEvaluator extends SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator {
 
-        private final IAOrderedListBuilder listBuilder;
+        private final OrderedListBuilder listBuilder;
         private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal;
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
         private final ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
@@ -59,7 +63,7 @@
 
         private final AOrderedListType listType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.ANY, "list");
 
-        public SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckEvaluator(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
+        public SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckEvaluator(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, IDataOutputProvider output)
                 throws AlgebricksException {
             super(args, output);
             listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor.java
index eee64ea..79a0894 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor.java
@@ -1,27 +1,32 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 
 public class SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "similarity-jaccard-prefix", 6, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 return new SimilarityJaccardPrefixEvaluator(args, output);
             }
         };
@@ -29,7 +34,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SIMILARITY_JACCARD_PREFIX;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..962f736
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+// Assumes that both arguments are sorted by the same ordering.
+public class SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckEvaluator(args, output);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SIMILARITY_JACCARD_SORTED_CHECK;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardSortedDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardSortedDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d14801c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SimilarityJaccardSortedDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SimilarityJaccardSortedEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+
+// Assumes that both arguments are sorted by the same ordering.
+public class SimilarityJaccardSortedDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SimilarityJaccardSortedDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new SimilarityJaccardSortedEvaluator(args, output);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SIMILARITY_JACCARD_SORTED;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialAreaDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialAreaDescriptor.java
index 0b1d2b9e..15e4b40 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialAreaDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialAreaDescriptor.java
@@ -3,44 +3,57 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ACircleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARectangleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SpatialUtils;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SpatialAreaDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "spatial-area",
-            1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SpatialAreaDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
-                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -48,46 +61,55 @@
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
 
                         try {
-                            byte[] bytes = argOut.getBytes();
+                            byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
                             ATypeTag tag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(bytes[0]);
                             double area = 0.0;
 
                             switch (tag) {
                                 case POLYGON:
-                                    int numOfPoints = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                                    int numOfPoints = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                                     if (numOfPoints < 3) {
-                                        throw new AlgebricksException("Polygon must have at least 3 points");
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_AREA.getName()
+                                                + ": polygon must have at least 3 points");
                                     }
-                                    area = Math.abs(SpatialUtils.polygonArea(argOut.getBytes(), numOfPoints));
+                                    area = Math.abs(SpatialUtils.polygonArea(argOut.getByteArray(), numOfPoints));
+                                    out.writeByte(ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize());
+                                    out.writeDouble(area);
                                     break;
                                 case CIRCLE:
-                                    double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(),
+                                    double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(),
                                             ACircleSerializerDeserializer.getRadiusOffset());
                                     area = SpatialUtils.pi() * radius * radius;
+                                    out.writeByte(ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize());
+                                    out.writeDouble(area);
                                     break;
                                 case RECTANGLE:
-                                    double x1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(),
+                                    double x1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(),
                                             ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getBottomLeftCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                    double y1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(),
+                                    double y1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(),
                                             ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getBottomLeftCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
-                                    double x2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(),
+                                    double x2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(),
                                             ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getUpperRightCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                    double y2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getBytes(),
+                                    double y2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(argOut.getByteArray(),
                                             ARectangleSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getUpperRightCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
                                     area = (x2 - x1) * (y2 - y1);
+                                    out.writeByte(ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize());
+                                    out.writeDouble(area);
+                                    break;
+                                case NULL:
+                                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
                                     break;
                                 default:
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("spatial-area does not support the type: " + tag
-                                            + " It is only implemented for POLYGON, CIRCLE and RECTANGLE.");
+                                    throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_AREA.getName()
+                                            + ": does not support the type: " + tag
+                                            + "; it is only implemented for POLYGON, CIRCLE and RECTANGLE.");
                             }
-                            out.writeByte(ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize());
-                            out.writeDouble(area);
                         } catch (HyracksDataException hde) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(hde);
                         } catch (IOException e) {
@@ -101,7 +123,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_AREA;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialCellDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialCellDescriptor.java
index c2a6d6b..9c344ad 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialCellDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialCellDescriptor.java
@@ -3,57 +3,66 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutablePoint;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableRectangle;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ARectangle;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SpatialCellDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "spatial-cell",
-            4, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SpatialCellDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
-                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
 
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput2 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput3 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
-                    private IEvaluator eval2 = args[2].createEvaluator(outInput2);
-                    private IEvaluator eval3 = args[3].createEvaluator(outInput3);
-                    private AMutableRectangle aRectangle = new AMutableRectangle(null, null);
-                    private AMutablePoint[] aPoint = { new AMutablePoint(0, 0), new AMutablePoint(0, 0) };
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput2 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput3 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval2 = args[2].createEvaluator(outInput2);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval3 = args[3].createEvaluator(outInput3);
+                    private final AMutableRectangle aRectangle = new AMutableRectangle(null, null);
+                    private final AMutablePoint[] aPoint = { new AMutablePoint(0, 0), new AMutablePoint(0, 0) };
+
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ARectangle> rectangleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ARectangle> rectangleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ARECTANGLE);
 
                     @Override
@@ -68,20 +77,28 @@
                         eval3.evaluate(tuple);
 
                         try {
-                            ATypeTag tag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getBytes()[0]);
-                            if (tag == ATypeTag.POINT) {
-                                double xLoc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                            ATypeTag tag0 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                    .deserialize(outInput0.getByteArray()[0]);
+                            ATypeTag tag1 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                    .deserialize(outInput1.getByteArray()[0]);
+                            ATypeTag tag2 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                    .deserialize(outInput2.getByteArray()[0]);
+                            ATypeTag tag3 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                    .deserialize(outInput3.getByteArray()[0]);
+                            if (tag0 == ATypeTag.POINT && tag1 == ATypeTag.POINT && tag2 == ATypeTag.DOUBLE
+                                    && tag3 == ATypeTag.DOUBLE) {
+                                double xLoc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                         APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                double yLoc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                double yLoc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                         APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
-                                double xOrigin = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                double xOrigin = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                         APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                double yOrigin = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                double yOrigin = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                         APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
-                                double xInc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput2.getBytes(), 1);
-                                double yInc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput3.getBytes(), 1);
+                                double xInc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput2.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                double yInc = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput3.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                                 double x = xOrigin + (Math.floor((xLoc - xOrigin) / xInc)) * xInc;
                                 double y = yOrigin + (Math.floor((yLoc - yOrigin) / yInc)) * yInc;
@@ -89,9 +106,24 @@
                                 aPoint[1].setValue(x + xInc, y + yInc);
                                 aRectangle.setValue(aPoint[0], aPoint[1]);
                                 rectangleSerde.serialize(aRectangle, out);
+                            } else if (tag0 == ATypeTag.NULL || tag1 == ATypeTag.NULL || tag2 == ATypeTag.NULL
+                                    || tag3 == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
                             } else {
-                                throw new NotImplementedException("spatial-cell does not support the type: " + tag
-                                        + " It is only implemented for POINT.");
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                        AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_CELL.getName()
+                                                + ": expects input type: (POINT, POINT, DOUBLE, DOUBLE) but got ("
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0])
+                                                + ", "
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput1
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0])
+                                                + ", "
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput2
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0])
+                                                + ", "
+                                                + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput3
+                                                        .getByteArray()[0]) + ").");
                             }
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
@@ -104,7 +136,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_CELL;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialDistanceDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialDistanceDescriptor.java
index 130ca4f..c1b965d 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialDistanceDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialDistanceDescriptor.java
@@ -3,43 +3,56 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SpatialDistanceDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "spatial-distance", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SpatialDistanceDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
-                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -49,29 +62,34 @@
                         eval1.evaluate(tuple);
 
                         try {
-                            byte[] bytes0 = outInput0.getBytes();
-                            byte[] bytes1 = outInput1.getBytes();
+                            byte[] bytes0 = outInput0.getByteArray();
+                            byte[] bytes1 = outInput1.getByteArray();
                             ATypeTag tag0 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(bytes0[0]);
                             ATypeTag tag1 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(bytes1[0]);
                             double distance = 0.0;
                             if (tag0 == ATypeTag.POINT) {
                                 if (tag1 == ATypeTag.POINT) {
-                                    double x1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                    double x1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                    double y1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                    double y1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                                    double x2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                    double x2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                    double y2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                    double y2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                             APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
                                     distance = Math.sqrt(Math.pow(x2 - x1, 2) + Math.pow(y2 - y1, 2));
                                 } else {
-                                    throw new NotImplementedException("spatial-distance does not support the type: "
-                                            + tag1 + " It is only implemented for POINT.");
+                                    throw new NotImplementedException(
+                                            AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_DISTANCE.getName()
+                                                    + ": does not support the type: " + tag1
+                                                    + "; it is only implemented for POINT.");
                                 }
+                            } else if (tag0 == ATypeTag.NULL || tag1 == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
                             } else {
-                                throw new NotImplementedException("spatial-distance does not support the type: " + tag0
-                                        + " It is only implemented for POINT.");
+                                throw new NotImplementedException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_DISTANCE.getName()
+                                        + ": does not support the type: " + tag1
+                                        + "; it is only implemented for POINT.");
                             }
                             out.writeByte(ATypeTag.DOUBLE.serialize());
                             out.writeDouble(distance);
@@ -88,7 +106,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_DISTANCE;
     }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialIntersectDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialIntersectDescriptor.java
index 315cafb..96d8a3c 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialIntersectDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SpatialIntersectDescriptor.java
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.Coordinate;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ACircleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADoubleSerializerDeserializer;
@@ -14,43 +13,50 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARectangleSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.DoubleArray;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.SpatialUtils;
 import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.IntArray;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SpatialIntersectDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "spatial-intersect", 2, true);
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SpatialIntersectDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                     private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private final IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
-                    private final IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput0);
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(outInput1);
                     private final IBinaryComparator ascDoubleComp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.DOUBLE_POINTABLE_INSTANCE
                             .createBinaryComparator();
                     private final SpatialUtils spatialUtils = new SpatialUtils();
@@ -61,25 +67,11 @@
                     private final DoubleArray trianglesX1 = new DoubleArray();
                     private final DoubleArray trianglesY1 = new DoubleArray();
 
-                    private boolean pointOnLine(byte[] bytes0, byte[] bytes1) throws HyracksDataException {
-                        double startX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes0,
-                                ALineSerializerDeserializer.getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                        double startY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes0,
-                                ALineSerializerDeserializer.getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                        double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes0,
-                                ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                        double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes0,
-                                ALineSerializerDeserializer.getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-
-                        double pX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes1,
-                                APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                        double pY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes1,
-                                APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-
+                    private boolean pointOnLine(double pX, double pY, double startX, double startY, double endX,
+                            double endY) throws HyracksDataException {
                         double crossProduct = SpatialUtils.crossProduct(pY - startY, pX - startX, endY - startY, endX
                                 - startX);
-                        if (Math.abs(crossProduct) > SpatialUtils.doubleEpsilon()) { // crossProduct
-                            // != 0
+                        if (Math.abs(crossProduct) > SpatialUtils.doubleEpsilon()) { // crossProduct != 0
                             return false;
                         }
 
@@ -96,8 +88,7 @@
                         return true;
                     }
 
-                    private boolean pointInPolygon(byte[] bytes0, byte[] bytes1) throws HyracksDataException { // ray
-                        // casting
+                    private boolean pointInPolygon(byte[] bytes0, byte[] bytes1) throws HyracksDataException { // ray casting
 
                         double pX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes0,
                                 APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
@@ -107,7 +98,8 @@
                                 APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
 
                         if (numOfPoints1 < 3) {
-                            throw new HyracksDataException("Polygon must have at least 3 points.");
+                            throw new HyracksDataException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                    + ": polygon must have at least 3 points.");
                         }
 
                         int counter = 0;
@@ -130,13 +122,16 @@
                                 y2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes1,
                                         APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(i, Coordinate.Y));
                             }
-                            if (pY > Math.min(y1, y2)) {
-                                if (pY <= Math.max(y1, y2)) {
-                                    if (pX <= Math.max(x1, x2)) {
-                                        if (y1 != y2) {
-                                            xInters = (pY - y1) * (x2 - x1) / (y2 - y1) + x1;
-                                            if (x1 == x2 || pX <= xInters) {
-                                                counter++;
+
+                            if (!pointOnLine(pX, pY, x1, y1, x2, y2)) {
+                                if (pY > Math.min(y1, y2)) {
+                                    if (pY <= Math.max(y1, y2)) {
+                                        if (pX <= Math.max(x1, x2)) {
+                                            if (y1 != y2) {
+                                                xInters = (pY - y1) * (x2 - x1) / (y2 - y1) + x1;
+                                                if (x1 == x2 || pX <= xInters) {
+                                                    counter++;
+                                                }
                                             }
                                         }
                                     }
@@ -165,7 +160,7 @@
                         double radius = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes1,
                                 ACircleSerializerDeserializer.getRadiusOffset());
 
-                        if ((x - cX) * (x - cX) + (y - cY) * (y - cY) < (radius * radius)) {
+                        if ((x - cX) * (x - cX) + (y - cY) * (y - cY) <= (radius * radius)) {
                             return true;
                         }
                         return false;
@@ -182,9 +177,7 @@
                         double C2 = A2 * startX2 + B2 * startY2;
 
                         double det = (A1 * B2) - (A2 * B1);
-                        if (Math.abs(det) > SpatialUtils.doubleEpsilon()) { // det
-                                                                            // !=
-                                                                            // 0
+                        if (Math.abs(det) > SpatialUtils.doubleEpsilon()) { // det != 0
                             double x = (B2 * C1 - B1 * C2) / det;
                             double y = (A1 * C2 - A2 * C1) / det;
 
@@ -213,7 +206,8 @@
                                 APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
 
                         if (numOfPoints1 < 3) {
-                            throw new HyracksDataException("Polygon must have at least 3 points.");
+                            throw new HyracksDataException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                    + ": polygon must have at least 3 points.");
                         }
                         for (int i = 0; i < numOfPoints1; i++) {
                             double startX2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes1,
@@ -304,7 +298,7 @@
                         dx = (startX + t * (endX - startX)) - cX;
                         dy = (startY + t * (endY - startY)) - cY;
                         double rt = (dx * dx) + (dy * dy);
-                        if (rt < (radius * radius)) {
+                        if (rt <= (radius * radius)) {
                             return true;
                         }
                         return false;
@@ -353,8 +347,7 @@
 
                     private int triangulatePolygon(byte[] bytes, int numOfPoints, IntArray pointsOffsets,
                             DoubleArray trianglesX, DoubleArray trianglesY, int triangleId,
-                            int nonSimplePolygonDetection, int middleVertex) throws HyracksDataException { // Ear
-                                                                                                           // clipping
+                            int nonSimplePolygonDetection, int middleVertex) throws HyracksDataException { // Ear clipping
 
                         if (numOfPoints < 3) {
                             return -1;
@@ -364,7 +357,8 @@
                         int v = middleVertex;
                         while (!foundEar) {
                             if (0 >= (nonSimplePolygonDetection--)) {
-                                throw new NotImplementedException("Non-simple polygons are not supported.");
+                                throw new HyracksDataException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                        + ": non-simple polygons are not supported.");
                             }
                             int u = v;
                             if (numOfPoints <= u) {
@@ -421,8 +415,7 @@
 
                     private boolean triangleTriangleIntersection(DoubleArray trianglesX0, DoubleArray trianglesY0,
                             int triangleId0, DoubleArray trianglesX1, DoubleArray trianglesY1, int triangleId1)
-                            throws HyracksDataException { // separating axis
-                                                          // theorem
+                            throws HyracksDataException { // separating axis theorem
 
                         for (int side = 0; side < 3; side++) {
                             spatialUtils.findNormals(trianglesX0, trianglesY0, triangleId0, side);
@@ -442,10 +435,8 @@
                         return true;
                     }
 
-                    private final boolean pointInsideTriangle(double x1, double y1, double x2, double y2, double x3,
-                            double y3, double pX, double pY)
-
-                    {
+                    private boolean pointInsideTriangle(double x1, double y1, double x2, double y2, double x3,
+                            double y3, double pX, double pY) {
                         return pointsOnSameSide(pX, pY, x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3)
                                 && pointsOnSameSide(pX, pY, x2, y2, x1, y1, x3, y3)
                                 && pointsOnSameSide(pX, pY, x3, y3, x1, y1, x2, y2);
@@ -459,9 +450,7 @@
                     }
 
                     private boolean circleTriangleIntersection(byte[] bytes0, DoubleArray trianglesX,
-                            DoubleArray trianglesY, int triangleId) throws HyracksDataException { // separating
-                                                                                                  // axis
-                                                                                                  // theorem
+                            DoubleArray trianglesY, int triangleId) throws HyracksDataException { // separating axis theorem
 
                         double cX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(bytes0,
                                 ACircleSerializerDeserializer.getCenterPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
@@ -653,7 +642,8 @@
                                 APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
 
                         if (numOfPoints1 < 3) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("Polygon must have at least 3 points.");
+                            throw new HyracksDataException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                    + ": polygon must have at least 3 points.");
                         }
 
                         getCounterClockWisePolygon(bytes1, pointsOffsets1, numOfPoints1);
@@ -704,7 +694,8 @@
                                 APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
 
                         if (numOfPoints < 3) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("Polygon must have at least 3 points.");
+                            throw new HyracksDataException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                    + ": polygon must have at least 3 points.");
                         }
 
                         getCounterClockWisePolygon(bytes0, pointsOffsets0, numOfPoints);
@@ -744,20 +735,22 @@
 
                         try {
                             boolean res = false;
-                            ATypeTag tag0 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput0.getBytes()[0]);
-                            ATypeTag tag1 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(outInput1.getBytes()[0]);
+                            ATypeTag tag0 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                    .deserialize(outInput0.getByteArray()[0]);
+                            ATypeTag tag1 = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER
+                                    .deserialize(outInput1.getByteArray()[0]);
 
                             switch (tag0) {
                                 case POINT:
                                     switch (tag1) {
                                         case POINT:
-                                            if (ascDoubleComp.compare(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                            if (ascDoubleComp.compare(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                     APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X), 8,
-                                                    outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                                     APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X), 8) == 0) {
-                                                if (ascDoubleComp.compare(outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                                if (ascDoubleComp.compare(outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                         APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y),
-                                                        8, outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                                        8, outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                                         APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y),
                                                         8) == 0) {
                                                     res = true;
@@ -765,97 +758,149 @@
                                             }
                                             break;
                                         case LINE:
-                                            res = pointOnLine(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            double pX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double pY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+
+                                            double startX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double startY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                            double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+
+                                            res = pointOnLine(pX, pY, startX, startY, endX, endY);
                                             break;
                                         case POLYGON:
-                                            res = pointInPolygon(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = pointInPolygon(outInput0.getByteArray(), outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case CIRCLE:
-                                            res = pointInCircle(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = pointInCircle(outInput0.getByteArray(), outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case RECTANGLE:
-                                            res = pointInRectangle(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = pointInRectangle(outInput0.getByteArray(), outInput1.getByteArray());
+                                            break;
+                                        case NULL:
+                                            res = false;
                                             break;
                                         default:
                                             throw new NotImplementedException(
-                                                    "spatial-intersection does not support the type: "
+                                                    AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                                            + ": does not support the type: "
                                                             + tag1
-                                                            + " It is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
+                                                            + "; it is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
                                     }
                                     break;
                                 case LINE:
                                     switch (tag1) {
                                         case POINT:
-                                            res = pointOnLine(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            double pX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double pY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    APointSerializerDeserializer.getCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+
+                                            double startX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double startY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                            double endX = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double endY = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+
+                                            res = pointOnLine(pX, pY, startX, startY, endX, endY);
                                             break;
                                         case LINE:
                                             double startX1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
-                                                    .getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
                                             double startY1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
-                                                    .getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                                            double endX1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
-                                                    outInput0.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
-                                                            .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                            double endY1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
-                                                    outInput0.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
-                                                            .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                            double endX1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double endY1 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput0
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
 
                                             double startX2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
-                                                    .getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
                                             double startY2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
-                                                    .getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
                                                     .getStartPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
-                                            double endX2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
-                                                    outInput1.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
-                                                            .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
-                                            double endY2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(
-                                                    outInput1.getBytes(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
-                                                            .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
+                                            double endX2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.X));
+                                            double endY2 = ADoubleSerializerDeserializer.getDouble(outInput1
+                                                    .getByteArray(), ALineSerializerDeserializer
+                                                    .getEndPointCoordinateOffset(Coordinate.Y));
                                             res = lineLineIntersection(startX1, startY1, endX1, endY1, startX2,
                                                     startY2, endX2, endY2);
                                             break;
                                         case POLYGON:
-                                            res = linePolygonIntersection(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = linePolygonIntersection(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case CIRCLE:
-                                            res = lineCircleIntersection(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = lineCircleIntersection(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case RECTANGLE:
-                                            res = lineRectangleIntersection(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = lineRectangleIntersection(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray());
+                                            break;
+                                        case NULL:
+                                            res = false;
                                             break;
                                         default:
                                             throw new NotImplementedException(
-                                                    "spatial-intersection does not support the type: "
+                                                    AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                                            + ": does not support the type: "
                                                             + tag1
-                                                            + " It is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
+                                                            + "; it is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
                                     }
                                     break;
                                 case POLYGON:
                                     switch (tag1) {
                                         case POINT:
-                                            res = pointInPolygon(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = pointInPolygon(outInput1.getByteArray(), outInput0.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case LINE:
-                                            res = linePolygonIntersection(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = linePolygonIntersection(outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case POLYGON:
                                             int numOfPoints0 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(
-                                                    outInput0.getBytes(),
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray(),
                                                     APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
                                             int numOfPoints1 = AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(
-                                                    outInput1.getBytes(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray(),
                                                     APolygonSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfPointsOffset());
 
                                             if (numOfPoints0 < 3 || numOfPoints1 < 3) {
                                                 throw new AlgebricksException("Polygon must have at least 3 points.");
                                             }
 
-                                            getCounterClockWisePolygon(outInput0.getBytes(), pointsOffsets0,
+                                            getCounterClockWisePolygon(outInput0.getByteArray(), pointsOffsets0,
                                                     numOfPoints0);
-                                            getCounterClockWisePolygon(outInput1.getBytes(), pointsOffsets1,
+                                            getCounterClockWisePolygon(outInput1.getByteArray(), pointsOffsets1,
                                                     numOfPoints1);
                                             int nonSimplePolygonDetection0 = 2 * numOfPoints0;
                                             int nonSimplePolygonDetection1 = 2 * numOfPoints1;
@@ -867,9 +912,9 @@
                                             trianglesX1.reset();
                                             trianglesY1.reset();
                                             while (true) {
-                                                middleVertex1 = triangulatePolygon(outInput1.getBytes(), numOfPoints1,
-                                                        pointsOffsets1, trianglesX1, trianglesY1, numOfTriangles1,
-                                                        nonSimplePolygonDetection1, middleVertex1);
+                                                middleVertex1 = triangulatePolygon(outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                        numOfPoints1, pointsOffsets1, trianglesX1, trianglesY1,
+                                                        numOfTriangles1, nonSimplePolygonDetection1, middleVertex1);
 
                                                 if (middleVertex1 == -1) {
                                                     break;
@@ -883,9 +928,9 @@
                                             trianglesX0.reset();
                                             trianglesY0.reset();
                                             while (true) {
-                                                middleVertex0 = triangulatePolygon(outInput0.getBytes(), numOfPoints0,
-                                                        pointsOffsets0, trianglesX0, trianglesY0, numOfTriangles0,
-                                                        nonSimplePolygonDetection0, middleVertex0);
+                                                middleVertex0 = triangulatePolygon(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                        numOfPoints0, pointsOffsets0, trianglesX0, trianglesY0,
+                                                        numOfTriangles0, nonSimplePolygonDetection0, middleVertex0);
 
                                                 if (middleVertex0 == -1) {
                                                     break;
@@ -916,63 +961,76 @@
                                             }
                                             break;
                                         case CIRCLE:
-                                            res = polygonCircleIntersection(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = polygonCircleIntersection(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case RECTANGLE:
-                                            res = rectanglePolygonIntersection(outInput1.getBytes(),
-                                                    outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = rectanglePolygonIntersection(outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray());
+                                            break;
+                                        case NULL:
+                                            res = false;
                                             break;
                                         default:
                                             throw new NotImplementedException(
-                                                    "spatial-intersection does not support the type: "
+                                                    AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                                            + ": does not support the type: "
                                                             + tag1
-                                                            + " It is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
+                                                            + "; it is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
                                     }
                                     break;
                                 case CIRCLE:
                                     switch (tag1) {
                                         case POINT:
-                                            res = pointInCircle(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = pointInCircle(outInput1.getByteArray(), outInput0.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case LINE:
-                                            res = lineCircleIntersection(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = lineCircleIntersection(outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case POLYGON:
-                                            res = polygonCircleIntersection(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = polygonCircleIntersection(outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case CIRCLE:
-                                            res = circleCircleIntersection(outInput0.getBytes(), outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = circleCircleIntersection(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case RECTANGLE:
-                                            res = rectangleCircleIntersection(outInput1.getBytes(),
-                                                    outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = rectangleCircleIntersection(outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray());
+                                            break;
+                                        case NULL:
+                                            res = false;
                                             break;
                                         default:
                                             throw new NotImplementedException(
-                                                    "spatial-intersection does not support the type: "
+                                                    AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                                            + ": does not support the type: "
                                                             + tag1
-                                                            + " It is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
+                                                            + "; it is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
                                     }
                                     break;
                                 case RECTANGLE:
                                     switch (tag1) {
                                         case POINT:
-                                            res = pointInRectangle(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = pointInRectangle(outInput1.getByteArray(), outInput0.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case LINE:
-                                            res = lineRectangleIntersection(outInput1.getBytes(), outInput0.getBytes());
+                                            res = lineRectangleIntersection(outInput1.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput0.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case POLYGON:
-                                            res = rectanglePolygonIntersection(outInput0.getBytes(),
-                                                    outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = rectanglePolygonIntersection(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case CIRCLE:
-                                            res = rectangleCircleIntersection(outInput0.getBytes(),
-                                                    outInput1.getBytes());
+                                            res = rectangleCircleIntersection(outInput0.getByteArray(),
+                                                    outInput1.getByteArray());
                                             break;
                                         case RECTANGLE:
-                                            triangulateRectangle(outInput0.getBytes(), trianglesX0, trianglesY0);
-                                            triangulateRectangle(outInput1.getBytes(), trianglesX1, trianglesY1);
+                                            triangulateRectangle(outInput0.getByteArray(), trianglesX0, trianglesY0);
+                                            triangulateRectangle(outInput1.getByteArray(), trianglesX1, trianglesY1);
 
                                             boolean intersect = false;
                                             // 2 triangles in a rectangle
@@ -997,17 +1055,25 @@
                                                 }
                                             }
                                             break;
+                                        case NULL:
+                                            res = false;
+                                            break;
                                         default:
                                             throw new NotImplementedException(
-                                                    "spatial-intersection does not support the type: "
+                                                    AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                                            + ": does not support the type: "
                                                             + tag1
-                                                            + " It is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
+                                                            + "; it is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
                                     }
                                     break;
+                                case NULL:
+                                    res = false;
+                                    break;
                                 default:
                                     throw new NotImplementedException(
-                                            "spatial-intersection does not support the type: " + tag0
-                                                    + " It is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
+                                            AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT.getName()
+                                                    + ": does not support the type: " + tag1
+                                                    + "; it is only implemented for POINT, ALINE, POLYGON, and CIRCLE.");
                             }
 
                             ABoolean aResult = res ? (ABoolean.TRUE) : (ABoolean.FALSE);
@@ -1023,7 +1089,6 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SPATIAL_INTERSECT;
     }
-
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StartsWithDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StartsWithDescriptor.java
index 2ef49f9..9358030 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StartsWithDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StartsWithDescriptor.java
@@ -2,39 +2,43 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
 
 public class StartsWithDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "starts-with",
-            2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StartsWithDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new AbstractStringContainsEval(dout, args[0], args[1]) {
+                return new AbstractStringContainsEval(dout, args[0], args[1], AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STARTS_WITH) {
 
                     @Override
                     protected boolean findMatch(byte[] strBytes, byte[] patternBytes) {
-                        int utflen1 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLen(strBytes, 1);
-                        int utflen2 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLen(patternBytes, 1);
+                        int utflen1 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(strBytes, 1);
+                        int utflen2 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(patternBytes, 1);
 
                         int s1Start = 3;
                         int s2Start = 3;
@@ -60,7 +64,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STARTS_WITH;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringConcatDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringConcatDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcd199c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringConcatDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.AsterixListAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringConcatDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    private static final byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringConcatDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private final AsterixListAccessor listAccessor = new AsterixListAccessor();
+                    private final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory = args[0];
+                    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage outInputList = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private final ICopyEvaluator evalList = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputList);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            outInputList.reset();
+                            evalList.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] listBytes = outInputList.getByteArray();
+                            if (listBytes[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && listBytes[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_CONCAT.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type ORDEREDLIST/UNORDEREDLIST, but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(listBytes[0]));
+                            }
+                            try {
+                                listAccessor.reset(listBytes, 0);
+                            } catch (AsterixException e) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                            }
+                            try {
+                                // calculate length first
+                                int utf8Len = 0;
+                                for (int i = 0; i < listAccessor.size(); i++) {
+                                    int itemOffset = listAccessor.getItemOffset(i);
+                                    ATypeTag itemType = listAccessor.getItemType(itemOffset);
+                                    if (itemType != ATypeTag.STRING) {
+                                        if (itemType == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                                            nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                            return;
+                                        }
+                                        throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_CONCAT.getName()
+                                                + ": expects type STRING/NULL for the list item but got " + itemType);
+                                    }
+                                    utf8Len += UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(listBytes, itemOffset);
+                                }
+                                out.writeByte(ATypeTag.STRING.serialize());
+                                StringUtils.writeUTF8Len(utf8Len, out);
+                                for (int i = 0; i < listAccessor.size(); i++) {
+                                    int itemOffset = listAccessor.getItemOffset(i);
+                                    utf8Len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(listBytes, itemOffset);
+                                    for (int j = 0; j < utf8Len; j++) {
+                                        out.writeByte(listBytes[2 + itemOffset + j]);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            } catch (AsterixException ex) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                            }
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1.getMessage());
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_CONCAT;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringEndWithDescrtiptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringEndWithDescrtiptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d0eaad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringEndWithDescrtiptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/*
+ * To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
+ * and open the template in the editor.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringEndWithDescrtiptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringEndWithDescrtiptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                return new AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval(dout, args[0], args[1], AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_END_WITH) {
+
+                    @Override
+                    protected boolean compute(byte[] lBytes, int lLen, int lStart, byte[] rBytes, int rLen, int rStart,
+                            ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) {
+                        int len1 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(lBytes, 1);
+                        int len2 = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(rBytes, 1);
+                        if (len2 > len1)
+                            return false;
+
+                        int pos = 3;
+                        int delta = len1 - len2;
+                        while (pos < len2 + 3) {
+                            char c1 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(lBytes, pos + delta);
+                            char c2 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(rBytes, pos);
+                            if (c1 != c2)
+                                return false;
+
+                            pos += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(lBytes, pos);
+                        }
+
+                        return true;
+                    }
+
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_END_WITH;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringEqualDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringEqualDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e921e45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringEqualDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringEqualDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringEqualDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                return new AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval(dout, args[0], args[1], AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_EQUAL) {
+
+                    @Override
+                    protected boolean compute(byte[] lBytes, int lLen, int lStart, byte[] rBytes, int rLen, int rStart,
+                            ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) {
+                        int len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(lBytes, 1);
+
+                        if (len != UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(rBytes, 1))
+                            return false;
+
+                        int pos = 3;
+                        while (pos < len + 3) {
+                            char c1 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(lBytes, pos);
+                            char c2 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(rBytes, pos);
+                            if (c1 != c2)
+                                return false;
+
+                            pos += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(lBytes, pos);
+                        }
+
+                        return true;
+                    }
+
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_EQUAL;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringJoinDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringJoinDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c2f960
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringJoinDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringJoinDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringJoinDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
+    private final byte stringTypeTag = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory = args[0];
+                    private ICopyEvaluatorFactory sepEvalFactory = args[1];
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInputList = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInputSep = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalList = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputList);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalSep = sepEvalFactory.createEvaluator(outInputSep);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            outInputList.reset();
+                            evalList.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] serOrderedList = outInputList.getByteArray();
+
+                            outInputSep.reset();
+                            evalSep.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] serSep = outInputSep.getByteArray();
+                            if (serOrderedList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && serOrderedList[1] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_JOIN.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type ORDEREDLIST but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serOrderedList[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (serSep[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_JOIN.getName()
+                                        + ": expects STRING type for the seperator but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serSep[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            int size = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(serOrderedList);
+                            try {
+                                // calculate length first
+                                int utf_8_len = 0;
+                                int sep_len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(serSep, 1);
+
+                                for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+                                    int itemOffset = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer
+                                            .getItemOffset(serOrderedList, i);
+
+                                    int currentSize = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(serOrderedList, itemOffset);
+                                    if (i != size - 1 && currentSize != 0) {
+                                        utf_8_len += sep_len;
+                                    }
+                                    utf_8_len += currentSize;
+                                }
+                                out.writeByte(stringTypeTag);
+                                StringUtils.writeUTF8Len(utf_8_len, out);
+                                for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+                                    int itemOffset = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer
+                                            .getItemOffset(serOrderedList, i);
+                                    utf_8_len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(serOrderedList, itemOffset);
+                                    for (int j = 0; j < utf_8_len; j++) {
+                                        out.writeByte(serOrderedList[2 + itemOffset + j]);
+                                    }
+                                    if (i == size - 1 || utf_8_len == 0)
+                                        continue;
+                                    for (int j = 0; j < sep_len; j++) {
+                                        out.writeByte(serSep[3 + j]);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            } catch (AsterixException ex) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                            }
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1.getMessage());
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_JOIN;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringLengthDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringLengthDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a81d53d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringLengthDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class StringLengthDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringLengthDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    private AMutableInt32 result = new AMutableInt32(0);
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> intSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        try {
+                            outInput.reset();
+                            eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
+                            if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                int len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(outInput.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                result.setValue(len);
+                                intSerde.serialize(result, out);
+                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            else {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_LENGTH.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type STRING/NULL but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serString[0]));
+                            }
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_LENGTH;
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringLowerCaseDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringLowerCaseDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e188d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringLowerCaseDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringLowerCaseDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringLowerCaseDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage outInput = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(outInput);
+
+                    private final byte stt = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        try {
+                            outInput.reset();
+                            eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] serString = outInput.getByteArray();
+
+                            if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                byte[] bytes = outInput.getByteArray();
+                                int len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(bytes, 1);
+
+                                out.writeByte(stt);
+                                StringUtils.writeUTF8Len(len, out);
+
+                                int pos = 3;
+                                while (pos < len + 3) {
+                                    char c1 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(bytes, pos);
+                                    c1 = Character.toLowerCase(c1);
+                                    pos += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(bytes, pos);
+                                    StringUtils.writeCharAsModifiedUTF8(c1, out);
+                                }
+                            } else if (serString[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            else
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_LOWERCASE.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type STRING/NULL but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serString[0]));
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_LOWERCASE;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringMatchesDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringMatchesDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03a3545
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringMatchesDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.utils.UTF8CharSequence;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringMatchesDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringMatchesDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                return new AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval(dout, args[0], args[1], AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_MATCHES) {
+
+                    private Pattern pattern = null;
+                    private Matcher matcher = null;
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastPattern = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private IBinaryComparator strComp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, true).createBinaryComparator();
+                    private UTF8CharSequence carSeq = new UTF8CharSequence();
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
+
+                    @Override
+                    protected boolean compute(byte[] lBytes, int lLen, int lStart, byte[] rBytes, int rLen, int rStart,
+                            ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            boolean newPattern = false;
+                            if (pattern == null) {
+                                newPattern = true;
+                            } else {
+                                int c = strComp.compare(rBytes, rStart, rLen, lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0,
+                                        lastPattern.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newPattern = true;
+                                }
+                            }
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                lastPattern.reset();
+                                lastPattern.write(rBytes, rStart, rLen);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastPattern.getByteArray()));
+                                AString strPattern = (AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di);
+                                // pattern = Pattern.compile(toRegex(strPattern));
+                                pattern = Pattern.compile(strPattern.getStringValue());
+                            }
+
+                            carSeq.reset(array0, 1);
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                matcher = pattern.matcher(carSeq);
+                            } else {
+                                matcher.reset(carSeq);
+                            }
+                            return matcher.find();
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_MATCHES;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringMatchesWithFlagDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringMatchesWithFlagDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93dc342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringMatchesWithFlagDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+/*
+ * To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
+ * and open the template in the editor.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.utils.UTF8CharSequence;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringMatchesWithFlagDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringMatchesWithFlagDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                return new AbstractTripleStringBoolEval(dout, args[0], args[1], args[2],
+                        AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_MATCHES_WITH_FLAG) {
+
+                    private Pattern pattern = null;
+                    private Matcher matcher = null;
+                    private String strPattern = "";
+                    private int flags = 0;
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastPattern = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastFlags = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private IBinaryComparator strComp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, true).createBinaryComparator();
+                    private UTF8CharSequence carSeq = new UTF8CharSequence();
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
+
+                    @Override
+                    protected boolean compute(byte[] b0, int l0, int s0, byte[] b1, int l1, int s1, byte[] b2, int l2,
+                            int s2, ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1)
+                            throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            boolean newPattern = false;
+                            boolean newFlags = false;
+
+                            AString astrPattern;
+                            AString astrFlags;
+
+                            if (pattern == null) {
+                                newPattern = true;
+                                newFlags = true;
+                            } else {
+                                int c = strComp.compare(b1, s1, l1, lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0, lastPattern.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newPattern = true;
+                                }
+
+                                c = strComp.compare(b2, s2, l2, lastFlags.getByteArray(), 0, lastFlags.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newFlags = true;
+                                }
+                            }
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                lastPattern.reset();
+                                lastPattern.write(b1, s1, l1);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastPattern.getByteArray()));
+                                astrPattern = (AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di);
+                                // strPattern = toRegex(astrPattern);
+                                strPattern = astrPattern.getStringValue();
+                            }
+                            if (newFlags) {
+                                lastFlags.reset();
+                                lastFlags.write(b2, s2, l2);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastFlags.getByteArray()));
+                                astrFlags = (AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di);
+                                flags = toFlag(astrFlags);
+                            }
+
+                            pattern = Pattern.compile(strPattern, flags);
+                            carSeq.reset(array0, 1);
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                matcher = pattern.matcher(carSeq);
+                            } else {
+                                matcher.reset(carSeq);
+                            }
+                            return matcher.find();
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_MATCHES_WITH_FLAG;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringReplaceDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringReplaceDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..230eb34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringReplaceDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.utils.UTF8CharSequence;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringReplaceDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringReplaceDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                return new AbstractTripleStringStringEval(dout, args[0], args[1], args[2],
+                        AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_REPLACE) {
+
+                    private Pattern pattern = null;
+                    private Matcher matcher = null;
+                    private String replace;
+                    private String strPattern = "";
+                    private StringBuffer resultBuf = new StringBuffer();
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastPattern = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastReplace = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private IBinaryComparator strComp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, true).createBinaryComparator();
+                    private UTF8CharSequence carSeq = new UTF8CharSequence();
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
+
+                    @Override
+                    protected String compute(byte[] b0, int l0, int s0, byte[] b1, int l1, int s1, byte[] b2, int l2,
+                            int s2, ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1)
+                            throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            boolean newPattern = false;
+                            boolean newReplace = false;
+
+                            AString astrPattern;
+                            AString astrReplace;
+
+                            if (pattern == null) {
+                                newPattern = true;
+                                newReplace = true;
+                            } else {
+                                int c = strComp.compare(b1, s1, l1, lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0, lastPattern.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newPattern = true;
+                                }
+
+                                c = strComp.compare(b2, s2, l2, lastReplace.getByteArray(), 0, lastReplace.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newReplace = true;
+                                }
+                            }
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                lastPattern.reset();
+                                lastPattern.write(b1, s1, l1);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastPattern.getByteArray()));
+                                astrPattern = (AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di);
+                                // strPattern = toRegex(astrPattern);
+                                strPattern = astrPattern.getStringValue();
+                            }
+                            if (newReplace) {
+                                lastReplace.reset();
+                                lastReplace.write(b2, s2, l2);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastReplace.getByteArray()));
+                                astrReplace = (AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di);
+                                replace = astrReplace.getStringValue();
+                            }
+                            if (newPattern)
+                                pattern = Pattern.compile(strPattern);
+                            carSeq.reset(array0, 1);
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                matcher = pattern.matcher(carSeq);
+                            } else {
+                                matcher.reset(carSeq);
+                            }
+                            while (matcher.find()) {
+                                matcher.appendReplacement(resultBuf, replace);
+                            }
+                            matcher.appendTail(resultBuf);
+                            return resultBuf.toString();
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_REPLACE;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringReplaceWithFlagsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringReplaceWithFlagsDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f18863
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringReplaceWithFlagsDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.utils.UTF8CharSequence;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringReplaceWithFlagsDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringReplaceWithFlagsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                return new AbstractQuadStringStringEval(dout, args[0], args[1], args[2], args[3],
+                        AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_REPLACE_WITH_FLAG) {
+
+                    private Pattern pattern = null;
+                    private Matcher matcher = null;
+                    private String strPattern = "";
+                    private String replace = "";
+                    private int flags = 0;
+                    private StringBuffer resultBuf = new StringBuffer();
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastPattern = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastFlags = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream lastReplace = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+                    private IBinaryComparator strComp = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getBinaryComparatorFactory(BuiltinType.ASTRING, true).createBinaryComparator();
+                    private UTF8CharSequence carSeq = new UTF8CharSequence();
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
+
+                    @Override
+                    protected String compute(byte[] b0, int l0, int s0, byte[] b1, int l1, int s1, byte[] b2, int l2,
+                            int s2, byte[] b3, int l3, int s3, ArrayBackedValueStorage array0,
+                            ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            boolean newPattern = false;
+                            boolean newFlags = false;
+                            boolean newReplace = false;
+
+                            AString astrPattern;
+                            AString astrFlags;
+
+                            if (pattern == null) {
+                                newPattern = true;
+                                newFlags = true;
+                            } else {
+                                int c = strComp.compare(b1, s1, l1, lastPattern.getByteArray(), 0, lastPattern.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newPattern = true;
+                                }
+
+                                c = strComp.compare(b3, s3, l3, lastFlags.getByteArray(), 0, lastFlags.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newFlags = true;
+                                }
+                            }
+
+                            if (replace == null) {
+                                newReplace = true;
+                            } else {
+                                int c = strComp.compare(b2, s2, l2, lastReplace.getByteArray(), 0, lastReplace.size());
+                                if (c != 0) {
+                                    newReplace = true;
+                                }
+                            }
+
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                lastPattern.reset();
+                                lastPattern.write(b1, s1, l1);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastPattern.getByteArray()));
+                                astrPattern = (AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di);
+                                // strPattern = toRegex(astrPattern);
+                                strPattern = astrPattern.getStringValue();
+                            }
+                            if (newReplace) {
+                                lastReplace.reset();
+                                lastReplace.write(b2, s2, l2);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastReplace.getByteArray()));
+                                replace = ((AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di)).getStringValue();
+                            }
+                            if (newFlags) {
+                                lastFlags.reset();
+                                lastFlags.write(b3, s3, l3);
+                                // ! object creation !
+                                DataInputStream di = new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(
+                                        lastFlags.getByteArray()));
+                                astrFlags = (AString) stringSerde.deserialize(di);
+                                flags = toFlag(astrFlags);
+                            }
+
+                            if (newPattern || newFlags)
+                                pattern = Pattern.compile(strPattern, flags);
+                            resultBuf.setLength(0);
+                            carSeq.reset(array0, 1);
+                            if (newPattern) {
+                                matcher = pattern.matcher(carSeq);
+                            } else {
+                                matcher.reset(carSeq);
+                            }
+                            while (matcher.find()) {
+                                matcher.appendReplacement(resultBuf, replace);
+                            }
+                            matcher.appendTail(resultBuf);
+                            return resultBuf.toString();
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_REPLACE_WITH_FLAG;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringStartWithDescrtiptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringStartWithDescrtiptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..601c3d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringStartWithDescrtiptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringStartWithDescrtiptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringStartWithDescrtiptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                DataOutput dout = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                return new AbstractBinaryStringBoolEval(dout, args[0], args[1],
+                        AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_START_WITH) {
+
+                    @Override
+                    protected boolean compute(byte[] lBytes, int lLen, int lStart, byte[] rBytes, int rLen, int rStart,
+                            ArrayBackedValueStorage array0, ArrayBackedValueStorage array1) {
+                        int patternLength = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(rBytes, 1);
+                        if (patternLength > UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(lBytes, 1))
+                            return false;
+
+                        int pos = 3;
+                        while (pos < patternLength + 3) {
+                            char c1 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(lBytes, pos);
+                            char c2 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(rBytes, pos);
+                            if (c1 != c2)
+                                return false;
+
+                            pos += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(lBytes, pos);
+                        }
+
+                        return true;
+                    }
+
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_START_WITH;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringToCodePointDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringToCodePointDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e001d9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/StringToCodePointDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * @author Xiaoyu Ma
+ */
+public class StringToCodePointDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY1 = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringToCodePointDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new StringToCodePointDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+                    protected final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();;
+                    protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    protected final ICopyEvaluator stringEval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    protected final AOrderedListType intListType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.AINT32, null);
+
+                    private OrderedListBuilder listBuilder = new OrderedListBuilder();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private final ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+                    private final AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+
+                    int UTF8ToCodePoint(byte[] b, int s) {
+                        if (b[s] >> 7 == 0) {
+                            // 1 byte
+                            return b[s];
+                        } else if ((b[s] & 0xe0) == 0xc0) { /*0xe0 = 0b1110000*/
+                            // 2 bytes
+                            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x1f)) << 6 | /*0x3f = 0b00111111*/
+                            ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f));
+                        } else if ((b[s] & 0xf0) == 0xe0) {
+                            // 3bytes
+                            return ((int) (b[s] & 0xf)) << 12 | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 6
+                                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f));
+                        } else if ((b[s] & 0xf8) == 0xf0) {
+                            // 4bytes
+                            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x7)) << 18 | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 12
+                                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f)) << 6 | ((int) (b[s + 3] & 0x3f));
+                        } else if ((b[s] & 0xfc) == 0xf8) {
+                            // 5bytes
+                            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x3)) << 24 | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 18
+                                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f)) << 12 | ((int) (b[s + 3] & 0x3f)) << 6
+                                    | ((int) (b[s + 4] & 0x3f));
+                        } else if ((b[s] & 0xfe) == 0xfc) {
+                            // 6bytes
+                            return ((int) (b[s] & 0x1)) << 30 | ((int) (b[s + 1] & 0x3f)) << 24
+                                    | ((int) (b[s + 2] & 0x3f)) << 18 | ((int) (b[s + 3] & 0x3f)) << 12
+                                    | ((int) (b[s + 4] & 0x3f)) << 6 | ((int) (b[s + 5] & 0x3f));
+                        }
+                        return 0;
+                    }
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            argOut.reset();
+                            stringEval.evaluate(tuple);
+                            byte[] serString = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                            if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+                                int len = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(bytes, 1);
+
+                                int pos = 3;
+                                listBuilder.reset(intListType);
+                                while (pos < len + 3) {
+                                    int codePoint = UTF8ToCodePoint(bytes, pos);
+                                    pos += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(bytes, pos);
+
+                                    inputVal.reset();
+                                    aInt32.setValue(codePoint);
+                                    int32Serde.serialize(aInt32, inputVal.getDataOutput());
+                                    listBuilder.addItem(inputVal);
+
+                                }
+                                listBuilder.write(out, true);
+                            } else
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_TO_CODEPOINT.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type STRING but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serString[0]));
+                        } catch (IOException e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1.getMessage());
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.STRING_TO_CODEPOINT;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/Substring2Descriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/Substring2Descriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a84401
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/Substring2Descriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
+
+public class Substring2Descriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new Substring2Descriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalStart = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private final byte stt = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        evalStart.evaluate(tuple);
+                        if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING2.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type INT32 for the second argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int start = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1) - 1;
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        evalString.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+                        if (bytes[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING2.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type STRING for the first argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int utflen = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(bytes, 1);
+                        int sStart = 3;
+                        int c = 0;
+                        int idxPos1 = 0;
+                        // skip to start
+                        while (idxPos1 < start && c < utflen) {
+                            c += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(bytes, sStart + c);
+                            ++idxPos1;
+                        }
+                        int startSubstr = c;
+
+                        while (c < utflen) {
+                            c += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(bytes, sStart + c);
+                        }
+
+                        int substrByteLen = c - startSubstr;
+                        try {
+                            out.writeByte(stt);
+                            out.writeByte((byte) ((substrByteLen >>> 8) & 0xFF));
+                            out.writeByte((byte) ((substrByteLen >>> 0) & 0xFF));
+                            out.write(bytes, sStart + startSubstr, substrByteLen);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING2;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringAfterDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringAfterDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7584e4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringAfterDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SubstringAfterDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SubstringAfterDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(array0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalPattern = args[1].createEvaluator(array1);
+                    private final byte stt = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        array0.reset();
+                        evalString.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] src = array0.getByteArray();
+
+                        array1.reset();
+                        evalPattern.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] pattern = array1.getByteArray();
+
+                        if ((src[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && src[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                                || (pattern[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && pattern[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING_AFTER.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type (STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL) but got ("
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(src[0]) + ", "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(pattern[0]) + ").");
+                        }
+
+                        int srcLen = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(src, 1);
+                        int patternLen = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(pattern, 1);
+                        int posSrc = 3;
+                        int posPattern = 3;
+
+                        int offset = 0;
+                        // boolean found = false;
+                        while (posSrc - 3 < srcLen - patternLen) {
+                            offset = 0;
+                            while (posPattern + offset - 3 < patternLen && posSrc + offset - 3 < srcLen) {
+                                char c1 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(src, posSrc + offset);
+                                char c2 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(pattern, posPattern + offset);
+                                if (c1 != c2)
+                                    break;
+                                offset++;
+                            }
+                            if (offset == patternLen) {
+                                // found = true;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            posSrc += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(src, posSrc);
+                        }
+
+                        posSrc += patternLen;
+                        int substrByteLen = srcLen - posSrc + 3;
+                        try {
+                            out.writeByte(stt);
+                            out.writeByte((byte) ((substrByteLen >>> 8) & 0xFF));
+                            out.writeByte((byte) ((substrByteLen >>> 0) & 0xFF));
+                            out.write(src, posSrc, substrByteLen);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING_AFTER;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringBeforeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringBeforeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..77911af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringBeforeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SubstringBeforeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SubstringBeforeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage array1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(array0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalPattern = args[1].createEvaluator(array1);
+                    private final byte stt = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        array0.reset();
+                        evalString.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] src = array0.getByteArray();
+
+                        array1.reset();
+                        evalPattern.evaluate(tuple);
+                        byte[] pattern = array1.getByteArray();
+
+                        if ((src[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && src[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)
+                                || (pattern[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG && pattern[0] != SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG)) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING_BEFORE.getName()
+                                    + ": expects input type (STRING/NULL, STRING/NULL) but got ("
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(src[0]) + ", "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(pattern[0]) + ").");
+                        }
+
+                        int srcLen = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(src, 1);
+                        int patternLen = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(pattern, 1);
+                        int posSrc = 3;
+                        int posPattern = 3;
+
+                        int offset = 0;
+                        while (posSrc - 3 < srcLen - patternLen) {
+                            // offset = 0;                        
+                            while (posPattern + offset - 3 < patternLen && posSrc + offset - 3 < srcLen) {
+                                char c1 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(src, posSrc + offset);
+                                char c2 = UTF8StringPointable.charAt(pattern, posPattern + offset);
+                                if (c1 != c2)
+                                    break;
+                                offset++;
+                            }
+                            if (offset == patternLen) {
+                                // found = true;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            posSrc += UTF8StringPointable.charSize(src, posSrc);
+                        }
+                        int startSubstr = 3;
+
+                        int substrByteLen = posSrc - startSubstr;
+                        try {
+                            out.writeByte(stt);
+                            out.writeByte((byte) ((substrByteLen >>> 8) & 0xFF));
+                            out.writeByte((byte) ((substrByteLen >>> 0) & 0xFF));
+                            out.write(src, startSubstr, substrByteLen);
+
+                        } catch (IOException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING_BEFORE;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringDescriptor.java
index 503df91..77741fb 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SubstringDescriptor.java
@@ -3,54 +3,82 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class SubstringDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "substring", 3,
-            true);
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SubstringDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private IEvaluator evalStart = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
-                    private IEvaluator evalLen = args[2].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalString = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalStart = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalLen = args[2].createEvaluator(argOut);
                     private final byte stt = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                         argOut.reset();
                         evalStart.evaluate(tuple);
-                        int start = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), 1) - 1;
+                        if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type INT32 for the second argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int start = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1) - 1;
                         argOut.reset();
                         evalLen.evaluate(tuple);
-                        int len = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getBytes(), 1);
+                        if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type INT32 for the third argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int len = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+
                         argOut.reset();
                         evalString.evaluate(tuple);
 
-                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getBytes();
-                        int utflen = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLen(bytes, 1);
+                        byte[] bytes = argOut.getByteArray();
+
+                        if (bytes[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING.getName()
+                                    + ": expects type STRING for the first argument but got "
+                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut.getByteArray()[0]));
+                        }
+                        int utflen = UTF8StringPointable.getUTFLength(bytes, 1);
                         int sStart = 3;
                         int c = 0;
                         int idxPos1 = 0;
@@ -67,8 +95,9 @@
                         }
 
                         if (idxPos2 < len) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("substring: start=" + start + "\tlen=" + len
-                                    + "\tgoing past the input length=" + (idxPos1 + idxPos2) + ".");
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING.getName() + ": start="
+                                    + start + "\tlen=" + len + "\tgoing past the input length=" + (idxPos1 + idxPos2)
+                                    + ".");
                         }
 
                         int substrByteLen = c - startSubstr;
@@ -89,7 +118,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSTRING;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SwitchCaseDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SwitchCaseDescriptor.java
index ee5b0d4..ac62f96 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SwitchCaseDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/SwitchCaseDescriptor.java
@@ -2,41 +2,46 @@
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class SwitchCaseDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "switch-case",
-            FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SwitchCaseDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SWITCH_CASE;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage condOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage caseOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 final ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
 
-                final IEvaluator[] evals = new IEvaluator[args.length];
+                final ICopyEvaluator[] evals = new ICopyEvaluator[args.length];
                 // condition
                 evals[0] = args[0].createEvaluator(condOut);
                 // case value
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@
                 // default expression
                 evals[evals.length - 1] = args[evals.length - 1].createEvaluator(argOut);
 
-                return new IEvaluator() {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                     @Override
                     public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -64,7 +69,7 @@
                                 if (equals(condOut, caseOut)) {
                                     argOut.reset();
                                     evals[i + 1].evaluate(tuple);
-                                    output.getDataOutput().write(argOut.getBytes(), argOut.getStartIndex(),
+                                    output.getDataOutput().write(argOut.getByteArray(), argOut.getStartOffset(),
                                             argOut.getLength());
                                     return;
                                 }
@@ -72,7 +77,8 @@
                             // the default case
                             argOut.reset();
                             evals[n - 1].evaluate(tuple);
-                            output.getDataOutput().write(argOut.getBytes(), argOut.getStartIndex(), argOut.getLength());
+                            output.getDataOutput().write(argOut.getByteArray(), argOut.getStartOffset(),
+                                    argOut.getLength());
                         } catch (HyracksDataException hde) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(hde);
                         } catch (IOException ioe) {
@@ -81,11 +87,11 @@
                     }
 
                     private boolean equals(ArrayBackedValueStorage out1, ArrayBackedValueStorage out2) {
-                        if (out1.getStartIndex() != out2.getStartIndex() || out1.getLength() != out2.getLength())
+                        if (out1.getStartOffset() != out2.getStartOffset() || out1.getLength() != out2.getLength())
                             return false;
-                        byte[] data1 = out1.getBytes();
-                        byte[] data2 = out2.getBytes();
-                        for (int i = out1.getStartIndex(); i < out1.getLength(); i++) {
+                        byte[] data1 = out1.getByteArray();
+                        byte[] data2 = out2.getByteArray();
+                        for (int i = out1.getStartOffset(); i < out1.getLength(); i++) {
                             if (data1[i] != data2[i]) {
                                 return false;
                             }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor.java
index ed26a89..3e8a606 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -4,23 +4,28 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.UnorderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnorderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "unordered-list-constructor", FunctionIdentifier.VARARGS, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     private AUnorderedListType ultype;
 
@@ -30,24 +35,24 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.UNORDERED_LIST_CONSTRUCTOR;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new UnorderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory(args, ultype);
     }
 
-    private static class UnorderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory implements IEvaluatorFactory {
+    private static class UnorderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory implements ICopyEvaluatorFactory {
 
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-        private IEvaluatorFactory[] args;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args;
 
         private boolean selfDescList = false;
         private boolean homoList = false;
         private AUnorderedListType unorderedlistType;
 
-        public UnorderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args, AUnorderedListType type) {
+        public UnorderedListConstructorEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args, AUnorderedListType type) {
             this.args = args;
             this.unorderedlistType = type;
             if (type == null || type.getItemType() == null || type.getItemType().getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.ANY)
@@ -57,15 +62,15 @@
         }
 
         @Override
-        public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
             final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
             final ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-            final IEvaluator[] argEvals = new IEvaluator[args.length];
+            final ICopyEvaluator[] argEvals = new ICopyEvaluator[args.length];
             for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
                 argEvals[i] = args[i].createEvaluator(inputVal);
             }
 
-            return new IEvaluator() {
+            return new ICopyEvaluator() {
 
                 private UnorderedListBuilder builder = new UnorderedListBuilder();
 
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/WordTokensDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/WordTokensDescriptor.java
index 6b8979e..80cb6db 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/WordTokensDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/WordTokensDescriptor.java
@@ -1,40 +1,43 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.WordTokensEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.IBinaryTokenizer;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.ITokenFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.fuzzyjoin.tokenizer.UTF8WordTokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.IBinaryTokenizer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.ITokenFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.invertedindex.tokenizers.UTF8WordTokenFactory;
 
 public class WordTokensDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "word-tokens",
-            1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new WordTokensDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.WORD_TOKENS;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new UTF8WordTokenFactory(ATypeTag.STRING.serialize(),
-                        ATypeTag.INT32.serialize());
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                ITokenFactory tokenFactory = new UTF8WordTokenFactory();
                 IBinaryTokenizer tokenizer = new DelimitedUTF8StringBinaryTokenizer(true, true, tokenFactory);
                 return new WordTokensEvaluator(args, output, tokenizer, BuiltinType.ASTRING);
             }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/YearDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/YearDescriptor.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 9c8b857..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/YearDescriptor.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions;
-
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.util.StringUtils;
-
-public class YearDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
-
-    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "year", 1, true);
-    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
-    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
-
-    @Override
-    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns the 4-digit representation of a year from a string, as an int32.
-     * e.g. year('2010-10-24') = 2010
-     */
-
-    @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
-
-        return new IEvaluatorFactory() {
-            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-
-            @Override
-            public IEvaluator createEvaluator(IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
-                final DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
-
-                return new IEvaluator() {
-                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage out1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[0].createEvaluator(out1);
-                    private AMutableInt32 m = new AMutableInt32(0);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-
-                    @Override
-                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
-                        try {
-                            out1.reset();
-                            eval1.evaluate(tuple);
-                            byte[] dateArray = out1.getBytes();
-
-                            if (dateArray[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                                return;
-                            }
-
-                            if (dateArray[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException("year function can not be called on values of type"
-                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(dateArray[0]));
-                            }
-
-                            int year = (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(dateArray, 3) - '0') * 1000
-                                    + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(dateArray, 4) - '0') * 100
-                                    + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(dateArray, 5) - '0') * 10
-                                    + (UTF8StringPointable.charAt(dateArray, 6) - '0');
-                            m.setValue(year);
-
-                            int32Serde.serialize(m, out);
-                        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                        }
-                    }
-                };
-            }
-        };
-    }
-
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2286fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AIntervalSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public abstract class AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_INTERVAL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INTERVAL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INTERVAL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_INTERVAL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type (INTERVAL, INTERVAL) but got ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ")");
+                            }
+
+                            if (AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.getIntervalTimeType(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1) != AIntervalSerializerDeserializer
+                                    .getIntervalTimeType(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1)) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": failed to compare intervals with different internal time type.");
+                            }
+
+                            ABoolean res = (compareIntervals(
+                                    AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.getIntervalStart(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1),
+                                    AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.getIntervalEnd(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1),
+                                    AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.getIntervalStart(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1),
+                                    AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.getIntervalEnd(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1))) ? ABoolean.TRUE
+                                    : ABoolean.FALSE;
+
+                            booleanSerde.serialize(res, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    protected abstract boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2);
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddDateDurationDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddDateDurationDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9f66a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddDateDurationDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AddDateDurationDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ADD_DATE_DURATION;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AddDateDurationDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADate> dateSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATE);
+
+                    private AMutableDate aDate = new AMutableDate(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DATE/NULL for parameter 0 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DURATION/NULL for parameter 1 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            // get duration fields: yearMonth field and dayTime field
+                            int yearMonth = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getYearMonth(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+                            long dayTime = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getDayTime(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            // get date fields
+                            long datetimeChronon = ADateSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1)
+                                    * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+
+                            datetimeChronon = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(datetimeChronon, yearMonth,
+                                    dayTime);
+
+                            int dateChrononInDays = (int) (datetimeChronon / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY);
+                            if (dateChrononInDays < 0 && datetimeChronon % GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY != 0) {
+                                dateChrononInDays -= 1;
+                            }
+
+                            aDate.setValue(dateChrononInDays);
+
+                            dateSerde.serialize(aDate, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddDatetimeDurationDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddDatetimeDurationDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca27455
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddDatetimeDurationDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AddDatetimeDurationDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ADD_DATETIME_DURATION;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AddDatetimeDurationDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADateTime> datetimeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATETIME);
+
+                    private AMutableDateTime aDatetime = new AMutableDateTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DATETIME/NULL for parameter 0 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DURATION/NULL for parameter 1 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            // get duration fields: yearMonth field and dayTime field
+                            int yearMonth = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getYearMonth(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+                            long dayTime = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getDayTime(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            // get date fields
+                            long datetimeChronon = ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer
+                                    .getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            datetimeChronon = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(datetimeChronon, yearMonth,
+                                    dayTime);
+
+                            aDatetime.setValue(datetimeChronon);
+
+                            datetimeSerde.serialize(aDatetime, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddTimeDurationDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddTimeDurationDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7a4fc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AddTimeDurationDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ATime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AddTimeDurationDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ADD_TIME_DURATION;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AddTimeDurationDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ATime> timeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ATIME);
+
+                    private AMutableTime aTime = new AMutableTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type TIME/NULL for parameter 0 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DURATION/NULL for parameter 1 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            // get duration fields: yearMonth field and dayTime field
+                            int yearMonth = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getYearMonth(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            // cannot add a year-month duration to a time value
+                            if (yearMonth != 0) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": a TIME value cannot be added by a DURATION value with year-month field.");
+                            }
+
+                            long dayTime = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getDayTime(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            // get time fields
+                            int timeChronon = ATimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            timeChronon = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(timeChronon, dayTime);
+
+                            aTime.setValue(timeChronon);
+
+                            timeSerde.serialize(aTime, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AdjustDateTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AdjustDateTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..441d20a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AdjustDateTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem.Fields;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AdjustDateTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ADJUST_DATETIME_FOR_TIMEZONE;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AdjustDateTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calInstance = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DATETIME/NULL for parameter 0 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type STRING/NULL for parameter 1 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            int timezone = ATimeParserFactory.parseTimezonePart(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3);
+
+                            if (!calInstance.validateTimeZone(timezone)) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName() + ": wrong format for a time zone string!");
+                            }
+
+                            long chronon = ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            chronon = calInstance.adjustChrononByTimezone(chronon, timezone);
+
+                            StringBuilder sbder = new StringBuilder();
+
+                            calInstance.getExtendStringRepWithTimezoneUntilField(chronon, timezone, sbder, Fields.YEAR,
+                                    Fields.MILLISECOND);
+
+                            out.writeByte(SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG);
+                            out.writeUTF(sbder.toString());
+
+                        } catch (Exception e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AdjustTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AdjustTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ca64c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/AdjustTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.ATimeParserFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem.Fields;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class AdjustTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.ADJUST_TIME_FOR_TIMEZONE;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new AdjustTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calInstance = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type TIME/NULL for parameter 0 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type STRING/NULL for parameter 1 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            int timezone = ATimeParserFactory.parseTimezonePart(argOut1.getByteArray(), 3);
+
+                            if (!calInstance.validateTimeZone(timezone)) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName() + ": wrong format for a time zone string!");
+                            }
+
+                            int chronon = ATimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            chronon = (int) calInstance.adjustChrononByTimezone(chronon, timezone);
+
+                            StringBuilder sbder = new StringBuilder();
+
+                            calInstance.getExtendStringRepWithTimezoneUntilField(chronon, timezone, sbder, Fields.HOUR,
+                                    Fields.MILLISECOND);
+
+                            out.writeByte(SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG);
+                            out.writeUTF(sbder.toString());
+
+                        } catch (Exception e1) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e1);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CalendarDuartionFromDateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CalendarDuartionFromDateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6da17e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CalendarDuartionFromDateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class CalendarDuartionFromDateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CALENDAR_DURATION_FROM_DATE;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CalendarDuartionFromDateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADuration> durationSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADURATION);
+
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calInstanct = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DATE/NULL for parameter 0 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DURATION/NULL for parameter 1 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            int yearMonthDurationInMonths = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getYearMonth(
+                                    argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+                            long dayTimeDurationInMs = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getDayTime(
+                                    argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            long startingTimePoint = ADateSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1)
+                                    * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+
+                            long endingTimePoint = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(startingTimePoint,
+                                    yearMonthDurationInMonths, dayTimeDurationInMs);
+
+                            if (startingTimePoint == endingTimePoint) {
+                                aDuration.setValue(0, 0);
+                            } else {
+
+                                boolean negative = false;
+
+                                if (endingTimePoint < startingTimePoint) {
+                                    negative = true;
+                                    // swap the starting and ending time, so that ending time is always larger than the starting time.
+                                    long tmpTime = endingTimePoint;
+                                    endingTimePoint = startingTimePoint;
+                                    startingTimePoint = tmpTime;
+                                }
+
+                                int year0 = calInstanct.getYear(startingTimePoint);
+                                int month0 = calInstanct.getMonthOfYear(startingTimePoint, year0);
+
+                                int year1 = calInstanct.getYear(endingTimePoint);
+                                int month1 = calInstanct.getMonthOfYear(endingTimePoint, year1);
+
+                                int year = year1 - year0;
+                                int month = month1 - month0;
+                                int day = calInstanct.getDayOfMonthYear(endingTimePoint, year1, month1)
+                                        - calInstanct.getDayOfMonthYear(startingTimePoint, year0, month0);
+                                int hour = calInstanct.getHourOfDay(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getHourOfDay(startingTimePoint);
+                                int min = calInstanct.getMinOfHour(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getMinOfHour(startingTimePoint);
+                                int sec = calInstanct.getSecOfMin(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getSecOfMin(startingTimePoint);
+                                int ms = calInstanct.getMillisOfSec(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getMillisOfSec(startingTimePoint);
+
+                                if (ms < 0) {
+                                    ms += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND;
+                                    sec -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (sec < 0) {
+                                    sec += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE
+                                            / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND;
+                                    min -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (min < 0) {
+                                    min += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR
+                                            / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE;
+                                    hour -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (hour < 0) {
+                                    hour += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY
+                                            / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR;
+                                    day -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (day < 0) {
+                                    boolean isLeapYear = calInstanct.isLeapYear(year1);
+                                    day += (isLeapYear) ? (GregorianCalendarSystem.DAYS_OF_MONTH_LEAP[month1 - 2])
+                                            : (GregorianCalendarSystem.DAYS_OF_MONTH_ORDI[month1 - 2]);
+                                    month -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (month < 0) {
+                                    month += GregorianCalendarSystem.MONTHS_IN_A_YEAR;
+                                    year -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (negative) {
+                                    aDuration.setValue(-1 * (year * GregorianCalendarSystem.MONTHS_IN_A_YEAR + month),
+                                            -1
+                                                    * (day * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY + hour
+                                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR + min
+                                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE + sec
+                                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND + ms));
+                                } else {
+                                    aDuration.setValue(year * GregorianCalendarSystem.MONTHS_IN_A_YEAR + month, day
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY + hour
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR + min
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE + sec
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND + ms);
+                                }
+                            }
+
+                            durationSerde.serialize(aDuration, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CalendarDurationFromDateTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CalendarDurationFromDateTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e09f1da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CalendarDurationFromDateTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DurationArithmeticOperations;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * This function converts a given duration into a "human-readable" duration containing both year-month and day-time
+ * duration parts, by re-organizing values between the duration fields from the given reference time point.
+ * <p/>
+ * The basic algorithm for this convert is simple: <br/>
+ * 1. Calculate the time point by adding the given duration to the given time point;<br/>
+ * 2. Calculate the differences by fields between two different time points;<br/>
+ * 3. Re-format the duration into a human-readable one.
+ * <p/>
+ * Here "human-readable" means the value of each field of the duration is within the value range of the field in the calendar system. For example, month would be in [0, 12), and hour would be in [0, 24).
+ * <p/>
+ * The result can be considered as a "field-based" difference between the two datetime value, but all negative values would be converted to be non-negative.
+ * <p/>
+ * In the implementation, we always do the subtraction from the later time point, resulting a positive duration always.
+ * <p/>
+ */
+public class CalendarDurationFromDateTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CALENDAR_DURATION_FROM_DATETIME;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DURATION.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CalendarDurationFromDateTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADuration> durationSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADURATION);
+
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0);
+
+                    private GregorianCalendarSystem calInstanct = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DATETIME/NULL for parameter 0 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DURATION_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects type DURATION/NULL for parameter 1 but got "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0]));
+                            }
+
+                            int yearMonthDurationInMonths = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getYearMonth(
+                                    argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+                            long dayTimeDurationInMs = ADurationSerializerDeserializer.getDayTime(
+                                    argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            long startingTimePoint = ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(),
+                                    1);
+
+                            long endingTimePoint = DurationArithmeticOperations.addDuration(startingTimePoint,
+                                    yearMonthDurationInMonths, dayTimeDurationInMs);
+
+                            if (startingTimePoint == endingTimePoint) {
+                                aDuration.setValue(0, 0);
+                            } else {
+
+                                boolean negative = false;
+
+                                if (endingTimePoint < startingTimePoint) {
+                                    negative = true;
+                                    // swap the starting and ending time, so that ending time is always larger than the starting time.
+                                    long tmpTime = endingTimePoint;
+                                    endingTimePoint = startingTimePoint;
+                                    startingTimePoint = tmpTime;
+                                }
+
+                                int year0 = calInstanct.getYear(startingTimePoint);
+                                int month0 = calInstanct.getMonthOfYear(startingTimePoint, year0);
+
+                                int year1 = calInstanct.getYear(endingTimePoint);
+                                int month1 = calInstanct.getMonthOfYear(endingTimePoint, year1);
+
+                                int year = year1 - year0;
+                                int month = month1 - month0;
+                                int day = calInstanct.getDayOfMonthYear(endingTimePoint, year1, month1)
+                                        - calInstanct.getDayOfMonthYear(startingTimePoint, year0, month0);
+                                int hour = calInstanct.getHourOfDay(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getHourOfDay(startingTimePoint);
+                                int min = calInstanct.getMinOfHour(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getMinOfHour(startingTimePoint);
+                                int sec = calInstanct.getSecOfMin(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getSecOfMin(startingTimePoint);
+                                int ms = calInstanct.getMillisOfSec(endingTimePoint)
+                                        - calInstanct.getMillisOfSec(startingTimePoint);
+
+                                if (ms < 0) {
+                                    ms += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND;
+                                    sec -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (sec < 0) {
+                                    sec += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE
+                                            / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND;
+                                    min -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (min < 0) {
+                                    min += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR
+                                            / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE;
+                                    hour -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (hour < 0) {
+                                    hour += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY
+                                            / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR;
+                                    day -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (day < 0) {
+                                    boolean isLeapYear = calInstanct.isLeapYear(year1);
+                                    day += (isLeapYear) ? (GregorianCalendarSystem.DAYS_OF_MONTH_LEAP[month1 - 2])
+                                            : (GregorianCalendarSystem.DAYS_OF_MONTH_ORDI[month1 - 2]);
+                                    month -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (month < 0) {
+                                    month += GregorianCalendarSystem.MONTHS_IN_A_YEAR;
+                                    year -= 1;
+                                }
+
+                                if (negative) {
+                                    aDuration.setValue(-1 * (year * GregorianCalendarSystem.MONTHS_IN_A_YEAR + month),
+                                            -1
+                                                    * (day * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY + hour
+                                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR + min
+                                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE + sec
+                                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND + ms));
+                                } else {
+                                    aDuration.setValue(year * GregorianCalendarSystem.MONTHS_IN_A_YEAR + month, day
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY + hour
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR + min
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE + sec
+                                            * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_SECOND + ms);
+                                }
+                            }
+
+                            durationSerde.serialize(aDuration, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentDateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentDateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21103d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentDateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class CurrentDateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CURRENT_DATE;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CurrentDateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADate> dateSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATE);
+                    private AMutableDate aDate = new AMutableDate(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            int dateChronon = (int) (System.currentTimeMillis() / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY);
+                            aDate.setValue(dateChronon);
+                            dateSerde.serialize(aDate, out);
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentDateTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentDateTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd0af68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentDateTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class CurrentDateTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CURRENT_DATETIME;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CurrentDateTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    private CurrentDateTimeDescriptor() {
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADateTime> datetimeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATETIME);
+                    private AMutableDateTime aDateTime = new AMutableDateTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            aDateTime.setValue(System.currentTimeMillis());
+                            datetimeSerde.serialize(aDateTime, out);
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e012a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/CurrentTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ATime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class CurrentTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CURRENT_TIME;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new CurrentTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ATime> timeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ATIME);
+                    private AMutableTime aTime = new AMutableTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        try {
+                            int timeChronon = (int) (System.currentTimeMillis() % GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY);
+                            aTime.setValue(timeChronon);
+                            timeSerde.serialize(aTime, out);
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DateFromDatetimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DateFromDatetimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0ced1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DateFromDatetimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class DateFromDatetimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DATE_FROM_DATETIME;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new DateFromDatetimeDescriptor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    // possible returning types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADate> dateSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATE);
+                    private AMutableDate aDate = new AMutableDate(0);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            FID.getName()
+                                                    + ": expects input type DATETIME/NULL but got "
+                                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                            .getByteArray()[0]));
+                                }
+                                long datetimeChronon = ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(
+                                        argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                int dateChrononInDays = (int) (datetimeChronon / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY);
+                                if (dateChrononInDays < 0
+                                        && datetimeChronon % GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY != 0) {
+                                    dateChrononInDays -= 1;
+                                }
+                                aDate.setValue(dateChrononInDays);
+                                dateSerde.serialize(aDate, out);
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DateFromUnixTimeInDaysDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DateFromUnixTimeInDaysDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5743ff9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DateFromUnixTimeInDaysDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class DateFromUnixTimeInDaysDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DATE_FROM_UNIX_TIME_IN_DAYS;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private static final byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_INT8_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_INT16_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+    private static final byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new DateFromUnixTimeInDaysDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    private AMutableDate aDate = new AMutableDate(0);
+
+                    // possible returning types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADate> dateSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATE);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT8_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aDate.setValue(AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT16_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aDate.setValue(AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aDate.setValue(AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            FID.getName()
+                                                    + ": expects type INT8/INT16/INT32/INT64/NULL but got "
+                                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                            .getByteArray()[0]));
+                                }
+                                dateSerde.serialize(aDate, out);
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DatetimeFromDateAndTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DatetimeFromDateAndTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7854a2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DatetimeFromDateAndTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class DatetimeFromDateAndTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DATETIME_FROM_DATE_TIME;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new DatetimeFromDateAndTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible returning types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADateTime> datetimeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATETIME);
+                    private AMutableDateTime aDateTime = new AMutableDateTime(0);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG
+                                        && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            FID.getName()
+                                                    + ": expects input type (DATE/NULL, TIME/NULL) but got ("
+                                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0
+                                                            .getByteArray()[0])
+                                                    + ", "
+                                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1
+                                                            .getByteArray()[0]) + ").");
+
+                                }
+
+                                long datetimeChronon = ADateSerializerDeserializer
+                                        .getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1)
+                                        * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY
+                                        + ATimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                                aDateTime.setValue(datetimeChronon);
+                                datetimeSerde.serialize(aDateTime, out);
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DatetimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DatetimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..447184e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/DatetimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt64SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class DatetimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.DATETIME_FROM_UNIX_TIME_IN_MS;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT8_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT16_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT64_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT64.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new DatetimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADateTime> datetimeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATETIME);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    private AMutableDateTime aDatetime = new AMutableDateTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT8_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aDatetime.setValue(AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT16_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aDatetime.setValue(AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aDatetime.setValue(AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT64_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aDatetime.setValue(AInt64SerializerDeserializer.getLong(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            FID.getName()
+                                                    + ": expects type INT8/INT16/INT32/INT64/NULL but got "
+                                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                            .getByteArray()[0]));
+                                }
+                                datetimeSerde.serialize(aDatetime, out);
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalAfterDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalAfterDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c44e19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalAfterDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalAfterDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_AFTER;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalAfterDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.after(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalBeforeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalBeforeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc908b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalBeforeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalBeforeDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_BEFORE;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalBeforeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.before(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalCoveredByDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalCoveredByDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc17852
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalCoveredByDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalCoveredByDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_COVERED_BY;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalCoveredByDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.coveredBy(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalCoversDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalCoversDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..844ef75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalCoversDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalCoversDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_COVERS;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalCoversDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.covers(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalEndedByDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalEndedByDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98c7833f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalEndedByDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalEndedByDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_ENDED_BY;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalEndedByDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.endedBy(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalEndsDecriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalEndsDecriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..140583a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalEndsDecriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalEndsDecriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_ENDS;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalEndsDecriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.ends(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalLogic.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalLogic.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e8e814f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalLogic.java
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+public class IntervalLogic {
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean validateInterval(T s, T e) {
+        return s.compareTo(e) <= 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Anything from interval 1 is less than anything from interval 2.
+     * <p/>
+     * |------|<br/>
+     * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;|------|<br/>
+     * 
+     * @param s1
+     * @param e1
+     * @param s2
+     * @param e2
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean before(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return e1.compareTo(s2) < 0;
+    }
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean after(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return before(s2, e2, s1, e1);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The end of interval 1 is the same as the start of interval 2.
+     * <p/>
+     * |------|<br/>
+     * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;|------|<br/>
+     * 
+     * @param s1
+     * @param e1
+     * @param s2
+     * @param e2
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean meets(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return e1.compareTo(s2) == 0;
+    }
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean metBy(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return meets(s2, e2, s1, e1);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Something at the end of interval 1 is contained as the beginning of interval 2.
+     * <p/>
+     * |------|<br/>
+     * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;|------|<br/>
+     * 
+     * @param s1
+     * @param e1
+     * @param s2
+     * @param e2
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean overlaps(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return s1.compareTo(s2) < 0 && e1.compareTo(s2) > 0 && e2.compareTo(e1) > 0;
+    }
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean overlappedBy(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return overlaps(s2, e2, s1, e1);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Something is shared by both interval 1 and interval 2.
+     * <p/>
+     * 
+     * @param s1
+     * @param e1
+     * @param s2
+     * @param e2
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean overlap(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return s1.compareTo(e2) < 0 && s2.compareTo(e1) < 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Anything from interval 1 is contained in the beginning of interval 2.
+     * <p/>
+     * |------|<br/>
+     * |-------|<br/>
+     * 
+     * @param s1
+     * @param e1
+     * @param s2
+     * @param e2
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean starts(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return s1.compareTo(s2) == 0 && e1.compareTo(e2) <= 0;
+    }
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean startedBy(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return starts(s2, e2, s1, e1);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Anything from interval 2 is in interval 1.
+     * <p/>
+     * |------|<br/>
+     * &nbsp;&nbsp;|----|<br/>
+     * 
+     * @param s1
+     * @param e1
+     * @param s2
+     * @param e2
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean covers(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return s1.compareTo(s2) <= 0 && e1.compareTo(e2) >= 0;
+    }
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean coveredBy(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return covers(s2, e2, s1, e1);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Anything from interval 1 is from the ending part of interval 2.
+     * <p/>
+     * &nbsp;&nbsp;|-----|<br/>
+     * |------|<br/>
+     * 
+     * @param s1
+     * @param e1
+     * @param s2
+     * @param e2
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean ends(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return s1.compareTo(s2) >= 0 && e1.compareTo(e2) == 0;
+    }
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean endedBy(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return ends(s2, e2, s1, e1);
+    }
+
+    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> boolean equals(T s1, T e1, T s2, T e2) {
+        return s1.compareTo(s1) == 0 && e1.compareTo(e2) == 0;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalMeetsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalMeetsDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2232a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalMeetsDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalMeetsDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_MEETS;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalMeetsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.meets(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalMetByDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalMetByDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..377d033
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalMetByDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalMetByDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_MET_BY;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalMetByDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.metBy(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalOverlappedByDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalOverlappedByDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5d82f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalOverlappedByDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalOverlappedByDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_OVERLAPPED_BY;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalOverlappedByDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.overlappedBy(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalOverlapsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalOverlapsDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d244010
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalOverlapsDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalOverlapsDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_OVERLAPS;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalOverlapsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.overlaps(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalStartedByDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalStartedByDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94b01a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalStartedByDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalStartedByDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_STARTED_BY;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalStartedByDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.startedBy(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalStartsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalStartsDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce27742
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/IntervalStartsDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class IntervalStartsDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INTERVAL_STARTS;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new IntervalStartsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.starts(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/OverlapDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/OverlapDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2919f90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/OverlapDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+
+public class OverlapDescriptor extends AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.OVERLAP;
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new OverlapDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AbstractIntervalLogicFuncDescriptor#compareIntervals(long, long, long, long)
+     */
+    @Override
+    protected boolean compareIntervals(long s1, long e1, long s2, long e2) {
+        return IntervalLogic.overlap(s1, e1, s2, e2);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractDateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractDateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f54162
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractDateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SubtractDateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBTRACT_DATE;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SubtractDateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADuration> durationSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADURATION);
+
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type (DATE/NULL, DATE/NULL) but got ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ").");
+                            }
+
+                            long durationChronon = (ADateSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1) - ADateSerializerDeserializer
+                                    .getChronon(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1)) * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+
+                            aDuration.setValue(0, durationChronon);
+
+                            durationSerde.serialize(aDuration, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractDatetimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractDatetimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc677b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractDatetimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SubtractDatetimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBTRACT_DATETIME;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SubtractDatetimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADuration> durationSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADURATION);
+
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type (DATETIME/NULL, DATETIME/NULL) but got ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ").");
+                            }
+
+                            long durationChronon = ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer
+                                    .getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1)
+                                    - ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            aDuration.setValue(0, durationChronon);
+
+                            durationSerde.serialize(aDuration, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..579030d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/SubtractTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDuration;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class SubtractTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBTRACT_TIME;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SubtractTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADuration> durationSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADURATION);
+
+                    private AMutableDuration aDuration = new AMutableDuration(0, 0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG
+                                    && argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(FID.getName()
+                                        + ": expects input type (TIME/NULL, TIME/NULL) but got ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ").");
+                            }
+
+                            int durationChronon = ATimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1)
+                                    - ATimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut1.getByteArray(), 1);
+
+                            aDuration.setValue(0, durationChronon);
+
+                            durationSerde.serialize(aDuration, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00fe414
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ATime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.TIME_FROM_DATETIME;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor();
+        }
+
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    // possible returning types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ATime> timeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ATIME);
+                    private AMutableTime aTime = new AMutableTime(0);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            FID.getName()
+                                                    + ": expects input type DATETIME/NULL but got "
+                                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                            .getByteArray()[0]));
+                                }
+                                long datetimeChronon = ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(
+                                        argOut.getByteArray(), 1);
+                                int timeChronon = (int) (datetimeChronon % GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY);
+                                if (timeChronon < 0) {
+                                    timeChronon += GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                                }
+                                aTime.setValue(timeChronon);
+                                timeSerde.serialize(aTime, out);
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98fd75f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2011 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt16SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt32SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AInt8SerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ATime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private final static long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.TIME_FROM_UNIX_TIME_IN_MS;
+
+    // allowed input types
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT8_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT8.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT16_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT16.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.INT32.serialize();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor#createEvaluatorFactory(edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory[])
+     */
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut);
+
+                    // possible output types
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ATime> timeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ATIME);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    private AMutableTime aTime = new AMutableTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut.reset();
+                        eval.evaluate(tuple);
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                            } else {
+                                if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT8_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aTime.setValue(AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT16_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aTime.setValue(AInt16SerializerDeserializer.getShort(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else if (argOut.getByteArray()[0] == SER_INT32_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                    aTime.setValue(AInt32SerializerDeserializer.getInt(argOut.getByteArray(), 1));
+                                } else {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(
+                                            FID.getName()
+                                                    + ": expects input type INT8/INT16/INT32/NULL but got "
+                                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut
+                                                            .getByteArray()[0]));
+                                }
+                                timeSerde.serialize(aTime, out);
+                            }
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException hex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(hex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java
index 1221f7f..f12ea91 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryBooleanInspectorImpl;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryHashFunctionFamilyProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryIntegerInspector;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlJSONPrinterFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlNormalizedKeyComputerFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlPrinterFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
@@ -31,27 +33,52 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.FunctionManagerHolder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionManager;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.typecomputer.base.TypeComputerUtilities;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnorderedListType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.collections.ListifyAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar.ScalarAvgAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar.ScalarCountAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar.ScalarMaxAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar.ScalarMinAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.scalar.ScalarSumAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std.SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std.SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std.SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std.SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std.SerializableLocalSumAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.serializable.std.SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.AvgAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.CountAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.LocalMaxAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.LocalMinAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.LocalSumAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.MaxAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.MinAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.std.SumAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.stream.EmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.aggregates.stream.NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.TemporalDayAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.TemporalHourAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.TemporalMillisecondAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.TemporalMinuteAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.TemporalMonthAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.TemporalSecondAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.TemporalYearAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.CircleCenterAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.CircleRadiusAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.LineRectanglePolygonAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.PointXCoordinateAccessor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.accessors.PointYCoordinateAccessor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.CreateMBREvalFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.FunctionManagerImpl;
@@ -66,6 +93,12 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AInt32ConstructorDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AInt64ConstructorDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AInt8ConstructorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AIntervalFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AIntervalFromTimeConstructorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AIntervalStartFromDateConstructorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AIntervalStartFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.AIntervalStartFromTimeConstructorDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.ALineConstructorDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.ANullConstructorDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.APoint3DConstructorDescriptor;
@@ -76,7 +109,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.constructors.ATimeConstructorDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.AndDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.CastRecordDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.CodePointToStringDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.ContainsDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor;
@@ -88,6 +123,8 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.CreateRectangleDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.EditDistanceCheckDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.EditDistanceDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.EditDistanceListIsFilterable;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.EditDistanceStringIsFilterable;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.EmbedTypeDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.EndsWithDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor;
@@ -102,9 +139,17 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.LenDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.LikeDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NotDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NotNullDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericAbsDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericAddDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericCeilingDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericDivideDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericFloorDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericModuloDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericMultiplyDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericRoundDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericRoundHalfToEven2Descriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericRoundHalfToEvenDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericSubtractDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor;
@@ -116,6 +161,8 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SimilarityJaccardDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SimilarityJaccardSortedDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SpatialAreaDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SpatialCellDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SpatialDistanceDescriptor;
@@ -125,24 +172,65 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SwitchCaseDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.WordTokensDescriptor;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.YearDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringConcatDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringEndWithDescrtiptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringEqualDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringJoinDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringLengthDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringLowerCaseDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringMatchesDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringMatchesWithFlagDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringReplaceDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringReplaceWithFlagsDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringStartWithDescrtiptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.StringToCodePointDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.Substring2Descriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SubstringAfterDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.SubstringBeforeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AddDateDurationDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AddDatetimeDurationDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AddTimeDurationDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AdjustDateTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.AdjustTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.CalendarDuartionFromDateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.CalendarDurationFromDateTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.CurrentDateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.CurrentDateTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.CurrentTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.DateFromDatetimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.DateFromUnixTimeInDaysDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.DatetimeFromDateAndTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.DatetimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalAfterDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalBeforeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalCoveredByDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalCoversDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalEndedByDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalEndsDecriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalMeetsDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalMetByDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.OverlapDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalOverlappedByDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalOverlapsDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalStartedByDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalStartsDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.SubtractDateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.SubtractDatetimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.SubtractTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file.AdmSchemafullRecordParserFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file.NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.runningaggregates.std.TidRunningAggregateDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.std.RangeDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.std.ScanCollectionDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.std.SubsetCollectionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.utils.Triple;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.base.ILogicalExpression;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.base.LogicalExpressionTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.base.LogicalVariable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.IBinaryBooleanInspector;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.IBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.IBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.IBinaryIntegerInspector;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.INormalizedKeyComputerFactoryProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.IPrinterFactoryProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.ISerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.data.ITypeTraitProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.expressions.AbstractFunctionCallExpression;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.expressions.ConstantExpression;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.expressions.IAlgebricksConstantValue;
@@ -153,15 +241,21 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.expressions.VariableReferenceExpression;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.IFunctionInfo;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.evaluators.ColumnAccessEvalFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.evaluators.ConstantEvalFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.NotImplementedException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.utils.Triple;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IBinaryBooleanInspectorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IBinaryHashFunctionFamilyProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IBinaryIntegerInspectorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.INormalizedKeyComputerFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.IPrinterFactoryProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.ISerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.data.ITypeTraitProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.evaluators.ColumnAccessEvalFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.evaluators.ConstantEvalFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.INullWriterFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.DoubleParserFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.FloatParserFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.IValueParserFactory;
@@ -179,6 +273,9 @@
     private static LogicalVariable METADATA_DUMMY_VAR = new LogicalVariable(-1);
 
     private static final HashMap<ATypeTag, IValueParserFactory> typeToValueParserFactMap = new HashMap<ATypeTag, IValueParserFactory>();
+
+    public static final String NON_TAGGED_DATA_FORMAT = "edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.formats.NonTaggedDataFormat";
+
     static {
         typeToValueParserFactMap.put(ATypeTag.INT32, IntegerParserFactory.INSTANCE);
         typeToValueParserFactMap.put(ATypeTag.FLOAT, FloatParserFactory.INSTANCE);
@@ -201,127 +298,225 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        List<IFunctionDescriptor> temp = new ArrayList<IFunctionDescriptor>();
+        List<IFunctionDescriptorFactory> temp = new ArrayList<IFunctionDescriptorFactory>();
 
         // format-independent
-        temp.add(new ContainsDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new EndsWithDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new StartsWithDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SubstringDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new TidRunningAggregateDescriptor());
+        temp.add(ContainsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(EndsWithDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StartsWithDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SubstringDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TidRunningAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
         // format-dependent
-        temp.add(new AndDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new OrDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new LikeDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new YearDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ScanCollectionDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new FieldAccessByNameDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new GetItemDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new OrderedListConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new EmbedTypeDescriptor());
+        temp.add(AndDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(OrDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(LikeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ScanCollectionDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AnyCollectionMemberDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(FieldAccessByIndexDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(FieldAccessByNameDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(GetItemDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericUnaryMinusDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(OrderedListConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(UnorderedListConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(EmbedTypeDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
-        temp.add(new NumericAddDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new NumericDivideDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new NumericMultiplyDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new NumericSubtractDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new IsNullDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new NotDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new LenDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new RangeDescriptor());
+        temp.add(NumericAddDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericDivideDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericMultiplyDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericSubtractDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericModuloDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IsNullDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NotDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(LenDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(EmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NonEmptyStreamAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(RangeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+
+        temp.add(NumericAbsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericCeilingDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericFloorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericRoundDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericRoundHalfToEvenDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NumericRoundHalfToEven2Descriptor.FACTORY);
+        // String functions
+        temp.add(StringEqualDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringStartWithDescrtiptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringEndWithDescrtiptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringMatchesDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringLowerCaseDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringMatchesWithFlagDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringReplaceDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringReplaceWithFlagsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringLengthDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(Substring2Descriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SubstringBeforeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SubstringAfterDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringToCodePointDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CodePointToStringDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringConcatDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(StringJoinDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
         // aggregates
-        temp.add(new ListifyAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CountAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AvgAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SumAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new MaxAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new MinAggregateDescriptor());
+        temp.add(ListifyAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CountAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AvgAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(LocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(GlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SumAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(LocalSumAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(MaxAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(LocalMaxAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(MinAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(LocalMinAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
         // serializable aggregates
-        temp.add(new SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor());
+        temp.add(SerializableCountAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SerializableAvgAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SerializableLocalAvgAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SerializableGlobalAvgAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SerializableSumAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SerializableLocalSumAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+
+        // scalar aggregates
+        temp.add(ScalarCountAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ScalarAvgAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ScalarSumAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ScalarMaxAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ScalarMinAggregateDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
         // new functions - constructors
-        temp.add(new ABooleanConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ANullConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AStringConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AInt8ConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AInt16ConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AInt32ConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AInt64ConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new AFloatConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ADoubleConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new APointConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new APoint3DConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ALineConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new APolygonConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ACircleConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ARectangleConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ATimeConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ADateConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new ADurationConstructorDescriptor());
+        temp.add(ABooleanConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ANullConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AStringConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AInt8ConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AInt16ConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AInt32ConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AInt64ConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AFloatConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ADoubleConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(APointConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(APoint3DConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ALineConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(APolygonConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ACircleConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ARectangleConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ATimeConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ADateConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ADurationConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
         // Spatial
-        temp.add(new CreatePointDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CreateLineDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CreatePolygonDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CreateCircleDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CreateRectangleDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SpatialAreaDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SpatialDistanceDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SpatialIntersectDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CreateMBRDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SpatialCellDescriptor());
+        temp.add(CreatePointDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CreateLineDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CreatePolygonDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CreateCircleDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CreateRectangleDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SpatialAreaDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SpatialDistanceDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SpatialIntersectDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CreateMBRDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SpatialCellDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(PointXCoordinateAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(PointYCoordinateAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CircleRadiusAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CircleCenterAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(LineRectanglePolygonAccessor.FACTORY);
 
         // fuzzyjoin function
-        temp.add(new FuzzyEqDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SubsetCollectionDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor());
+        temp.add(FuzzyEqDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SubsetCollectionDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(PrefixLenJaccardDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
-        temp.add(new WordTokensDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new HashedWordTokensDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor());
+        temp.add(WordTokensDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(HashedWordTokensDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CountHashedWordTokensDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
-        temp.add(new GramTokensDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new HashedGramTokensDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor());
+        temp.add(GramTokensDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(HashedGramTokensDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CountHashedGramTokensDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
-        temp.add(new EditDistanceDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new EditDistanceCheckDescriptor());
+        temp.add(EditDistanceDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(EditDistanceCheckDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(EditDistanceStringIsFilterable.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(EditDistanceListIsFilterable.FACTORY);
 
-        temp.add(new SimilarityJaccardDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor());
+        temp.add(SimilarityJaccardDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SimilarityJaccardCheckDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SimilarityJaccardSortedDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SimilarityJaccardSortedCheckDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SimilarityJaccardPrefixDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SimilarityJaccardPrefixCheckDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
-        temp.add(new SwitchCaseDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new RegExpDescriptor());
-        temp.add(new InjectFailureDescriptor());
+        temp.add(SwitchCaseDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(RegExpDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(InjectFailureDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CastRecordDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(NotNullDescriptor.FACTORY);
+
+        // Spatial and temporal type accessors
+        temp.add(TemporalYearAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TemporalMonthAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TemporalDayAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TemporalHourAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TemporalMinuteAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TemporalSecondAccessor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TemporalMillisecondAccessor.FACTORY);
+
+        // Temporal functions
+        temp.add(DateFromUnixTimeInDaysDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(DateFromDatetimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AddDateDurationDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SubtractDateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SubtractTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AddTimeDurationDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(DatetimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(DatetimeFromDateAndTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(SubtractDatetimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AddDatetimeDurationDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CalendarDurationFromDateTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CalendarDuartionFromDateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AdjustDateTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AdjustTimeForTimeZoneDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalBeforeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalAfterDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalMeetsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalMetByDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalOverlapsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalOverlappedByDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(OverlapDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalStartsDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalStartedByDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalCoversDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalCoveredByDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalEndsDecriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(IntervalEndedByDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CurrentDateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CurrentTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(CurrentDateTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+
+        // Interval constructor
+        temp.add(AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AIntervalFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AIntervalFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AIntervalStartFromDateConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AIntervalStartFromDateTimeConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(AIntervalStartFromTimeConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
         IFunctionManager mgr = new FunctionManagerImpl();
-        for (IFunctionDescriptor fd : temp) {
-            mgr.registerFunction(fd);
+        for (IFunctionDescriptorFactory fdFactory : temp) {
+            mgr.registerFunction(fdFactory);
         }
         FunctionManagerHolder.setFunctionManager(mgr);
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IBinaryBooleanInspector getBinaryBooleanInspector() {
-        return AqlBinaryBooleanInspectorImpl.INSTANCE;
+    public IBinaryBooleanInspectorFactory getBinaryBooleanInspectorFactory() {
+        return AqlBinaryBooleanInspectorImpl.FACTORY;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -346,13 +541,13 @@
 
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory getFieldAccessEvaluatorFactory(ARecordType recType, String fldName, int recordColumn)
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory getFieldAccessEvaluatorFactory(ARecordType recType, String fldName, int recordColumn)
             throws AlgebricksException {
         String[] names = recType.getFieldNames();
         int n = names.length;
         for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
             if (names[i].equals(fldName)) {
-                IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory = new ColumnAccessEvalFactory(recordColumn);
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory = new ColumnAccessEvalFactory(recordColumn);
                 ArrayBackedValueStorage abvs = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 DataOutput dos = abvs.getDataOutput();
                 try {
@@ -362,9 +557,9 @@
                 } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
                     throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                 }
-                IEvaluatorFactory fldIndexEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs.getBytes(), abvs
-                        .getLength()));
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalFactory = new FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory(recordEvalFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory fldIndexEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs.getByteArray(),
+                        abvs.getLength()));
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalFactory = new FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory(recordEvalFactory,
                         fldIndexEvalFactory, recType);
                 return evalFactory;
             }
@@ -374,11 +569,11 @@
 
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory[] createMBRFactory(ARecordType recType, String fldName, int recordColumn, int dimension)
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] createMBRFactory(ARecordType recType, String fldName, int recordColumn, int dimension)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        IEvaluatorFactory evalFactory = getFieldAccessEvaluatorFactory(recType, fldName, recordColumn);
+        ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalFactory = getFieldAccessEvaluatorFactory(recType, fldName, recordColumn);
         int numOfFields = dimension * 2;
-        IEvaluatorFactory[] evalFactories = new IEvaluatorFactory[numOfFields];
+        ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] evalFactories = new ICopyEvaluatorFactory[numOfFields];
 
         ArrayBackedValueStorage abvs1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
         DataOutput dos1 = abvs1.getDataOutput();
@@ -388,8 +583,8 @@
         } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
         }
-        IEvaluatorFactory dimensionEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs1.getBytes(), abvs1
-                .getLength()));
+        ICopyEvaluatorFactory dimensionEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs1.getByteArray(),
+                abvs1.getLength()));
 
         for (int i = 0; i < numOfFields; i++) {
             ArrayBackedValueStorage abvs2 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
@@ -400,8 +595,8 @@
             } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
                 throw new AlgebricksException(e);
             }
-            IEvaluatorFactory coordinateEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs2.getBytes(), abvs2
-                    .getLength()));
+            ICopyEvaluatorFactory coordinateEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs2.getByteArray(),
+                    abvs2.getLength()));
 
             evalFactories[i] = new CreateMBREvalFactory(evalFactory, dimensionEvalFactory, coordinateEvalFactory);
         }
@@ -410,13 +605,13 @@
 
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
-    public Triple<IEvaluatorFactory, ScalarFunctionCallExpression, IAType> partitioningEvaluatorFactory(
+    public Triple<ICopyEvaluatorFactory, ScalarFunctionCallExpression, IAType> partitioningEvaluatorFactory(
             ARecordType recType, String fldName) throws AlgebricksException {
         String[] names = recType.getFieldNames();
         int n = names.length;
         for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
             if (names[i].equals(fldName)) {
-                IEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory = new ColumnAccessEvalFactory(
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory recordEvalFactory = new ColumnAccessEvalFactory(
                         GlobalConfig.DEFAULT_INPUT_DATA_COLUMN);
                 ArrayBackedValueStorage abvs = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
                 DataOutput dos = abvs.getDataOutput();
@@ -427,9 +622,9 @@
                 } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
                     throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                 }
-                IEvaluatorFactory fldIndexEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs.getBytes(), abvs
-                        .getLength()));
-                IEvaluatorFactory evalFactory = new FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory(recordEvalFactory,
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory fldIndexEvalFactory = new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs.getByteArray(),
+                        abvs.getLength()));
+                ICopyEvaluatorFactory evalFactory = new FieldAccessByIndexEvalFactory(recordEvalFactory,
                         fldIndexEvalFactory, recType);
                 IFunctionInfo finfoAccess = AsterixBuiltinFunctions
                         .getAsterixFunctionInfo(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.FIELD_ACCESS_BY_INDEX);
@@ -438,8 +633,8 @@
                         new MutableObject<ILogicalExpression>(new VariableReferenceExpression(METADATA_DUMMY_VAR)),
                         new MutableObject<ILogicalExpression>(new ConstantExpression(new AsterixConstantValue(
                                 new AInt32(i)))));
-                return new Triple<IEvaluatorFactory, ScalarFunctionCallExpression, IAType>(evalFactory, partitionFun,
-                        recType.getFieldTypes()[i]);
+                return new Triple<ICopyEvaluatorFactory, ScalarFunctionCallExpression, IAType>(evalFactory,
+                        partitionFun, recType.getFieldTypes()[i]);
             }
         }
         throw new AlgebricksException("Could not find field " + fldName + " in the schema.");
@@ -466,13 +661,22 @@
                 ((ListifyAggregateDescriptor) fd).reset(new AOrderedListType(null, null));
             } else {
                 IAType itemType = (IAType) context.getType(f.getArguments().get(0).getValue());
+                // Convert UNION types into ANY.
+                if (itemType instanceof AUnionType) {
+                    itemType = BuiltinType.ANY;
+                }
                 ((ListifyAggregateDescriptor) fd).reset(new AOrderedListType(itemType, null));
             }
         }
+        if (fd.getIdentifier().equals(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CAST_RECORD)) {
+            ARecordType rt = (ARecordType) TypeComputerUtilities.getRequiredType((AbstractFunctionCallExpression) expr);
+            ARecordType it = (ARecordType) TypeComputerUtilities.getInputType((AbstractFunctionCallExpression) expr);
+            ((CastRecordDescriptor) fd).reset(rt, it);
+        }
         if (fd.getIdentifier().equals(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.OPEN_RECORD_CONSTRUCTOR)) {
             ARecordType rt = (ARecordType) context.getType(expr);
-            ((OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor) fd).reset(rt, computeOpenFields((AbstractFunctionCallExpression) expr,
-                    rt));
+            ((OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor) fd).reset(rt,
+                    computeOpenFields((AbstractFunctionCallExpression) expr, rt));
         }
         if (fd.getIdentifier().equals(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.CLOSED_RECORD_CONSTRUCTOR)) {
             ((ClosedRecordConstructorDescriptor) fd).reset((ARecordType) context.getType(expr));
@@ -539,9 +743,14 @@
         return AqlPrinterFactoryProvider.INSTANCE;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public IPrinterFactoryProvider getJSONPrinterFactoryProvider() {
+        return AqlJSONPrinterFactoryProvider.INSTANCE;
+    }
+
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
-    public IEvaluatorFactory getConstantEvalFactory(IAlgebricksConstantValue value) throws AlgebricksException {
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory getConstantEvalFactory(IAlgebricksConstantValue value) throws AlgebricksException {
         IAObject obj = null;
         if (value.isNull()) {
             obj = ANull.NULL;
@@ -560,12 +769,12 @@
         } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
         }
-        return new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs.getBytes(), abvs.getLength()));
+        return new ConstantEvalFactory(Arrays.copyOf(abvs.getByteArray(), abvs.getLength()));
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IBinaryIntegerInspector getBinaryIntegerInspector() {
-        return AqlBinaryIntegerInspector.INSTANCE;
+    public IBinaryIntegerInspectorFactory getBinaryIntegerInspectorFactory() {
+        return AqlBinaryIntegerInspector.FACTORY;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -673,4 +882,9 @@
         return AqlNormalizedKeyComputerFactoryProvider.INSTANCE;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public IBinaryHashFunctionFamilyProvider getBinaryHashFunctionFamilyProvider() {
+        return AqlBinaryHashFunctionFamilyProvider.INSTANCE;
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/job/listener/JobEventListenerFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/job/listener/JobEventListenerFactory.java
index 0a1faac..45e19c6 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/job/listener/JobEventListenerFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/job/listener/JobEventListenerFactory.java
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.job.listener;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.context.AsterixAppRuntimeContext;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.transaction.management.exception.ACIDException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.transaction.management.service.transaction.DatasetId;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.transaction.management.service.transaction.ITransactionManager;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.transaction.management.service.transaction.JobId;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.transaction.management.service.transaction.TransactionContext;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.transaction.management.service.transaction.TransactionProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.transaction.management.service.transaction.TransactionContext.TransactionType;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksJobletContext;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.job.IJobletEventListener;
@@ -13,13 +15,17 @@
 public class JobEventListenerFactory implements IJobletEventListenerFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final long txnId;
+    private final JobId jobId;
     private final boolean transactionalWrite;
 
-    public JobEventListenerFactory(long txnId, boolean transactionalWrite) {
-        this.txnId = txnId;
+    public JobEventListenerFactory(JobId jobId, boolean transactionalWrite) {
+        this.jobId = jobId;
         this.transactionalWrite = transactionalWrite;
     }
+    
+    public JobId getJobId() {
+        return jobId;
+    }
 
     @Override
     public IJobletEventListener createListener(final IHyracksJobletContext jobletContext) {
@@ -28,13 +34,12 @@
             @Override
             public void jobletFinish(JobStatus jobStatus) {
                 try {
-                    TransactionProvider factory = (TransactionProvider) (jobletContext.getApplicationContext()
-                            .getApplicationObject());
-                    ITransactionManager txnManager = factory.getTransactionManager();
-                    TransactionContext txnContext = txnManager.getTransactionContext(txnId);
+                    ITransactionManager txnManager = ((AsterixAppRuntimeContext) jobletContext.getApplicationContext()
+                            .getApplicationObject()).getTransactionSubsystem().getTransactionManager();
+                    TransactionContext txnContext = txnManager.getTransactionContext(jobId);
                     txnContext.setTransactionType(transactionalWrite ? TransactionType.READ_WRITE
                             : TransactionType.READ);
-                    txnManager.completedTransaction(txnContext, !(jobStatus == JobStatus.FAILURE));
+                    txnManager.completedTransaction(txnContext, new DatasetId(-1), -1, !(jobStatus == JobStatus.FAILURE));
                 } catch (ACIDException e) {
                     throw new Error(e);
                 }
@@ -42,7 +47,12 @@
 
             @Override
             public void jobletStart() {
-
+                try {
+                    ((AsterixAppRuntimeContext) jobletContext.getApplicationContext().getApplicationObject())
+                            .getTransactionSubsystem().getTransactionManager().getTransactionContext(jobId);
+                } catch (ACIDException e) {
+                    throw new Error(e);
+                }
             }
 
         };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/ADMDataParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/ADMDataParser.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b32110b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/ADMDataParser.java
@@ -0,0 +1,1024 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.util.ArrayDeque;
+import java.util.BitSet;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Queue;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file.adm.AdmLexer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file.adm.AdmLexerException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAsterixListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.UnorderedListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ACircleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AIntervalSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ALineSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APoint3DSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APolygonSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARectangleSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnorderedListType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+
+/**
+ * Parser for ADM formatted data.
+ */
+public class ADMDataParser extends AbstractDataParser implements IDataParser {
+
+    protected AdmLexer admLexer;
+    protected ARecordType recordType;
+    protected boolean datasetRec;
+
+    private int nullableFieldId = 0;
+
+    private Queue<ArrayBackedValueStorage> baaosPool = new ArrayDeque<ArrayBackedValueStorage>();
+    private Queue<IARecordBuilder> recordBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IARecordBuilder>();
+    private Queue<IAsterixListBuilder> orderedListBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IAsterixListBuilder>();
+    private Queue<IAsterixListBuilder> unorderedListBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IAsterixListBuilder>();
+
+    private String mismatchErrorMessage = "Mismatch Type, expecting a value of type ";
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean parse(DataOutput out) throws HyracksDataException {
+        try {
+            return parseAdmInstance((IAType) recordType, datasetRec, out);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void initialize(InputStream in, ARecordType recordType, boolean datasetRec) throws AsterixException {
+        this.recordType = recordType;
+        this.datasetRec = datasetRec;
+        try {
+            admLexer = new AdmLexer(new java.io.InputStreamReader(in));
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected boolean parseAdmInstance(IAType objectType, boolean datasetRec, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException,
+            IOException {
+        int token;
+        try {
+            token = admLexer.next();
+        } catch (AdmLexerException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+        if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_EOF) {
+            return false;
+        } else {
+            admFromLexerStream(token, objectType, out, datasetRec);
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void admFromLexerStream(int token, IAType objectType, DataOutput out, Boolean datasetRec)
+            throws AsterixException, IOException {
+
+        switch (token) {
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_NULL_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.NULL, objectType, out)) {
+                    nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(" This field can not be null ");
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_TRUE_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out)) {
+                    booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_BOOLEAN_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_FALSE_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out)) {
+                    booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_DOUBLE_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.DOUBLE, objectType, out)) {
+                    aDouble.setValue(Double.parseDouble(admLexer.getLastTokenImage()));
+                    doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_DOUBLE_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DOUBLE, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_FLOAT_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.FLOAT, objectType, out)) {
+                    aFloat.setValue(Float.parseFloat(admLexer.getLastTokenImage()));
+                    floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_FLOAT_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.FLOAT, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT8_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT8, objectType, out)) {
+                    parseInt8(admLexer.getLastTokenImage(), out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT8_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT8, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT16_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT16, objectType, out)) {
+                    parseInt16(admLexer.getLastTokenImage(), out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT16_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT16, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT_LITERAL:
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT32_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT32, objectType, out)) {
+                    parseInt32(admLexer.getLastTokenImage(), out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT32_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT32, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT64_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT64, objectType, out)) {
+                    parseInt64(admLexer.getLastTokenImage(), out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INT64_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT64, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_STRING_LITERAL: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.STRING, objectType, out)) {
+                    aString.setValue(admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                            admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1));
+                    stringSerde.serialize(aString, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_STRING_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.STRING, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_DATE_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DATE, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_TIME_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.TIME, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_DATETIME_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DATETIME, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INTERVAL_DATE_CONS: {
+                try {
+                    if (checkType(ATypeTag.INTERVAL, objectType, out)) {
+                        if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN) {
+                            if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_STRING_LITERAL) {
+                                AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.parseDate(admLexer.getLastTokenImage(), out);
+
+                                if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE) {
+                                    break;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                } catch (AdmLexerException ex) {
+                    throw new AsterixException(ex);
+                }
+                throw new AsterixException("Wrong interval data parsing for date interval.");
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INTERVAL_TIME_CONS: {
+                try {
+                    if (checkType(ATypeTag.INTERVAL, objectType, out)) {
+                        if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN) {
+                            if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_STRING_LITERAL) {
+                                AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.parseTime(admLexer.getLastTokenImage(), out);
+
+                                if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE) {
+                                    break;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                } catch (AdmLexerException ex) {
+                    throw new AsterixException(ex);
+                }
+                throw new AsterixException("Wrong interval data parsing for time interval.");
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_INTERVAL_DATETIME_CONS: {
+                try {
+                    if (checkType(ATypeTag.INTERVAL, objectType, out)) {
+                        if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN) {
+                            if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_STRING_LITERAL) {
+                                AIntervalSerializerDeserializer.parseDatetime(admLexer.getLastTokenImage(), out);
+
+                                if (admLexer.next() == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE) {
+                                    break;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                } catch (AdmLexerException ex) {
+                    throw new AsterixException(ex);
+                }
+                throw new AsterixException("Wrong interval data parsing for datetime interval.");
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_DURATION_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DURATION, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_POINT_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POINT, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_POINT3D_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POINT3D, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_CIRCLE_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.CIRCLE, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_RECTANGLE_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.RECTANGLE, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_LINE_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.LINE, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_POLYGON_CONS: {
+                parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POLYGON, objectType, out);
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_START_UNORDERED_LIST: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST, objectType, out)) {
+                    objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST);
+                    parseUnorderedList((AUnorderedListType) objectType, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeTag());
+                break;
+            }
+
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_START_ORDERED_LIST: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST, objectType, out)) {
+                    objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST);
+                    parseOrderedList((AOrderedListType) objectType, out);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeTag());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_START_RECORD: {
+                if (checkType(ATypeTag.RECORD, objectType, out)) {
+                    objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.RECORD);
+                    parseRecord((ARecordType) objectType, out, datasetRec);
+                } else
+                    throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeTag());
+                break;
+            }
+            case AdmLexer.TOKEN_EOF: {
+                break;
+            }
+            default: {
+                throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: " + AdmLexer.tokenKindToString(token) + ".");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseDatetime(String datetime, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
+        try {
+            ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.parse(datetime, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseDuration(String duration, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            ADurationSerializerDeserializer.parse(duration, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+
+    }
+
+    private IAType getComplexType(IAType aObjectType, ATypeTag tag) {
+
+        if (aObjectType == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() == tag)
+            return aObjectType;
+
+        if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) {
+            unionList = ((AUnionType) aObjectType).getUnionList();
+            for (int i = 0; i < unionList.size(); i++)
+                if (unionList.get(i).getTypeTag() == tag) {
+                    return unionList.get(i);
+                }
+        }
+        return null; // wont get here
+    }
+
+    List<IAType> unionList;
+
+    private boolean checkType(ATypeTag expectedTypeTag, IAType aObjectType, DataOutput out) throws IOException {
+
+        if (aObjectType == null)
+            return true;
+
+        if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.UNION) {
+            if (expectedTypeTag == aObjectType.getTypeTag())
+                return true;
+        } else { // union
+            unionList = ((AUnionType) aObjectType).getUnionList();
+            for (int i = 0; i < unionList.size(); i++)
+                if (unionList.get(i).getTypeTag() == expectedTypeTag)
+                    return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private void parseRecord(ARecordType recType, DataOutput out, Boolean datasetRec) throws IOException,
+            AsterixException {
+
+        ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer = getTempBuffer();
+        ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldNameBuffer = getTempBuffer();
+        IARecordBuilder recBuilder = getRecordBuilder();
+
+        // Boolean[] nulls = null;
+        BitSet nulls = null;
+        if (datasetRec) {
+            if (recType != null) {
+                nulls = new BitSet(recType.getFieldNames().length);
+                recBuilder.reset(recType);
+            } else
+                recBuilder.reset(null);
+        } else if (recType != null) {
+            nulls = new BitSet(recType.getFieldNames().length);
+            recBuilder.reset(recType);
+        } else
+            recBuilder.reset(null);
+
+        recBuilder.init();
+        int token;
+        boolean inRecord = true;
+        boolean expectingRecordField = false;
+        boolean first = true;
+
+        Boolean openRecordField = false;
+        int fieldId = 0;
+        IAType fieldType = null;
+        do {
+            token = nextToken();
+            switch (token) {
+                case AdmLexer.TOKEN_END_RECORD: {
+                    if (expectingRecordField) {
+                        throw new AsterixException("Found END_RECORD while expecting a record field.");
+                    }
+                    inRecord = false;
+                    break;
+                }
+                case AdmLexer.TOKEN_STRING_LITERAL: {
+                    // we've read the name of the field
+                    // now read the content
+                    fieldNameBuffer.reset();
+                    fieldValueBuffer.reset();
+                    expectingRecordField = false;
+
+                    if (recType != null) {
+                        String fldName = admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1);
+                        fieldId = recBuilder.getFieldId(fldName);
+                        if (fieldId < 0 && !recType.isOpen()) {
+                            throw new AsterixException("This record is closed, you can not add extra fields !!");
+                        } else if (fieldId < 0 && recType.isOpen()) {
+                            aStringFieldName.setValue(admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                    admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1));
+                            stringSerde.serialize(aStringFieldName, fieldNameBuffer.getDataOutput());
+                            openRecordField = true;
+                            fieldType = null;
+                        } else {
+                            // a closed field
+                            nulls.set(fieldId);
+                            fieldType = recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId];
+                            openRecordField = false;
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        aStringFieldName.setValue(admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1));
+                        stringSerde.serialize(aStringFieldName, fieldNameBuffer.getDataOutput());
+                        openRecordField = true;
+                        fieldType = null;
+                    }
+
+                    token = nextToken();
+                    if (token != AdmLexer.TOKEN_COLON) {
+                        throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: " + AdmLexer.tokenKindToString(token)
+                                + " while expecting \":\".");
+                    }
+
+                    token = nextToken();
+                    this.admFromLexerStream(token, fieldType, fieldValueBuffer.getDataOutput(), false);
+                    if (openRecordField) {
+                        if (fieldValueBuffer.getByteArray()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL.serialize())
+                            recBuilder.addField(fieldNameBuffer, fieldValueBuffer);
+                    } else if (recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId].getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) {
+                        if (NonTaggedFormatUtil.isOptionalField((AUnionType) recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId])) {
+                            if (fieldValueBuffer.getByteArray()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL.serialize()) {
+                                recBuilder.addField(fieldId, fieldValueBuffer);
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        recBuilder.addField(fieldId, fieldValueBuffer);
+                    }
+
+                    break;
+                }
+                case AdmLexer.TOKEN_COMMA: {
+                    if (first) {
+                        throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA before any record field.");
+                    }
+                    if (expectingRecordField) {
+                        throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA while expecting a record field.");
+                    }
+                    expectingRecordField = true;
+                    break;
+                }
+                default: {
+                    throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: " + AdmLexer.tokenKindToString(token)
+                            + " while parsing record fields.");
+                }
+            }
+            first = false;
+        } while (inRecord);
+
+        if (recType != null) {
+            nullableFieldId = checkNullConstraints(recType, nulls);
+            if (nullableFieldId != -1)
+                throw new AsterixException("Field " + nullableFieldId + " can not be null");
+        }
+        recBuilder.write(out, true);
+        returnRecordBuilder(recBuilder);
+        returnTempBuffer(fieldNameBuffer);
+        returnTempBuffer(fieldValueBuffer);
+    }
+
+    private int checkNullConstraints(ARecordType recType, BitSet nulls) {
+
+        boolean isNull = false;
+        for (int i = 0; i < recType.getFieldTypes().length; i++)
+            if (nulls.get(i) == false) {
+                IAType type = recType.getFieldTypes()[i];
+                if (type.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.NULL && type.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.UNION)
+                    return i;
+
+                if (type.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) { // union
+                    unionList = ((AUnionType) type).getUnionList();
+                    for (int j = 0; j < unionList.size(); j++)
+                        if (unionList.get(j).getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                            isNull = true;
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    if (!isNull)
+                        return i;
+                }
+            }
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    private void parseOrderedList(AOrderedListType oltype, DataOutput out) throws IOException, AsterixException {
+
+        ArrayBackedValueStorage itemBuffer = getTempBuffer();
+        OrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder = (OrderedListBuilder) getOrderedListBuilder();
+
+        IAType itemType = null;
+        if (oltype != null)
+            itemType = oltype.getItemType();
+        orderedListBuilder.reset(oltype);
+
+        int token;
+        boolean inList = true;
+        boolean expectingListItem = false;
+        boolean first = true;
+        do {
+            token = nextToken();
+            if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_END_ORDERED_LIST) {
+                if (expectingListItem) {
+                    throw new AsterixException("Found END_COLLECTION while expecting a list item.");
+                }
+                inList = false;
+            } else if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_COMMA) {
+                if (first) {
+                    throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA before any list item.");
+                }
+                if (expectingListItem) {
+                    throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA while expecting a list item.");
+                }
+                expectingListItem = true;
+            } else {
+                expectingListItem = false;
+                itemBuffer.reset();
+
+                admFromLexerStream(token, itemType, itemBuffer.getDataOutput(), false);
+                orderedListBuilder.addItem(itemBuffer);
+            }
+            first = false;
+        } while (inList);
+        orderedListBuilder.write(out, true);
+        returnOrderedListBuilder(orderedListBuilder);
+        returnTempBuffer(itemBuffer);
+    }
+
+    private void parseUnorderedList(AUnorderedListType uoltype, DataOutput out) throws IOException, AsterixException {
+
+        ArrayBackedValueStorage itemBuffer = getTempBuffer();
+        UnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder = (UnorderedListBuilder) getUnorderedListBuilder();
+
+        IAType itemType = null;
+
+        if (uoltype != null)
+            itemType = uoltype.getItemType();
+        unorderedListBuilder.reset(uoltype);
+
+        int token;
+        boolean inList = true;
+        boolean expectingListItem = false;
+        boolean first = true;
+        do {
+            token = nextToken();
+            if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_END_UNORDERED_LIST) {
+                if (expectingListItem) {
+                    throw new AsterixException("Found END_COLLECTION while expecting a list item.");
+                }
+                inList = false;
+            } else if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_COMMA) {
+                if (first) {
+                    throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA before any list item.");
+                }
+                if (expectingListItem) {
+                    throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA while expecting a list item.");
+                }
+                expectingListItem = true;
+            } else {
+                expectingListItem = false;
+                itemBuffer.reset();
+                admFromLexerStream(token, itemType, itemBuffer.getDataOutput(), false);
+                unorderedListBuilder.addItem(itemBuffer);
+            }
+            first = false;
+        } while (inList);
+        unorderedListBuilder.write(out, true);
+        returnUnorderedListBuilder(unorderedListBuilder);
+        returnTempBuffer(itemBuffer);
+    }
+
+    private int nextToken() throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            return admLexer.next();
+        } catch (AdmLexerException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private IARecordBuilder getRecordBuilder() {
+        RecordBuilder recBuilder = (RecordBuilder) recordBuilderPool.poll();
+        if (recBuilder != null)
+            return recBuilder;
+        else
+            return new RecordBuilder();
+    }
+
+    private void returnRecordBuilder(IARecordBuilder recBuilder) {
+        this.recordBuilderPool.add(recBuilder);
+    }
+
+    private IAsterixListBuilder getOrderedListBuilder() {
+        OrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder = (OrderedListBuilder) orderedListBuilderPool.poll();
+        if (orderedListBuilder != null)
+            return orderedListBuilder;
+        else
+            return new OrderedListBuilder();
+    }
+
+    private void returnOrderedListBuilder(IAsterixListBuilder orderedListBuilder) {
+        this.orderedListBuilderPool.add(orderedListBuilder);
+    }
+
+    private IAsterixListBuilder getUnorderedListBuilder() {
+        UnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder = (UnorderedListBuilder) unorderedListBuilderPool.poll();
+        if (unorderedListBuilder != null)
+            return unorderedListBuilder;
+        else
+            return new UnorderedListBuilder();
+    }
+
+    private void returnUnorderedListBuilder(IAsterixListBuilder unorderedListBuilder) {
+        this.unorderedListBuilderPool.add(unorderedListBuilder);
+    }
+
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage getTempBuffer() {
+        ArrayBackedValueStorage tmpBaaos = baaosPool.poll();
+        if (tmpBaaos != null) {
+            return tmpBaaos;
+        } else {
+            return new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void returnTempBuffer(ArrayBackedValueStorage tempBaaos) {
+        baaosPool.add(tempBaaos);
+    }
+
+    private void parseConstructor(ATypeTag typeTag, IAType objectType, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            int token = admLexer.next();
+            if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN) {
+                if (checkType(typeTag, objectType, out)) {
+                    token = admLexer.next();
+                    if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_STRING_LITERAL) {
+                        switch (typeTag) {
+                            case BOOLEAN:
+                                parseBoolean(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case INT8:
+                                parseInt8(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case INT16:
+                                parseInt16(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case INT32:
+                                parseInt32(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case INT64:
+                                parseInt64(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case FLOAT:
+                                aFloat.setValue(Float.parseFloat(admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1)));
+                                floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, out);
+                                break;
+                            case DOUBLE:
+                                aDouble.setValue(Double.parseDouble(admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1)));
+                                doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
+                                break;
+                            case STRING:
+                                aString.setValue(admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1));
+                                stringSerde.serialize(aString, out);
+                                break;
+                            case TIME:
+                                parseTime(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case DATE:
+                                parseDate(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case DATETIME:
+                                parseDatetime(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case DURATION:
+                                parseDuration(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case POINT:
+                                parsePoint(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case POINT3D:
+                                parsePoint3d(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case CIRCLE:
+                                parseCircle(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case RECTANGLE:
+                                parseRectangle(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case LINE:
+                                parseLine(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            case POLYGON:
+                                parsePolygon(
+                                        admLexer.getLastTokenImage().substring(1,
+                                                admLexer.getLastTokenImage().length() - 1), out);
+                                break;
+                            default:
+                                throw new AsterixException("Missing deserializer method for constructor: "
+                                        + AdmLexer.tokenKindToString(token) + ".");
+
+                        }
+                        token = admLexer.next();
+                        if (token == AdmLexer.TOKEN_CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE)
+                            return;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+        throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
+    }
+
+    private void parseBoolean(String bool, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of boolean";
+        try {
+            if (bool.equals("true"))
+                booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, out);
+            else if (bool.equals("false"))
+                booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, out);
+            else
+                throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseInt8(String int8, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int8";
+        try {
+            boolean positive = true;
+            byte value = 0;
+            int offset = 0;
+
+            if (int8.charAt(offset) == '+')
+                offset++;
+            else if (int8.charAt(offset) == '-') {
+                offset++;
+                positive = false;
+            }
+            for (; offset < int8.length(); offset++) {
+                if (int8.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int8.charAt(offset) <= '9')
+                    value = (byte) (value * 10 + int8.charAt(offset) - '0');
+                else if (int8.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int8.charAt(offset + 1) == '8' && offset + 2 == int8.length())
+                    break;
+                else
+                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            }
+            if (value < 0)
+                throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            if (value > 0 && !positive)
+                value *= -1;
+            aInt8.setValue(value);
+            int8Serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseInt16(String int16, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int16";
+        try {
+            boolean positive = true;
+            short value = 0;
+            int offset = 0;
+
+            if (int16.charAt(offset) == '+')
+                offset++;
+            else if (int16.charAt(offset) == '-') {
+                offset++;
+                positive = false;
+            }
+            for (; offset < int16.length(); offset++) {
+                if (int16.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int16.charAt(offset) <= '9')
+                    value = (short) (value * 10 + int16.charAt(offset) - '0');
+                else if (int16.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int16.charAt(offset + 1) == '1'
+                        && int16.charAt(offset + 2) == '6' && offset + 3 == int16.length())
+                    break;
+                else
+                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            }
+            if (value < 0)
+                throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            if (value > 0 && !positive)
+                value *= -1;
+            aInt16.setValue(value);
+            int16Serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseInt32(String int32, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+
+        String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int32";
+        try {
+            boolean positive = true;
+            int value = 0;
+            int offset = 0;
+
+            if (int32.charAt(offset) == '+')
+                offset++;
+            else if (int32.charAt(offset) == '-') {
+                offset++;
+                positive = false;
+            }
+            for (; offset < int32.length(); offset++) {
+                if (int32.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int32.charAt(offset) <= '9')
+                    value = (value * 10 + int32.charAt(offset) - '0');
+                else if (int32.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int32.charAt(offset + 1) == '3'
+                        && int32.charAt(offset + 2) == '2' && offset + 3 == int32.length())
+                    break;
+                else
+                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            }
+            if (value < 0)
+                throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            if (value > 0 && !positive)
+                value *= -1;
+
+            aInt32.setValue(value);
+            int32Serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseInt64(String int64, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int64";
+        try {
+            boolean positive = true;
+            long value = 0;
+            int offset = 0;
+
+            if (int64.charAt(offset) == '+')
+                offset++;
+            else if (int64.charAt(offset) == '-') {
+                offset++;
+                positive = false;
+            }
+            for (; offset < int64.length(); offset++) {
+                if (int64.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int64.charAt(offset) <= '9')
+                    value = (value * 10 + int64.charAt(offset) - '0');
+                else if (int64.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int64.charAt(offset + 1) == '6'
+                        && int64.charAt(offset + 2) == '4' && offset + 3 == int64.length())
+                    break;
+                else
+                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            }
+            if (value < 0)
+                throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+            if (value > 0 && !positive)
+                value *= -1;
+
+            aInt64.setValue(value);
+            int64Serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parsePoint(String point, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            APointSerializerDeserializer.parse(point, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parsePoint3d(String point3d, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            APoint3DSerializerDeserializer.parse(point3d, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseCircle(String circle, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            ACircleSerializerDeserializer.parse(circle, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseRectangle(String rectangle, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            ARectangleSerializerDeserializer.parse(rectangle, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseLine(String line, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            ALineSerializerDeserializer.parse(line, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parsePolygon(String polygon, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
+        try {
+            APolygonSerializerDeserializer.parse(polygon, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseTime(String time, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
+        try {
+            ATimeSerializerDeserializer.parse(time, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void parseDate(String date, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
+        try {
+            ADateSerializerDeserializer.parse(date, out);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new AsterixException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AbstractDataParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AbstractDataParser.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc2d7ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AbstractDataParser.java
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+
+/**
+ * Base class for data parsers. Includes the common set of definitions for
+ * serializers/deserializers for built-in ADM types.
+ */
+public abstract class AbstractDataParser implements IDataParser {
+
+	protected AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
+	protected AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
+	protected AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
+	protected AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
+	protected AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
+	protected AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
+	protected AMutableString aString = new AMutableString("");
+	protected AMutableString aStringFieldName = new AMutableString("");
+
+	// Serializers
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AFloat> floatSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt8> int8Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt16> int16Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt64> int64Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	protected ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AbstractTupleParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AbstractTupleParser.java
index 6e83689..cb05529 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AbstractTupleParser.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AbstractTupleParser.java
@@ -1,72 +1,91 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
 
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.comm.IFrameWriter;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ArrayTupleBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAppender;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.util.FrameUtils;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.file.ITupleParser;
 
+/**
+ * An Abstract class implementation for ITupleParser. It provides common
+ * functionality involved in parsing data in an external format and packing
+ * frames with formed tuples.
+ */
 public abstract class AbstractTupleParser implements ITupleParser {
 
-	// Mutable Types..
-	protected AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-	protected AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-	protected AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-	protected AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-	protected AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-	protected AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-	protected AMutableString aString = new AMutableString("");
-	protected AMutableString aStringFieldName = new AMutableString("");
+    protected ArrayTupleBuilder tb = new ArrayTupleBuilder(1);
+    protected DataOutput dos = tb.getDataOutput();
+    protected final FrameTupleAppender appender;
+    protected final ByteBuffer frame;
+    protected final ARecordType recType;
+    protected final IHyracksTaskContext ctx;
 
-	// Serializers
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AFloat> floatSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt8> int8Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt16> int16Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<AInt64> int64Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	protected ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-			.getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+    public AbstractTupleParser(IHyracksTaskContext ctx, ARecordType recType) {
+        appender = new FrameTupleAppender(ctx.getFrameSize());
+        frame = ctx.allocateFrame();
+        this.recType = recType;
+        this.ctx = ctx;
+    }
 
-	
-	@Override
-	public abstract  void parse(InputStream in, IFrameWriter writer) throws HyracksDataException;
+    public abstract IDataParser getDataParser();
+
+    @Override
+    public void parse(InputStream in, IFrameWriter writer) throws HyracksDataException {
+
+        appender.reset(frame, true);
+        IDataParser parser = getDataParser();
+        try {
+            parser.initialize(in, recType, true);
+            while (true) {
+                tb.reset();
+                if (!parser.parse(tb.getDataOutput())) {
+                    break;
+                }
+                tb.addFieldEndOffset();
+                addTupleToFrame(writer);
+            }
+            if (appender.getTupleCount() > 0) {
+                FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
+            }
+        } catch (AsterixException ae) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(ae);
+        } catch (IOException ioe) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected void addTupleToFrame(IFrameWriter writer) throws HyracksDataException {
+        if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(), tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
+            FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
+            appender.reset(frame, true);
+            if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(), tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
+                throw new IllegalStateException();
+            }
+        }
+
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmSchemafullRecordParserFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmSchemafullRecordParserFactory.java
index 46d1ba3..a9287c8 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmSchemafullRecordParserFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmSchemafullRecordParserFactory.java
@@ -1,71 +1,28 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.InputStream;
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-import java.util.ArrayDeque;
-import java.util.BitSet;
-import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Queue;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.AdmLexer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.AdmLexerConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.ParseException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.Token;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAOrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAUnorderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.UnorderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ACircleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ALineSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APoint3DSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APolygonSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARectangleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDouble;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableFloat;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt16;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt64;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt8;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnorderedListType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.comm.IFrameWriter;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ArrayTupleBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAppender;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.util.FrameUtils;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.file.ITupleParser;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.file.ITupleParserFactory;
 
+/**
+ * A Tuple parser factory for creating a tuple parser capable of parsing
+ * ADM data.
+ */
 public class AdmSchemafullRecordParserFactory implements ITupleParserFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
@@ -78,930 +35,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public ITupleParser createTupleParser(final IHyracksTaskContext ctx) {
-        return new ITupleParser() {
-            private AdmLexer admLexer;
-            private ArrayTupleBuilder tb = new ArrayTupleBuilder(1);
-            private DataOutput dos = tb.getDataOutput();
-            private FrameTupleAppender appender = new FrameTupleAppender(ctx.getFrameSize());
-            private ByteBuffer frame = ctx.allocateFrame();
-
-            private int nullableFieldId = 0;
-
-            private Queue<ArrayBackedValueStorage> baaosPool = new ArrayDeque<ArrayBackedValueStorage>();
-            private Queue<IARecordBuilder> recordBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IARecordBuilder>();
-            private Queue<IAOrderedListBuilder> orderedListBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IAOrderedListBuilder>();
-            private Queue<IAUnorderedListBuilder> unorderedListBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IAUnorderedListBuilder>();
-
-            private String mismatchErrorMessage = "Mismatch Type, expecting a value of type ";
-
-            // Mutable Types..
-            private AMutableInt8 aInt8 = new AMutableInt8((byte) 0);
-            private AMutableInt16 aInt16 = new AMutableInt16((short) 0);
-            private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
-            private AMutableInt64 aInt64 = new AMutableInt64(0);
-            private AMutableDouble aDouble = new AMutableDouble(0);
-            private AMutableFloat aFloat = new AMutableFloat(0);
-            private AMutableString aString = new AMutableString("");
-            private AMutableString aStringFieldName = new AMutableString("");
-
-            // Serializers
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<ADouble> doubleSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<AFloat> floatSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AFLOAT);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt8> int8Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT8);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt16> int16Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT16);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> int32Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<AInt64> int64Serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT64);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<ABoolean> booleanSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN);
-            @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-            private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                    .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-
-            @Override
-            public void parse(InputStream in, IFrameWriter writer) throws HyracksDataException {
-                admLexer = new AdmLexer(in);
-                appender.reset(frame, true);
-                int tupleNum = 0;
-                try {
-                    while (true) {
-                        tb.reset();
-                        if (!parseAdmInstance(recType, true, dos)) {
-                            break;
-                        }
-                        tb.addFieldEndOffset();
-                        if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(), tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-                            FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-                            appender.reset(frame, true);
-                            if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(), tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-                                throw new IllegalStateException();
-                            }
-                        }
-                        tupleNum++;
-                    }
-                    if (appender.getTupleCount() > 0) {
-                        FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-                    }
-                } catch (AsterixException ae) {
-                    throw new HyracksDataException(ae);
-                } catch (IOException ioe) {
-                    throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private boolean parseAdmInstance(IAType objectType, Boolean datasetRec, DataOutput out)
-                    throws AsterixException, IOException {
-                Token token;
-                try {
-                    token = admLexer.next();
-                } catch (ParseException pe) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(pe);
-                }
-                if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.EOF) {
-                    return false;
-                } else {
-                    admFromLexerStream(token, objectType, out, datasetRec);
-                    return true;
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void admFromLexerStream(Token token, IAType objectType, DataOutput out, Boolean datasetRec)
-                    throws AsterixException, IOException {
-
-                switch (token.kind) {
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.NULL_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.NULL, objectType, out)) {
-                            nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(" This field can not be null ");
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.TRUE_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out)) {
-                            booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.BOOLEAN_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.FALSE_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out)) {
-                            booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.DOUBLE_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.DOUBLE, objectType, out)) {
-                            aDouble.setValue(Double.parseDouble(token.image));
-                            doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.DOUBLE_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DOUBLE, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.FLOAT_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.FLOAT, objectType, out)) {
-                            aFloat.setValue(Float.parseFloat(token.image));
-                            floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.FLOAT_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.FLOAT, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT8_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT8, objectType, out)) {
-                            parseInt8(token.image, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT8_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT8, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT16_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT16, objectType, out)) {
-                            parseInt16(token.image, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT16_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT16, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT_LITERAL:
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT32_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT32, objectType, out)) {
-                            parseInt32(token.image, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT32_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT32, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT64_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT64, objectType, out)) {
-                            parseInt64(token.image, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.INT64_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT64, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.STRING_LITERAL: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.STRING, objectType, out)) {
-                            aString.setValue(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1));
-                            stringSerde.serialize(aString, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.STRING_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.STRING, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.DATE_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DATE, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.TIME_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.TIME, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.DATETIME_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DATETIME, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.DURATION_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DURATION, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.POINT_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POINT, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.POINT3D_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POINT3D, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.CIRCLE_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.CIRCLE, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.RECTANGLE_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.RECTANGLE, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.LINE_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.LINE, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.POLYGON_CONS: {
-                        parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POLYGON, objectType, out);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.START_UNORDERED_LIST: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST, objectType, out)) {
-                            objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST);
-                            parseUnorderedList((AUnorderedListType) objectType, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeTag());
-                        break;
-                    }
-
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.START_ORDERED_LIST: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST, objectType, out)) {
-                            objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST);
-                            parseOrderedList((AOrderedListType) objectType, out);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeTag());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.START_RECORD: {
-                        if (checkType(ATypeTag.RECORD, objectType, out)) {
-                            objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.RECORD);
-                            parseRecord((ARecordType) objectType, out, datasetRec);
-                        } else
-                            throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeTag());
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    case AdmLexerConstants.EOF: {
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    default: {
-                        throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: "
-                                + admLexer.tokenKindToString(token.kind) + ".");
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseConstructor(ATypeTag typeTag, IAType objectType, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    Token token = admLexer.next();
-                    if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN) {
-                        if (checkType(typeTag, objectType, out)) {
-                            token = admLexer.next();
-                            if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.STRING_LITERAL) {
-                                switch (typeTag) {
-                                    case BOOLEAN:
-                                        parseBoolean(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case INT8:
-                                        parseInt8(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case INT16:
-                                        parseInt16(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case INT32:
-                                        parseInt32(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case INT64:
-                                        parseInt64(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case FLOAT:
-                                        aFloat.setValue(Float.parseFloat(token.image.substring(1,
-                                                token.image.length() - 1)));
-                                        floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case DOUBLE:
-                                        aDouble.setValue(Double.parseDouble(token.image.substring(1,
-                                                token.image.length() - 1)));
-                                        doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case STRING:
-                                        aString.setValue(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1));
-                                        stringSerde.serialize(aString, out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case TIME:
-                                        parseTime(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case DATE:
-                                        parseDate(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case DATETIME:
-                                        parseDatetime(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case DURATION:
-                                        parseDuration(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case POINT:
-                                        parsePoint(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case POINT3D:
-                                        parsePoint3d(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case CIRCLE:
-                                        parseCircle(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case RECTANGLE:
-                                        parseRectangle(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case LINE:
-                                        parseLine(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-                                    case POLYGON:
-                                        parsePolygon(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1), out);
-                                        break;
-
-                                }
-                                token = admLexer.next();
-                                if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE)
-                                    return;
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                } catch (Exception e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-                throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage + objectType.getTypeName());
-            }
-
-            private void parseBoolean(String bool, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of boolean";
-                try {
-                    if (bool.equals("true"))
-                        booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, out);
-                    else if (bool.equals("false"))
-                        booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, out);
-                    else
-                        throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseInt8(String int8, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int8";
-                try {
-                    boolean positive = true;
-                    byte value = 0;
-                    int offset = 0;
-
-                    if (int8.charAt(offset) == '+')
-                        offset++;
-                    else if (int8.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-                        offset++;
-                        positive = false;
-                    }
-                    for (; offset < int8.length(); offset++) {
-                        if (int8.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int8.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-                            value = (byte) (value * 10 + int8.charAt(offset) - '0');
-                        else if (int8.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int8.charAt(offset + 1) == '8'
-                                && offset + 2 == int8.length())
-                            break;
-                        else
-                            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    }
-                    if (value < 0)
-                        throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    if (value > 0 && !positive)
-                        value *= -1;
-                    aInt8.setValue(value);
-                    int8Serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseInt16(String int16, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int16";
-                try {
-                    boolean positive = true;
-                    short value = 0;
-                    int offset = 0;
-
-                    if (int16.charAt(offset) == '+')
-                        offset++;
-                    else if (int16.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-                        offset++;
-                        positive = false;
-                    }
-                    for (; offset < int16.length(); offset++) {
-                        if (int16.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int16.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-                            value = (short) (value * 10 + int16.charAt(offset) - '0');
-                        else if (int16.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int16.charAt(offset + 1) == '1'
-                                && int16.charAt(offset + 2) == '6' && offset + 3 == int16.length())
-                            break;
-                        else
-                            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    }
-                    if (value < 0)
-                        throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    if (value > 0 && !positive)
-                        value *= -1;
-                    aInt16.setValue(value);
-                    int16Serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseInt32(String int32, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-
-                String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int32";
-                try {
-                    boolean positive = true;
-                    int value = 0;
-                    int offset = 0;
-
-                    if (int32.charAt(offset) == '+')
-                        offset++;
-                    else if (int32.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-                        offset++;
-                        positive = false;
-                    }
-                    for (; offset < int32.length(); offset++) {
-                        if (int32.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int32.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-                            value = (value * 10 + int32.charAt(offset) - '0');
-                        else if (int32.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int32.charAt(offset + 1) == '3'
-                                && int32.charAt(offset + 2) == '2' && offset + 3 == int32.length())
-                            break;
-                        else
-                            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    }
-                    if (value < 0)
-                        throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    if (value > 0 && !positive)
-                        value *= -1;
-
-                    aInt32.setValue(value);
-                    int32Serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseInt64(String int64, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int64";
-                try {
-                    boolean positive = true;
-                    long value = 0;
-                    int offset = 0;
-
-                    if (int64.charAt(offset) == '+')
-                        offset++;
-                    else if (int64.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-                        offset++;
-                        positive = false;
-                    }
-                    for (; offset < int64.length(); offset++) {
-                        if (int64.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int64.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-                            value = (value * 10 + int64.charAt(offset) - '0');
-                        else if (int64.charAt(offset) == 'i' && int64.charAt(offset + 1) == '6'
-                                && int64.charAt(offset + 2) == '4' && offset + 3 == int64.length())
-                            break;
-                        else
-                            throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    }
-                    if (value < 0)
-                        throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                    if (value > 0 && !positive)
-                        value *= -1;
-
-                    aInt64.setValue(value);
-                    int64Serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parsePoint(String point, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    APointSerializerDeserializer.parse(point, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parsePoint3d(String point3d, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    APoint3DSerializerDeserializer.parse(point3d, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseCircle(String circle, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    ACircleSerializerDeserializer.parse(circle, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseRectangle(String rectangle, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    ARectangleSerializerDeserializer.parse(rectangle, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseLine(String line, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    ALineSerializerDeserializer.parse(line, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parsePolygon(String polygon, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
-                try {
-                    APolygonSerializerDeserializer.parse(polygon, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseTime(String time, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    ATimeSerializerDeserializer.parse(time, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseDate(String date, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
-                try {
-                    ADateSerializerDeserializer.parse(date, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseDatetime(String datetime, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
-                try {
-                    ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.parse(datetime, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void parseDuration(String duration, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    ADurationSerializerDeserializer.parse(duration, out);
-                } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(e);
-                }
-
-            }
-
-            private IAType getComplexType(IAType aObjectType, ATypeTag tag) {
-
-                if (aObjectType == null) {
-                    return null;
-                }
-
-                if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() == tag)
-                    return aObjectType;
-
-                if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) {
-                    unionList = ((AUnionType) aObjectType).getUnionList();
-                    for (int i = 0; i < unionList.size(); i++)
-                        if (unionList.get(i).getTypeTag() == tag) {
-                            return unionList.get(i);
-                        }
-                }
-                return null; // wont get here
-            }
-
-            List<IAType> unionList;
-
-            private boolean checkType(ATypeTag expectedTypeTag, IAType aObjectType, DataOutput out) throws IOException {
-
-                if (aObjectType == null)
-                    return true;
-
-                if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.UNION) {
-                    if (expectedTypeTag == aObjectType.getTypeTag())
-                        return true;
-                } else { // union
-                    unionList = ((AUnionType) aObjectType).getUnionList();
-                    for (int i = 0; i < unionList.size(); i++)
-                        if (unionList.get(i).getTypeTag() == expectedTypeTag)
-                            return true;
-                }
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            private void parseRecord(ARecordType recType, DataOutput out, Boolean datasetRec) throws IOException,
-                    AsterixException {
-
-                ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-                ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldNameBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-                IARecordBuilder recBuilder = getRecordBuilder();
-
-                // Boolean[] nulls = null;
-                BitSet nulls = null;
-                if (datasetRec) {
-                    if (recType != null) {
-                        nulls = new BitSet(recType.getFieldNames().length);
-                        recBuilder.reset(recType);
-                    } else
-                        recBuilder.reset(null);
-                } else if (recType != null) {
-                    nulls = new BitSet(recType.getFieldNames().length);
-                    recBuilder.reset(recType);
-                } else
-                    recBuilder.reset(null);
-
-                recBuilder.init();
-                Token token = null;
-                boolean inRecord = true;
-                boolean expectingRecordField = false;
-                boolean first = true;
-
-                Boolean openRecordField = false;
-                int fieldId = 0;
-                IAType fieldType = null;
-                do {
-                    token = nextToken();
-                    switch (token.kind) {
-                        case AdmLexerConstants.END_RECORD: {
-                            if (expectingRecordField) {
-                                throw new AsterixException("Found END_RECORD while expecting a record field.");
-                            }
-                            inRecord = false;
-                            break;
-                        }
-                        case AdmLexerConstants.STRING_LITERAL: {
-                            // we've read the name of the field
-                            // now read the content
-                            fieldNameBuffer.reset();
-                            fieldValueBuffer.reset();
-                            expectingRecordField = false;
-
-                            if (recType != null) {
-                                String fldName = token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1);
-                                fieldId = recBuilder.getFieldId(fldName);
-                                if (fieldId < 0 && !recType.isOpen()) {
-                                    throw new AsterixException("This record is closed, you can not add extra fields !!");
-                                } else if (fieldId < 0 && recType.isOpen()) {
-                                    aStringFieldName.setValue(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1));
-                                    stringSerde.serialize(aStringFieldName, fieldNameBuffer.getDataOutput());
-                                    openRecordField = true;
-                                    fieldType = null;
-                                } else {
-                                    // a closed field
-                                    nulls.set(fieldId);
-                                    fieldType = recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId];
-                                    openRecordField = false;
-                                }
-                            } else {
-                                aStringFieldName.setValue(token.image.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1));
-                                stringSerde.serialize(aStringFieldName, fieldNameBuffer.getDataOutput());
-                                openRecordField = true;
-                                fieldType = null;
-                            }
-
-                            token = nextToken();
-                            if (token.kind != AdmLexerConstants.COLON) {
-                                throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: "
-                                        + admLexer.tokenKindToString(token.kind) + " while expecting \":\".");
-                            }
-
-                            token = nextToken();
-                            this.admFromLexerStream(token, fieldType, fieldValueBuffer.getDataOutput(), false);
-                            if (openRecordField) {
-                                if (fieldValueBuffer.getBytes()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL.serialize())
-                                    recBuilder.addField(fieldNameBuffer, fieldValueBuffer);
-                            } else if (recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId].getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) {
-                                if (NonTaggedFormatUtil.isOptionalField((AUnionType) recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId])) {
-                                    if (fieldValueBuffer.getBytes()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL.serialize()) {
-                                        recBuilder.addField(fieldId, fieldValueBuffer);
-                                    }
-                                }
-                            } else {
-                                recBuilder.addField(fieldId, fieldValueBuffer);
-                            }
-
-                            break;
-                        }
-                        case AdmLexerConstants.COMMA: {
-                            if (first) {
-                                throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA before any record field.");
-                            }
-                            if (expectingRecordField) {
-                                throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA while expecting a record field.");
-                            }
-                            expectingRecordField = true;
-                            break;
-                        }
-                        default: {
-                            throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: "
-                                    + admLexer.tokenKindToString(token.kind) + " while parsing record fields.");
-                        }
-                    }
-                    first = false;
-                } while (inRecord);
-
-                if (recType != null) {
-                    nullableFieldId = checkNullConstraints(recType, nulls);
-                    if (nullableFieldId != -1)
-                        throw new AsterixException("Field " + nullableFieldId + " can not be null");
-                }
-                recBuilder.write(out, true);
-                returnRecordBuilder(recBuilder);
-                returnTempBuffer(fieldNameBuffer);
-                returnTempBuffer(fieldValueBuffer);
-            }
-
-            private int checkNullConstraints(ARecordType recType, BitSet nulls) {
-
-                boolean isNull = false;
-                for (int i = 0; i < recType.getFieldTypes().length; i++)
-                    if (nulls.get(i) == false) {
-                        IAType type = recType.getFieldTypes()[i];
-                        if (type.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.NULL && type.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.UNION)
-                            return i;
-
-                        if (type.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) { // union
-                            unionList = ((AUnionType) type).getUnionList();
-                            for (int j = 0; j < unionList.size(); j++)
-                                if (unionList.get(j).getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.NULL) {
-                                    isNull = true;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                            if (!isNull)
-                                return i;
-                        }
-                    }
-                return -1;
-            }
-
-            private void parseOrderedList(AOrderedListType oltype, DataOutput out) throws IOException, AsterixException {
-
-                ArrayBackedValueStorage itemBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-                OrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder = (OrderedListBuilder) getOrderedListBuilder();
-
-                IAType itemType = null;
-                if (oltype != null)
-                    itemType = oltype.getItemType();
-                orderedListBuilder.reset(oltype);
-
-                Token token = null;
-                boolean inList = true;
-                boolean expectingListItem = false;
-                boolean first = true;
-                do {
-                    token = nextToken();
-                    if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.END_ORDERED_LIST) {
-                        if (expectingListItem) {
-                            throw new AsterixException("Found END_COLLECTION while expecting a list item.");
-                        }
-                        inList = false;
-                    } else if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.COMMA) {
-                        if (first) {
-                            throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA before any list item.");
-                        }
-                        if (expectingListItem) {
-                            throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA while expecting a list item.");
-                        }
-                        expectingListItem = true;
-                    } else {
-                        expectingListItem = false;
-                        itemBuffer.reset();
-
-                        admFromLexerStream(token, itemType, itemBuffer.getDataOutput(), false);
-                        orderedListBuilder.addItem(itemBuffer);
-                    }
-                    first = false;
-                } while (inList);
-                orderedListBuilder.write(out, true);
-                returnOrderedListBuilder(orderedListBuilder);
-                returnTempBuffer(itemBuffer);
-            }
-
-            private void parseUnorderedList(AUnorderedListType uoltype, DataOutput out) throws IOException,
-                    AsterixException {
-
-                ArrayBackedValueStorage itemBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-                UnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder = (UnorderedListBuilder) getUnorderedListBuilder();
-
-                IAType itemType = null;
-
-                if (uoltype != null)
-                    itemType = uoltype.getItemType();
-                unorderedListBuilder.reset(uoltype);
-
-                Token token = null;
-                boolean inList = true;
-                boolean expectingListItem = false;
-                boolean first = true;
-                do {
-                    token = nextToken();
-                    if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.END_UNORDERED_LIST) {
-                        if (expectingListItem) {
-                            throw new AsterixException("Found END_COLLECTION while expecting a list item.");
-                        }
-                        inList = false;
-                    } else if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.COMMA) {
-                        if (first) {
-                            throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA before any list item.");
-                        }
-                        if (expectingListItem) {
-                            throw new AsterixException("Found COMMA while expecting a list item.");
-                        }
-                        expectingListItem = true;
-                    } else {
-                        expectingListItem = false;
-                        itemBuffer.reset();
-                        admFromLexerStream(token, itemType, itemBuffer.getDataOutput(), false);
-                        unorderedListBuilder.addItem(itemBuffer);
-                    }
-                    first = false;
-                } while (inList);
-                unorderedListBuilder.write(out, true);
-                returnUnorderedListBuilder(unorderedListBuilder);
-                returnTempBuffer(itemBuffer);
-            }
-
-            private Token nextToken() throws AsterixException {
-                try {
-                    return admLexer.next();
-                } catch (ParseException pe) {
-                    throw new AsterixException(pe);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private IARecordBuilder getRecordBuilder() {
-                RecordBuilder recBuilder = (RecordBuilder) recordBuilderPool.poll();
-                if (recBuilder != null)
-                    return recBuilder;
-                else
-                    return new RecordBuilder();
-            }
-
-            private void returnRecordBuilder(IARecordBuilder recBuilder) {
-                this.recordBuilderPool.add(recBuilder);
-            }
-
-            private IAOrderedListBuilder getOrderedListBuilder() {
-                OrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder = (OrderedListBuilder) orderedListBuilderPool.poll();
-                if (orderedListBuilder != null)
-                    return orderedListBuilder;
-                else
-                    return new OrderedListBuilder();
-            }
-
-            private void returnOrderedListBuilder(IAOrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder) {
-                this.orderedListBuilderPool.add(orderedListBuilder);
-            }
-
-            private IAUnorderedListBuilder getUnorderedListBuilder() {
-                UnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder = (UnorderedListBuilder) unorderedListBuilderPool.poll();
-                if (unorderedListBuilder != null)
-                    return unorderedListBuilder;
-                else
-                    return new UnorderedListBuilder();
-            }
-
-            private void returnUnorderedListBuilder(IAUnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder) {
-                this.unorderedListBuilderPool.add(unorderedListBuilder);
-            }
-
-            private ArrayBackedValueStorage getTempBuffer() {
-                ArrayBackedValueStorage tmpBaaos = baaosPool.poll();
-                if (tmpBaaos != null) {
-                    return tmpBaaos;
-                } else {
-                    return new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void returnTempBuffer(ArrayBackedValueStorage tempBaaos) {
-                baaosPool.add(tempBaaos);
-            }
-        };
+        return new AdmTupleParser(ctx, recType);
     }
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmTupleParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmTupleParser.java
index 3b52315..9be4c00 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmTupleParser.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/AdmTupleParser.java
@@ -1,1047 +1,35 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.InputStream;
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-import java.util.ArrayDeque;
-import java.util.BitSet;
-import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Queue;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.AdmLexer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.AdmLexerConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.ParseException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged.Token;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAOrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IAUnorderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.UnorderedListBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ACircleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADurationSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ALineSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APoint3DSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APointSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.APolygonSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ARectangleSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ABoolean;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnorderedListType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.comm.IFrameWriter;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ArrayTupleBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAppender;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.util.FrameUtils;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 
-public class AdmTupleParser extends AbstractTupleParser  {
+/**
+ * An extension of AbstractTupleParser that provides functionality for
+ * parsing delimited files.
+ */
+public class AdmTupleParser extends AbstractTupleParser {
 
-	protected AdmLexer admLexer;
-	protected ArrayTupleBuilder tb = new ArrayTupleBuilder(1);
-	protected DataOutput dos = tb.getDataOutput();
-	protected final FrameTupleAppender appender;
-	protected final ByteBuffer frame;
-	protected final ARecordType recType;
+    public AdmTupleParser(IHyracksTaskContext ctx, ARecordType recType) {
+        super(ctx, recType);
+    }
 
-	private int nullableFieldId = 0;
-
-	private Queue<ArrayBackedValueStorage> baaosPool = new ArrayDeque<ArrayBackedValueStorage>();
-	private Queue<IARecordBuilder> recordBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IARecordBuilder>();
-	private Queue<IAOrderedListBuilder> orderedListBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IAOrderedListBuilder>();
-	private Queue<IAUnorderedListBuilder> unorderedListBuilderPool = new ArrayDeque<IAUnorderedListBuilder>();
-
-	private String mismatchErrorMessage = "Mismatch Type, expecting a value of type ";
-
-
-	public AdmTupleParser(IHyracksTaskContext ctx, ARecordType recType) {
-		appender = new FrameTupleAppender(ctx.getFrameSize());
-		frame = ctx.allocateFrame();
-		this.recType = recType;
-
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void parse(InputStream in, IFrameWriter writer)
-			throws HyracksDataException {
-		admLexer = new AdmLexer(in);
-		appender.reset(frame, true);
-		int tupleNum = 0;
-		try {
-			while (true) {
-				tb.reset();
-				if (!parseAdmInstance(recType, true, dos)) {
-					break;
-				}
-				tb.addFieldEndOffset();
-				if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(),
-						tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-					FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-					appender.reset(frame, true);
-					if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(),
-							tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-						throw new IllegalStateException();
-					}
-				}
-				tupleNum++;
-			}
-			if (appender.getTupleCount() > 0) {
-				FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-			}
-		} catch (AsterixException ae) {
-			throw new HyracksDataException(ae);
-		} catch (IOException ioe) {
-			throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
-		}
-	}
-
-	protected boolean parseAdmInstance(IAType objectType, Boolean datasetRec,
-			DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
-		Token token;
-		try {
-			token = admLexer.next();
-		} catch (ParseException pe) {
-			throw new AsterixException(pe);
-		}
-		if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.EOF) {
-			return false;
-		} else {
-			admFromLexerStream(token, objectType, out, datasetRec);
-			return true;
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void admFromLexerStream(Token token, IAType objectType,
-			DataOutput out, Boolean datasetRec) throws AsterixException,
-			IOException {
-
-		switch (token.kind) {
-		case AdmLexerConstants.NULL_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.NULL, objectType, out)) {
-				nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(" This field can not be null ");
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.TRUE_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out)) {
-				booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.BOOLEAN_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.FALSE_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.BOOLEAN, objectType, out)) {
-				booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.DOUBLE_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.DOUBLE, objectType, out)) {
-				aDouble.setValue(Double.parseDouble(token.image));
-				doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.DOUBLE_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DOUBLE, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.FLOAT_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.FLOAT, objectType, out)) {
-				aFloat.setValue(Float.parseFloat(token.image));
-				floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.FLOAT_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.FLOAT, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT8_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT8, objectType, out)) {
-				parseInt8(token.image, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT8_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT8, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT16_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT16, objectType, out)) {
-				parseInt16(token.image, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT16_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT16, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT_LITERAL:
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT32_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT32, objectType, out)) {
-				parseInt32(token.image, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT32_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT32, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT64_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.INT64, objectType, out)) {
-				parseInt64(token.image, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.INT64_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.INT64, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.STRING_LITERAL: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.STRING, objectType, out)) {
-				aString.setValue(token.image.substring(1,
-						token.image.length() - 1));
-				stringSerde.serialize(aString, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeName());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.STRING_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.STRING, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.DATE_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DATE, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.TIME_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.TIME, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.DATETIME_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DATETIME, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.DURATION_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.DURATION, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.POINT_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POINT, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.POINT3D_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POINT3D, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.CIRCLE_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.CIRCLE, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.RECTANGLE_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.RECTANGLE, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.LINE_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.LINE, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.POLYGON_CONS: {
-			parseConstructor(ATypeTag.POLYGON, objectType, out);
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.START_UNORDERED_LIST: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST, objectType, out)) {
-				objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST);
-				parseUnorderedList((AUnorderedListType) objectType, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeTag());
-			break;
-		}
-
-		case AdmLexerConstants.START_ORDERED_LIST: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST, objectType, out)) {
-				objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST);
-				parseOrderedList((AOrderedListType) objectType, out);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeTag());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.START_RECORD: {
-			if (checkType(ATypeTag.RECORD, objectType, out)) {
-				objectType = getComplexType(objectType, ATypeTag.RECORD);
-				parseRecord((ARecordType) objectType, out, datasetRec);
-			} else
-				throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-						+ objectType.getTypeTag());
-			break;
-		}
-		case AdmLexerConstants.EOF: {
-			break;
-		}
-		default: {
-			throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: "
-					+ admLexer.tokenKindToString(token.kind) + ".");
-		}
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseDatetime(String datetime, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException, IOException {
-		try {
-			ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.parse(datetime, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseDuration(String duration, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			ADurationSerializerDeserializer.parse(duration, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-
-	}
-
-	private IAType getComplexType(IAType aObjectType, ATypeTag tag) {
-
-		if (aObjectType == null) {
-			return null;
-		}
-
-		if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() == tag)
-			return aObjectType;
-
-		if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) {
-			unionList = ((AUnionType) aObjectType).getUnionList();
-			for (int i = 0; i < unionList.size(); i++)
-				if (unionList.get(i).getTypeTag() == tag) {
-					return unionList.get(i);
-				}
-		}
-		return null; // wont get here
-	}
-
-	List<IAType> unionList;
-
-	private boolean checkType(ATypeTag expectedTypeTag, IAType aObjectType,
-			DataOutput out) throws IOException {
-
-		if (aObjectType == null)
-			return true;
-
-		if (aObjectType.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.UNION) {
-			if (expectedTypeTag == aObjectType.getTypeTag())
-				return true;
-		} else { // union
-			unionList = ((AUnionType) aObjectType).getUnionList();
-			for (int i = 0; i < unionList.size(); i++)
-				if (unionList.get(i).getTypeTag() == expectedTypeTag)
-					return true;
-		}
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	private void parseRecord(ARecordType recType, DataOutput out,
-			Boolean datasetRec) throws IOException, AsterixException {
-
-		ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-		ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldNameBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-		IARecordBuilder recBuilder = getRecordBuilder();
-
-		// Boolean[] nulls = null;
-		BitSet nulls = null;
-		if (datasetRec) {
-			if (recType != null) {
-				nulls = new BitSet(recType.getFieldNames().length);
-				recBuilder.reset(recType);
-			} else
-				recBuilder.reset(null);
-		} else if (recType != null) {
-			nulls = new BitSet(recType.getFieldNames().length);
-			recBuilder.reset(recType);
-		} else
-			recBuilder.reset(null);
-
-		recBuilder.init();
-		Token token = null;
-		boolean inRecord = true;
-		boolean expectingRecordField = false;
-		boolean first = true;
-
-		Boolean openRecordField = false;
-		int fieldId = 0;
-		IAType fieldType = null;
-		do {
-			token = nextToken();
-			switch (token.kind) {
-			case AdmLexerConstants.END_RECORD: {
-				if (expectingRecordField) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found END_RECORD while expecting a record field.");
-				}
-				inRecord = false;
-				break;
-			}
-			case AdmLexerConstants.STRING_LITERAL: {
-				// we've read the name of the field
-				// now read the content
-				fieldNameBuffer.reset();
-				fieldValueBuffer.reset();
-				expectingRecordField = false;
-
-				if (recType != null) {
-					String fldName = token.image.substring(1,
-							token.image.length() - 1);
-					fieldId = recBuilder.getFieldId(fldName);
-					if (fieldId < 0 && !recType.isOpen()) {
-						throw new AsterixException(
-								"This record is closed, you can not add extra fields !!");
-					} else if (fieldId < 0 && recType.isOpen()) {
-						aStringFieldName.setValue(token.image.substring(1,
-								token.image.length() - 1));
-						stringSerde.serialize(aStringFieldName,
-								fieldNameBuffer.getDataOutput());
-						openRecordField = true;
-						fieldType = null;
-					} else {
-						// a closed field
-						nulls.set(fieldId);
-						fieldType = recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId];
-						openRecordField = false;
-					}
-				} else {
-					aStringFieldName.setValue(token.image.substring(1,
-							token.image.length() - 1));
-					stringSerde.serialize(aStringFieldName,
-							fieldNameBuffer.getDataOutput());
-					openRecordField = true;
-					fieldType = null;
-				}
-
-				token = nextToken();
-				if (token.kind != AdmLexerConstants.COLON) {
-					throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: "
-							+ admLexer.tokenKindToString(token.kind)
-							+ " while expecting \":\".");
-				}
-
-				token = nextToken();
-				this.admFromLexerStream(token, fieldType,
-						fieldValueBuffer.getDataOutput(), false);
-				if (openRecordField) {
-					if (fieldValueBuffer.getBytes()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL
-							.serialize())
-						recBuilder.addField(fieldNameBuffer, fieldValueBuffer);
-				} else if (recType.getFieldTypes()[fieldId].getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) {
-					if (NonTaggedFormatUtil
-							.isOptionalField((AUnionType) recType
-									.getFieldTypes()[fieldId])) {
-						if (fieldValueBuffer.getBytes()[0] != ATypeTag.NULL
-								.serialize()) {
-							recBuilder.addField(fieldId, fieldValueBuffer);
-						}
-					}
-				} else {
-					recBuilder.addField(fieldId, fieldValueBuffer);
-				}
-
-				break;
-			}
-			case AdmLexerConstants.COMMA: {
-				if (first) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found COMMA before any record field.");
-				}
-				if (expectingRecordField) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found COMMA while expecting a record field.");
-				}
-				expectingRecordField = true;
-				break;
-			}
-			default: {
-				throw new AsterixException("Unexpected ADM token kind: "
-						+ admLexer.tokenKindToString(token.kind)
-						+ " while parsing record fields.");
-			}
-			}
-			first = false;
-		} while (inRecord);
-
-		if (recType != null) {
-			nullableFieldId = checkNullConstraints(recType, nulls);
-			if (nullableFieldId != -1)
-				throw new AsterixException("Field " + nullableFieldId
-						+ " can not be null");
-		}
-		recBuilder.write(out, true);
-		returnRecordBuilder(recBuilder);
-		returnTempBuffer(fieldNameBuffer);
-		returnTempBuffer(fieldValueBuffer);
-	}
-
-	private int checkNullConstraints(ARecordType recType, BitSet nulls) {
-
-		boolean isNull = false;
-		for (int i = 0; i < recType.getFieldTypes().length; i++)
-			if (nulls.get(i) == false) {
-				IAType type = recType.getFieldTypes()[i];
-				if (type.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.NULL
-						&& type.getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.UNION)
-					return i;
-
-				if (type.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) { // union
-					unionList = ((AUnionType) type).getUnionList();
-					for (int j = 0; j < unionList.size(); j++)
-						if (unionList.get(j).getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.NULL) {
-							isNull = true;
-							break;
-						}
-					if (!isNull)
-						return i;
-				}
-			}
-		return -1;
-	}
-
-	private void parseOrderedList(AOrderedListType oltype, DataOutput out)
-			throws IOException, AsterixException {
-
-		ArrayBackedValueStorage itemBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-		OrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder = (OrderedListBuilder) getOrderedListBuilder();
-
-		IAType itemType = null;
-		if (oltype != null)
-			itemType = oltype.getItemType();
-		orderedListBuilder.reset(oltype);
-
-		Token token = null;
-		boolean inList = true;
-		boolean expectingListItem = false;
-		boolean first = true;
-		do {
-			token = nextToken();
-			if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.END_ORDERED_LIST) {
-				if (expectingListItem) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found END_COLLECTION while expecting a list item.");
-				}
-				inList = false;
-			} else if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.COMMA) {
-				if (first) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found COMMA before any list item.");
-				}
-				if (expectingListItem) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found COMMA while expecting a list item.");
-				}
-				expectingListItem = true;
-			} else {
-				expectingListItem = false;
-				itemBuffer.reset();
-
-				admFromLexerStream(token, itemType, itemBuffer.getDataOutput(),
-						false);
-				orderedListBuilder.addItem(itemBuffer);
-			}
-			first = false;
-		} while (inList);
-		orderedListBuilder.write(out, true);
-		returnOrderedListBuilder(orderedListBuilder);
-		returnTempBuffer(itemBuffer);
-	}
-
-	private void parseUnorderedList(AUnorderedListType uoltype, DataOutput out)
-			throws IOException, AsterixException {
-
-		ArrayBackedValueStorage itemBuffer = getTempBuffer();
-		UnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder = (UnorderedListBuilder) getUnorderedListBuilder();
-
-		IAType itemType = null;
-
-		if (uoltype != null)
-			itemType = uoltype.getItemType();
-		unorderedListBuilder.reset(uoltype);
-
-		Token token = null;
-		boolean inList = true;
-		boolean expectingListItem = false;
-		boolean first = true;
-		do {
-			token = nextToken();
-			if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.END_UNORDERED_LIST) {
-				if (expectingListItem) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found END_COLLECTION while expecting a list item.");
-				}
-				inList = false;
-			} else if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.COMMA) {
-				if (first) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found COMMA before any list item.");
-				}
-				if (expectingListItem) {
-					throw new AsterixException(
-							"Found COMMA while expecting a list item.");
-				}
-				expectingListItem = true;
-			} else {
-				expectingListItem = false;
-				itemBuffer.reset();
-				admFromLexerStream(token, itemType, itemBuffer.getDataOutput(),
-						false);
-				unorderedListBuilder.addItem(itemBuffer);
-			}
-			first = false;
-		} while (inList);
-		unorderedListBuilder.write(out, true);
-		returnUnorderedListBuilder(unorderedListBuilder);
-		returnTempBuffer(itemBuffer);
-	}
-
-	private Token nextToken() throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			return admLexer.next();
-		} catch (ParseException pe) {
-			throw new AsterixException(pe);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private IARecordBuilder getRecordBuilder() {
-		RecordBuilder recBuilder = (RecordBuilder) recordBuilderPool.poll();
-		if (recBuilder != null)
-			return recBuilder;
-		else
-			return new RecordBuilder();
-	}
-
-	private void returnRecordBuilder(IARecordBuilder recBuilder) {
-		this.recordBuilderPool.add(recBuilder);
-	}
-
-	private IAOrderedListBuilder getOrderedListBuilder() {
-		OrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder = (OrderedListBuilder) orderedListBuilderPool
-				.poll();
-		if (orderedListBuilder != null)
-			return orderedListBuilder;
-		else
-			return new OrderedListBuilder();
-	}
-
-	private void returnOrderedListBuilder(
-			IAOrderedListBuilder orderedListBuilder) {
-		this.orderedListBuilderPool.add(orderedListBuilder);
-	}
-
-	private IAUnorderedListBuilder getUnorderedListBuilder() {
-		UnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder = (UnorderedListBuilder) unorderedListBuilderPool
-				.poll();
-		if (unorderedListBuilder != null)
-			return unorderedListBuilder;
-		else
-			return new UnorderedListBuilder();
-	}
-
-	private void returnUnorderedListBuilder(
-			IAUnorderedListBuilder unorderedListBuilder) {
-		this.unorderedListBuilderPool.add(unorderedListBuilder);
-	}
-
-	private ArrayBackedValueStorage getTempBuffer() {
-		ArrayBackedValueStorage tmpBaaos = baaosPool.poll();
-		if (tmpBaaos != null) {
-			return tmpBaaos;
-		} else {
-			return new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void returnTempBuffer(ArrayBackedValueStorage tempBaaos) {
-		baaosPool.add(tempBaaos);
-	}
-
-	private void parseConstructor(ATypeTag typeTag, IAType objectType,
-			DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			Token token = admLexer.next();
-			if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN) {
-				if (checkType(typeTag, objectType, out)) {
-					token = admLexer.next();
-					if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.STRING_LITERAL) {
-						switch (typeTag) {
-						case BOOLEAN:
-							parseBoolean(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case INT8:
-							parseInt8(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case INT16:
-							parseInt16(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case INT32:
-							parseInt32(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case INT64:
-							parseInt64(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case FLOAT:
-							aFloat.setValue(Float.parseFloat(token.image
-									.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1)));
-							floatSerde.serialize(aFloat, out);
-							break;
-						case DOUBLE:
-							aDouble.setValue(Double.parseDouble(token.image
-									.substring(1, token.image.length() - 1)));
-							doubleSerde.serialize(aDouble, out);
-							break;
-						case STRING:
-							aString.setValue(token.image.substring(1,
-									token.image.length() - 1));
-							stringSerde.serialize(aString, out);
-							break;
-						case TIME:
-							parseTime(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case DATE:
-							parseDate(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case DATETIME:
-							parseDatetime(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case DURATION:
-							parseDuration(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case POINT:
-							parsePoint(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case POINT3D:
-							parsePoint3d(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case CIRCLE:
-							parseCircle(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case RECTANGLE:
-							parseRectangle(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case LINE:
-							parseLine(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-						case POLYGON:
-							parsePolygon(
-									token.image.substring(1,
-											token.image.length() - 1), out);
-							break;
-
-						}
-						token = admLexer.next();
-						if (token.kind == AdmLexerConstants.CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE)
-							return;
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-		throw new AsterixException(mismatchErrorMessage
-				+ objectType.getTypeName());
-	}
-
-	private void parseBoolean(String bool, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of boolean";
-		try {
-			if (bool.equals("true"))
-				booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.TRUE, out);
-			else if (bool.equals("false"))
-				booleanSerde.serialize(ABoolean.FALSE, out);
-			else
-				throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseInt8(String int8, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-		String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int8";
-		try {
-			boolean positive = true;
-			byte value = 0;
-			int offset = 0;
-
-			if (int8.charAt(offset) == '+')
-				offset++;
-			else if (int8.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-				offset++;
-				positive = false;
-			}
-			for (; offset < int8.length(); offset++) {
-				if (int8.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int8.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-					value = (byte) (value * 10 + int8.charAt(offset) - '0');
-				else if (int8.charAt(offset) == 'i'
-						&& int8.charAt(offset + 1) == '8'
-						&& offset + 2 == int8.length())
-					break;
-				else
-					throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			}
-			if (value < 0)
-				throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			if (value > 0 && !positive)
-				value *= -1;
-			aInt8.setValue(value);
-			int8Serde.serialize(aInt8, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseInt16(String int16, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int16";
-		try {
-			boolean positive = true;
-			short value = 0;
-			int offset = 0;
-
-			if (int16.charAt(offset) == '+')
-				offset++;
-			else if (int16.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-				offset++;
-				positive = false;
-			}
-			for (; offset < int16.length(); offset++) {
-				if (int16.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int16.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-					value = (short) (value * 10 + int16.charAt(offset) - '0');
-				else if (int16.charAt(offset) == 'i'
-						&& int16.charAt(offset + 1) == '1'
-						&& int16.charAt(offset + 2) == '6'
-						&& offset + 3 == int16.length())
-					break;
-				else
-					throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			}
-			if (value < 0)
-				throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			if (value > 0 && !positive)
-				value *= -1;
-			aInt16.setValue(value);
-			int16Serde.serialize(aInt16, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseInt32(String int32, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-
-		String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int32";
-		try {
-			boolean positive = true;
-			int value = 0;
-			int offset = 0;
-
-			if (int32.charAt(offset) == '+')
-				offset++;
-			else if (int32.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-				offset++;
-				positive = false;
-			}
-			for (; offset < int32.length(); offset++) {
-				if (int32.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int32.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-					value = (value * 10 + int32.charAt(offset) - '0');
-				else if (int32.charAt(offset) == 'i'
-						&& int32.charAt(offset + 1) == '3'
-						&& int32.charAt(offset + 2) == '2'
-						&& offset + 3 == int32.length())
-					break;
-				else
-					throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			}
-			if (value < 0)
-				throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			if (value > 0 && !positive)
-				value *= -1;
-
-			aInt32.setValue(value);
-			int32Serde.serialize(aInt32, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseInt64(String int64, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		String errorMessage = "This can not be an instance of int64";
-		try {
-			boolean positive = true;
-			long value = 0;
-			int offset = 0;
-
-			if (int64.charAt(offset) == '+')
-				offset++;
-			else if (int64.charAt(offset) == '-') {
-				offset++;
-				positive = false;
-			}
-			for (; offset < int64.length(); offset++) {
-				if (int64.charAt(offset) >= '0' && int64.charAt(offset) <= '9')
-					value = (value * 10 + int64.charAt(offset) - '0');
-				else if (int64.charAt(offset) == 'i'
-						&& int64.charAt(offset + 1) == '6'
-						&& int64.charAt(offset + 2) == '4'
-						&& offset + 3 == int64.length())
-					break;
-				else
-					throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			}
-			if (value < 0)
-				throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-			if (value > 0 && !positive)
-				value *= -1;
-
-			aInt64.setValue(value);
-			int64Serde.serialize(aInt64, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(errorMessage);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parsePoint(String point, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			APointSerializerDeserializer.parse(point, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parsePoint3d(String point3d, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			APoint3DSerializerDeserializer.parse(point3d, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseCircle(String circle, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			ACircleSerializerDeserializer.parse(circle, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseRectangle(String rectangle, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			ARectangleSerializerDeserializer.parse(rectangle, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseLine(String line, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			ALineSerializerDeserializer.parse(line, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parsePolygon(String polygon, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException, IOException {
-		try {
-			APolygonSerializerDeserializer.parse(polygon, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseTime(String time, DataOutput out) throws AsterixException {
-		try {
-			ATimeSerializerDeserializer.parse(time, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	private void parseDate(String date, DataOutput out)
-			throws AsterixException, IOException {
-		try {
-			ADateSerializerDeserializer.parse(date, out);
-		} catch (HyracksDataException e) {
-			throw new AsterixException(e);
-		}
-	}
+    @Override
+    public IDataParser getDataParser() {
+        return new ADMDataParser();
+    }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataParser.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9560fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataParser.java
@@ -0,0 +1,326 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.io.InputStreamReader;
+import java.io.Reader;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.IValueParser;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.IValueParserFactory;
+
+public class DelimitedDataParser extends AbstractDataParser implements IDataParser {
+
+    protected final IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories;
+    protected final char fieldDelimiter;
+    protected final ARecordType recordType;
+
+    private IARecordBuilder recBuilder;
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer;
+    private DataOutput fieldValueBufferOutput;
+    private IValueParser[] valueParsers;
+    private FieldCursor cursor;
+    private byte[] fieldTypeTags;
+    private int[] fldIds;
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage[] nameBuffers;
+
+    public DelimitedDataParser(ARecordType recordType, IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories, char fieldDelimter) {
+        this.recordType = recordType;
+        this.valueParserFactories = valueParserFactories;
+        this.fieldDelimiter = fieldDelimter;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void initialize(InputStream in, ARecordType recordType, boolean datasetRec) throws AsterixException,
+            IOException {
+
+        valueParsers = new IValueParser[valueParserFactories.length];
+        for (int i = 0; i < valueParserFactories.length; ++i) {
+            valueParsers[i] = valueParserFactories[i].createValueParser();
+        }
+
+        fieldValueBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+        fieldValueBufferOutput = fieldValueBuffer.getDataOutput();
+        recBuilder = new RecordBuilder();
+        recBuilder.reset(recordType);
+        recBuilder.init();
+
+        int n = recordType.getFieldNames().length;
+        fieldTypeTags = new byte[n];
+        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+            ATypeTag tag = recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag();
+            fieldTypeTags[i] = tag.serialize();
+        }
+
+        fldIds = new int[n];
+        nameBuffers = new ArrayBackedValueStorage[n];
+        AMutableString str = new AMutableString(null);
+        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+            String name = recordType.getFieldNames()[i];
+            fldIds[i] = recBuilder.getFieldId(name);
+            if (fldIds[i] < 0) {
+                if (!recordType.isOpen()) {
+                    throw new HyracksDataException("Illegal field " + name + " in closed type " + recordType);
+                } else {
+                    nameBuffers[i] = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    fieldNameToBytes(name, str, nameBuffers[i]);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        cursor = new FieldCursor(new InputStreamReader(in));
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean parse(DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
+
+        if (cursor.nextRecord()) {
+            recBuilder.reset(recordType);
+            recBuilder.init();
+            for (int i = 0; i < valueParsers.length; ++i) {
+                if (!cursor.nextField()) {
+                    break;
+                }
+                fieldValueBuffer.reset();
+                fieldValueBufferOutput.writeByte(fieldTypeTags[i]);
+                valueParsers[i]
+                        .parse(cursor.buffer, cursor.fStart, cursor.fEnd - cursor.fStart, fieldValueBufferOutput);
+                if (fldIds[i] < 0) {
+                    recBuilder.addField(nameBuffers[i], fieldValueBuffer);
+                } else {
+                    recBuilder.addField(fldIds[i], fieldValueBuffer);
+                }
+            }
+            recBuilder.write(out, true);
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected void fieldNameToBytes(String fieldName, AMutableString str, ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer)
+            throws HyracksDataException {
+        buffer.reset();
+        DataOutput out = buffer.getDataOutput();
+        str.setValue(fieldName);
+        try {
+            stringSerde.serialize(str, out);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected enum State {
+        INIT,
+        IN_RECORD,
+        EOR,
+        CR,
+        EOF
+    }
+
+    protected class FieldCursor {
+        private static final int INITIAL_BUFFER_SIZE = 4096;
+        private static final int INCREMENT = 4096;
+
+        private final Reader in;
+
+        private char[] buffer;
+        private int start;
+        private int end;
+        private State state;
+
+        private int fStart;
+        private int fEnd;
+
+        public FieldCursor(Reader in) {
+            this.in = in;
+            buffer = new char[INITIAL_BUFFER_SIZE];
+            start = 0;
+            end = 0;
+            state = State.INIT;
+        }
+
+        public boolean nextRecord() throws IOException {
+            while (true) {
+                switch (state) {
+                    case INIT:
+                        boolean eof = !readMore();
+                        if (eof) {
+                            state = State.EOF;
+                            return false;
+                        } else {
+                            state = State.IN_RECORD;
+                            return true;
+                        }
+
+                    case IN_RECORD:
+                        int p = start;
+                        while (true) {
+                            if (p >= end) {
+                                int s = start;
+                                eof = !readMore();
+                                if (eof) {
+                                    state = State.EOF;
+                                    return start < end;
+                                }
+                                p -= (s - start);
+                            }
+                            char ch = buffer[p];
+                            if (ch == '\n') {
+                                start = p + 1;
+                                state = State.EOR;
+                                break;
+                            } else if (ch == '\r') {
+                                start = p + 1;
+                                state = State.CR;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            ++p;
+                        }
+                        break;
+
+                    case CR:
+                        if (start >= end) {
+                            eof = !readMore();
+                            if (eof) {
+                                state = State.EOF;
+                                return false;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        char ch = buffer[start];
+                        if (ch == '\n') {
+                            ++start;
+                            state = State.EOR;
+                        } else {
+                            state = State.IN_RECORD;
+                            return true;
+                        }
+
+                    case EOR:
+                        if (start >= end) {
+                            eof = !readMore();
+                            if (eof) {
+                                state = State.EOF;
+                                return false;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        state = State.IN_RECORD;
+                        return start < end;
+
+                    case EOF:
+                        return false;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        public boolean nextField() throws IOException {
+            switch (state) {
+                case INIT:
+                case EOR:
+                case EOF:
+                case CR:
+                    return false;
+
+                case IN_RECORD:
+                    boolean eof;
+                    int p = start;
+                    while (true) {
+                        if (p >= end) {
+                            int s = start;
+                            eof = !readMore();
+                            if (eof) {
+                                state = State.EOF;
+                                return true;
+                            }
+                            p -= (s - start);
+                        }
+                        char ch = buffer[p];
+                        if (ch == fieldDelimiter) {
+                            fStart = start;
+                            fEnd = p;
+                            start = p + 1;
+                            return true;
+                        } else if (ch == '\n') {
+                            fStart = start;
+                            fEnd = p;
+                            start = p + 1;
+                            state = State.EOR;
+                            return true;
+                        } else if (ch == '\r') {
+                            fStart = start;
+                            fEnd = p;
+                            start = p + 1;
+                            state = State.CR;
+                            return true;
+                        }
+                        ++p;
+                    }
+            }
+            throw new IllegalStateException();
+        }
+
+        protected boolean readMore() throws IOException {
+            if (start > 0) {
+                System.arraycopy(buffer, start, buffer, 0, end - start);
+            }
+            end -= start;
+            start = 0;
+
+            if (end == buffer.length) {
+                buffer = Arrays.copyOf(buffer, buffer.length + INCREMENT);
+            }
+
+            int n = in.read(buffer, end, buffer.length - end);
+            if (n < 0) {
+                return false;
+            }
+            end += n;
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        public int getfStart() {
+            return fStart;
+        }
+
+        public void setfStart(int fStart) {
+            this.fStart = fStart;
+        }
+
+        public int getfEnd() {
+            return fEnd;
+        }
+
+        public void setfEnd(int fEnd) {
+            this.fEnd = fEnd;
+        }
+
+        public char[] getBuffer() {
+            return buffer;
+        }
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataTupleParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataTupleParser.java
index db46578..c029b64 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataTupleParser.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataTupleParser.java
@@ -1,331 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.InputStream;
-import java.io.InputStreamReader;
-import java.io.Reader;
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-import java.util.Arrays;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.comm.IFrameWriter;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ArrayTupleBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAppender;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.util.FrameUtils;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.IValueParser;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.IValueParserFactory;
 
+/**
+ * An extension of AbstractTupleParser that provides functionality for
+ * parsing delimited files.
+ */
 public class DelimitedDataTupleParser extends AbstractTupleParser {
 
-	protected final IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories;
-	protected final char fieldDelimiter;
-	protected final IHyracksTaskContext ctx;
-	protected final ARecordType recType;
-	protected ArrayTupleBuilder tb = new ArrayTupleBuilder(1);
-	protected DataOutput recDos = tb.getDataOutput();
-	protected final FrameTupleAppender appender;
-	protected final ByteBuffer frame;
-	
+    private final DelimitedDataParser dataParser;
 
-	public DelimitedDataTupleParser(IHyracksTaskContext ctx,
-			ARecordType recType, IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories,
-			char fieldDelimter) {
-		this.valueParserFactories = valueParserFactories;
-		this.fieldDelimiter = fieldDelimter;
-		this.ctx = ctx;
-		this.recType = recType;
-		appender = new FrameTupleAppender(ctx.getFrameSize());
-		frame = ctx.allocateFrame();
-	}
+    public DelimitedDataTupleParser(IHyracksTaskContext ctx, ARecordType recType,
+            IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories, char fieldDelimter) {
+        super(ctx, recType);
+        dataParser = new DelimitedDataParser(recType, valueParserFactories, fieldDelimter);
+    }
 
-	@Override
-	public void parse(InputStream in, IFrameWriter writer)
-			throws HyracksDataException {
-		try {
-			IValueParser[] valueParsers = new IValueParser[valueParserFactories.length];
-			for (int i = 0; i < valueParserFactories.length; ++i) {
-				valueParsers[i] = valueParserFactories[i].createValueParser();
-			}
-		
-			appender.reset(frame, true);
-			
-
-			ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-			DataOutput fieldValueBufferOutput = fieldValueBuffer
-					.getDataOutput();
-			IARecordBuilder recBuilder = new RecordBuilder();
-			recBuilder.reset(recType);
-			recBuilder.init();
-
-			int n = recType.getFieldNames().length;
-			byte[] fieldTypeTags = new byte[n];
-			for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-				ATypeTag tag = recType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag();
-				fieldTypeTags[i] = tag.serialize();
-			}
-
-			int[] fldIds = new int[n];
-			ArrayBackedValueStorage[] nameBuffers = new ArrayBackedValueStorage[n];
-			AMutableString str = new AMutableString(null);
-			for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-				String name = recType.getFieldNames()[i];
-				fldIds[i] = recBuilder.getFieldId(name);
-				if (fldIds[i] < 0) {
-					if (!recType.isOpen()) {
-						throw new HyracksDataException("Illegal field " + name
-								+ " in closed type " + recType);
-					} else {
-						nameBuffers[i] = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-						fieldNameToBytes(name, str, nameBuffers[i]);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-
-			FieldCursor cursor = new FieldCursor(new InputStreamReader(in));
-			while (cursor.nextRecord()) {
-				tb.reset();
-				recBuilder.reset(recType);
-				recBuilder.init();
-
-				for (int i = 0; i < valueParsers.length; ++i) {
-					if (!cursor.nextField()) {
-						break;
-					}
-					fieldValueBuffer.reset();
-					fieldValueBufferOutput.writeByte(fieldTypeTags[i]);
-					valueParsers[i]
-							.parse(cursor.buffer, cursor.fStart, cursor.fEnd
-									- cursor.fStart, fieldValueBufferOutput);
-					if (fldIds[i] < 0) {
-						recBuilder.addField(nameBuffers[i], fieldValueBuffer);
-					} else {
-						recBuilder.addField(fldIds[i], fieldValueBuffer);
-					}
-				}
-				recBuilder.write(recDos, true);
-				tb.addFieldEndOffset();
-
-				if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(),
-						tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-					FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-					appender.reset(frame, true);
-					if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(),
-							tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-						throw new IllegalStateException();
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			if (appender.getTupleCount() > 0) {
-				FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-			}
-		} catch (IOException e) {
-			throw new HyracksDataException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	protected void fieldNameToBytes(String fieldName, AMutableString str,
-			ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer) throws HyracksDataException {
-		buffer.reset();
-		DataOutput out = buffer.getDataOutput();
-		str.setValue(fieldName);
-		try {
-			stringSerde.serialize(str, out);
-		} catch (IOException e) {
-			throw new HyracksDataException(e);
-		}
-	}
-
-	protected enum State {
-		INIT, IN_RECORD, EOR, CR, EOF
-	}
-
-	protected class FieldCursor {
-		private static final int INITIAL_BUFFER_SIZE = 4096;
-		private static final int INCREMENT = 4096;
-
-		private final Reader in;
-
-		private char[] buffer;
-		private int start;
-		private int end;
-		private State state;
-
-		private int fStart;
-		private int fEnd;
-
-		public FieldCursor(Reader in) {
-			this.in = in;
-			buffer = new char[INITIAL_BUFFER_SIZE];
-			start = 0;
-			end = 0;
-			state = State.INIT;
-		}
-
-		public boolean nextRecord() throws IOException {
-			while (true) {
-				switch (state) {
-				case INIT:
-					boolean eof = !readMore();
-					if (eof) {
-						state = State.EOF;
-						return false;
-					} else {
-						state = State.IN_RECORD;
-						return true;
-					}
-
-				case IN_RECORD:
-					int p = start;
-					while (true) {
-						if (p >= end) {
-							int s = start;
-							eof = !readMore();
-							if (eof) {
-								state = State.EOF;
-								return start < end;
-							}
-							p -= (s - start);
-						}
-						char ch = buffer[p];
-						if (ch == '\n') {
-							start = p + 1;
-							state = State.EOR;
-							break;
-						} else if (ch == '\r') {
-							start = p + 1;
-							state = State.CR;
-							break;
-						}
-						++p;
-					}
-					break;
-
-				case CR:
-					if (start >= end) {
-						eof = !readMore();
-						if (eof) {
-							state = State.EOF;
-							return false;
-						}
-					}
-					char ch = buffer[start];
-					if (ch == '\n') {
-						++start;
-						state = State.EOR;
-					} else {
-						state = State.IN_RECORD;
-						return true;
-					}
-
-				case EOR:
-					if (start >= end) {
-						eof = !readMore();
-						if (eof) {
-							state = State.EOF;
-							return false;
-						}
-					}
-					state = State.IN_RECORD;
-					return start < end;
-
-				case EOF:
-					return false;
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		public boolean nextField() throws IOException {
-			switch (state) {
-			case INIT:
-			case EOR:
-			case EOF:
-			case CR:
-				return false;
-
-			case IN_RECORD:
-				boolean eof;
-				int p = start;
-				while (true) {
-					if (p >= end) {
-						int s = start;
-						eof = !readMore();
-						if (eof) {
-							state = State.EOF;
-							return true;
-						}
-						p -= (s - start);
-					}
-					char ch = buffer[p];
-					if (ch == fieldDelimiter) {
-						fStart = start;
-						fEnd = p;
-						start = p + 1;
-						return true;
-					} else if (ch == '\n') {
-						fStart = start;
-						fEnd = p;
-						start = p + 1;
-						state = State.EOR;
-						return true;
-					} else if (ch == '\r') {
-						fStart = start;
-						fEnd = p;
-						start = p + 1;
-						state = State.CR;
-						return true;
-					}
-					++p;
-				}
-			}
-			throw new IllegalStateException();
-		}
-
-		protected boolean readMore() throws IOException {
-			if (start > 0) {
-				System.arraycopy(buffer, start, buffer, 0, end - start);
-			}
-			end -= start;
-			start = 0;
-
-			if (end == buffer.length) {
-				buffer = Arrays.copyOf(buffer, buffer.length + INCREMENT);
-			}
-
-			int n = in.read(buffer, end, buffer.length - end);
-			if (n < 0) {
-				return false;
-			}
-			end += n;
-			return true;
-		}
-
-		public int getfStart() {
-			return fStart;
-		}
-
-		public void setfStart(int fStart) {
-			this.fStart = fStart;
-		}
-
-		public int getfEnd() {
-			return fEnd;
-		}
-
-		public void setfEnd(int fEnd) {
-			this.fEnd = fEnd;
-		}
-
-		public char[] getBuffer() {
-			return buffer;
-		}
-	}
+    @Override
+    public IDataParser getDataParser() {
+        return dataParser;
+    }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/IDataParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/IDataParser.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f23aeac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/IDataParser.java
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
+
+/**
+ * Interface implemented by a parser
+ */
+public interface IDataParser {
+
+    /**
+     * Initialize the parser prior to actual parsing.
+     * 
+     * @param in
+     *            input stream to be parsed
+     * @param recordType
+     *            record type associated with input data
+     * @param datasetRec
+     *            boolean flag set to true if input data represents dataset
+     *            records.
+     * @throws AsterixException
+     * @throws IOException
+     */
+    public void initialize(InputStream in, ARecordType recordType, boolean datasetRec) throws AsterixException,
+            IOException;
+
+    /**
+     * Parse data from source input stream and output ADM records.
+     * 
+     * @param out
+     *            DataOutput instance that for writing the parser output.
+     * @return
+     * @throws AsterixException
+     * @throws IOException
+     */
+    public boolean parse(DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException;
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory.java
index 0c93d86..86fba12 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory.java
@@ -1,42 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2012 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file;
 
-import java.io.DataOutput;
-import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.InputStream;
-import java.io.InputStreamReader;
-import java.io.Reader;
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-import java.util.Arrays;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.comm.IFrameWriter;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.ArrayTupleBuilder;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAppender;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.util.FrameUtils;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.IValueParser;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.parsers.IValueParserFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.file.ITupleParser;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.file.ITupleParserFactory;
 
+/**
+ * A tuple parser factory for creating a tuple parser capable of parsing
+ * delimited data.
+ */
 public class NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory implements ITupleParserFactory {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
     protected ARecordType recordType;
     protected IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories;
     protected char fieldDelimiter;
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-    private ISerializerDeserializer<AString> stringSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ASTRING);
 
     public NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory(ARecordType recordType, IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories,
             char fieldDelimiter) {
@@ -47,271 +39,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public ITupleParser createTupleParser(final IHyracksTaskContext ctx) {
-        return new ITupleParser() {
-            @Override
-            public void parse(InputStream in, IFrameWriter writer) throws HyracksDataException {
-                try {
-                    IValueParser[] valueParsers = new IValueParser[valueParserFactories.length];
-                    for (int i = 0; i < valueParserFactories.length; ++i) {
-                        valueParsers[i] = valueParserFactories[i].createValueParser();
-                    }
-                    ByteBuffer frame = ctx.allocateFrame();
-                    FrameTupleAppender appender = new FrameTupleAppender(ctx.getFrameSize());
-                    appender.reset(frame, true);
-                    ArrayTupleBuilder tb = new ArrayTupleBuilder(1);
-                    DataOutput recDos = tb.getDataOutput();
-
-                    ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValueBuffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    DataOutput fieldValueBufferOutput = fieldValueBuffer.getDataOutput();
-                    IARecordBuilder recBuilder = new RecordBuilder();
-                    recBuilder.reset(recordType);
-                    recBuilder.init();
-
-                    int n = recordType.getFieldNames().length;
-                    byte[] fieldTypeTags = new byte[n];
-                    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-                        ATypeTag tag = recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag();
-                        fieldTypeTags[i] = tag.serialize();
-                    }
-
-                    int[] fldIds = new int[n];
-                    ArrayBackedValueStorage[] nameBuffers = new ArrayBackedValueStorage[n];
-                    AMutableString str = new AMutableString(null);
-                    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-                        String name = recordType.getFieldNames()[i];
-                        fldIds[i] = recBuilder.getFieldId(name);
-                        if (fldIds[i] < 0) {
-                            if (!recordType.isOpen()) {
-                                throw new HyracksDataException("Illegal field " + name + " in closed type "
-                                        + recordType);
-                            } else {
-                                nameBuffers[i] = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                                fieldNameToBytes(name, str, nameBuffers[i]);
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    FieldCursor cursor = new FieldCursor(new InputStreamReader(in));
-                    while (cursor.nextRecord()) {
-                        tb.reset();
-                        recBuilder.reset(recordType);
-                        recBuilder.init();
-
-                        for (int i = 0; i < valueParsers.length; ++i) {
-                            if (!cursor.nextField()) {
-                                break;
-                            }
-                            fieldValueBuffer.reset();
-                            fieldValueBufferOutput.writeByte(fieldTypeTags[i]);
-                            valueParsers[i].parse(cursor.buffer, cursor.fStart, cursor.fEnd - cursor.fStart,
-                                    fieldValueBufferOutput);
-                            if (fldIds[i] < 0) {
-                                recBuilder.addField(nameBuffers[i], fieldValueBuffer);
-                            } else {
-                                recBuilder.addField(fldIds[i], fieldValueBuffer);
-                            }
-                        }
-                        recBuilder.write(recDos, true);
-                        tb.addFieldEndOffset();
-
-                        if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(), tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-                            FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-                            appender.reset(frame, true);
-                            if (!appender.append(tb.getFieldEndOffsets(), tb.getByteArray(), 0, tb.getSize())) {
-                                throw new IllegalStateException();
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                    if (appender.getTupleCount() > 0) {
-                        FrameUtils.flushFrame(frame, writer);
-                    }
-                } catch (IOException e) {
-                    throw new HyracksDataException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-            private void fieldNameToBytes(String fieldName, AMutableString str, ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer)
-                    throws HyracksDataException {
-                buffer.reset();
-                DataOutput out = buffer.getDataOutput();
-                str.setValue(fieldName);
-                try {
-                    stringSerde.serialize(str, out);
-                } catch (IOException e) {
-                    throw new HyracksDataException(e);
-                }
-            }
-
-        };
-    }
-
-    private enum State {
-        INIT,
-        IN_RECORD,
-        EOR,
-        CR,
-        EOF
-    }
-
-    private class FieldCursor {
-        private static final int INITIAL_BUFFER_SIZE = 4096;
-        private static final int INCREMENT = 4096;
-
-        private final Reader in;
-
-        private char[] buffer;
-        private int start;
-        private int end;
-        private State state;
-
-        private int fStart;
-        private int fEnd;
-
-        public FieldCursor(Reader in) {
-            this.in = in;
-            buffer = new char[INITIAL_BUFFER_SIZE];
-            start = 0;
-            end = 0;
-            state = State.INIT;
-        }
-
-        public boolean nextRecord() throws IOException {
-            while (true) {
-                switch (state) {
-                    case INIT:
-                        boolean eof = !readMore();
-                        if (eof) {
-                            state = State.EOF;
-                            return false;
-                        } else {
-                            state = State.IN_RECORD;
-                            return true;
-                        }
-
-                    case IN_RECORD:
-                        int p = start;
-                        while (true) {
-                            if (p >= end) {
-                                int s = start;
-                                eof = !readMore();
-                                if (eof) {
-                                    state = State.EOF;
-                                    return start < end;
-                                }
-                                p -= (s - start);
-                            }
-                            char ch = buffer[p];
-                            if (ch == '\n') {
-                                start = p + 1;
-                                state = State.EOR;
-                                break;
-                            } else if (ch == '\r') {
-                                start = p + 1;
-                                state = State.CR;
-                                break;
-                            }
-                            ++p;
-                        }
-                        break;
-
-                    case CR:
-                        if (start >= end) {
-                            eof = !readMore();
-                            if (eof) {
-                                state = State.EOF;
-                                return false;
-                            }
-                        }
-                        char ch = buffer[start];
-                        if (ch == '\n') {
-                            ++start;
-                            state = State.EOR;
-                        } else {
-                            state = State.IN_RECORD;
-                            return true;
-                        }
-
-                    case EOR:
-                        if (start >= end) {
-                            eof = !readMore();
-                            if (eof) {
-                                state = State.EOF;
-                                return false;
-                            }
-                        }
-                        state = State.IN_RECORD;
-                        return start < end;
-
-                    case EOF:
-                        return false;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        public boolean nextField() throws IOException {
-            switch (state) {
-                case INIT:
-                case EOR:
-                case EOF:
-                case CR:
-                    return false;
-
-                case IN_RECORD:
-                    boolean eof;
-                    int p = start;
-                    while (true) {
-                        if (p >= end) {
-                            int s = start;
-                            eof = !readMore();
-                            if (eof) {
-                                state = State.EOF;
-                                return true;
-                            }
-                            p -= (s - start);
-                        }
-                        char ch = buffer[p];
-                        if (ch == fieldDelimiter) {
-                            fStart = start;
-                            fEnd = p;
-                            start = p + 1;
-                            return true;
-                        } else if (ch == '\n') {
-                            fStart = start;
-                            fEnd = p;
-                            start = p + 1;
-                            state = State.EOR;
-                            return true;
-                        } else if (ch == '\r') {
-                            fStart = start;
-                            fEnd = p;
-                            start = p + 1;
-                            state = State.CR;
-                            return true;
-                        }
-                        ++p;
-                    }
-            }
-            throw new IllegalStateException();
-        }
-
-        private boolean readMore() throws IOException {
-            if (start > 0) {
-                System.arraycopy(buffer, start, buffer, 0, end - start);
-            }
-            end -= start;
-            start = 0;
-
-            if (end == buffer.length) {
-                buffer = Arrays.copyOf(buffer, buffer.length + INCREMENT);
-            }
-
-            int n = in.read(buffer, end, buffer.length - end);
-            if (n < 0) {
-                return false;
-            }
-            end += n;
-            return true;
-        }
+        return new DelimitedDataTupleParser(ctx, recordType, valueParserFactories, fieldDelimiter);
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/std/NoTupleSourceRuntimeFactory.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/std/NoTupleSourceRuntimeFactory.java
index 11ea141..ee432f7 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/std/NoTupleSourceRuntimeFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/std/NoTupleSourceRuntimeFactory.java
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@
  */
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.std;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IPushRuntime;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IPushRuntimeFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.context.RuntimeContext;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.operators.base.AbstractOneInputSourcePushRuntime;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.IPushRuntime;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.IPushRuntimeFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.operators.base.AbstractOneInputSourcePushRuntime;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 
 public class NoTupleSourceRuntimeFactory implements IPushRuntimeFactory {
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IPushRuntime createPushRuntime(final RuntimeContext context) {
+    public IPushRuntime createPushRuntime(IHyracksTaskContext ctx) {
         return new AbstractOneInputSourcePushRuntime() {
 
             @Override
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/base/AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/base/AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
index c8f12f0..9be4046 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/base/AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/base/AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.runningaggregates.base;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionDescriptorTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor;
 
-public abstract class AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor implements
-        IRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public abstract class AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends AbstractFunctionDescriptor {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
     public FunctionDescriptorTag getFunctionDescriptorTag() {
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/std/TidRunningAggregateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/std/TidRunningAggregateDescriptor.java
index 34c6da9..a43b9bf 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/std/TidRunningAggregateDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/runningaggregates/std/TidRunningAggregateDescriptor.java
@@ -2,43 +2,49 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AInt32;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.runningaggregates.base.AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IRunningAggregateFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IRunningAggregateFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyRunningAggregateFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyRunningAggregateFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class TidRunningAggregateDescriptor extends AbstractRunningAggregateFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "tid", 0, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new TidRunningAggregateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
-    public IRunningAggregateFunctionFactory createRunningAggregateFunctionFactory(IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyRunningAggregateFunctionFactory createRunningAggregateFunctionFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
 
-        return new IRunningAggregateFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyRunningAggregateFunctionFactory() {
 
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
             @Override
-            public IRunningAggregateFunction createRunningAggregateFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyRunningAggregateFunction createRunningAggregateFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 final DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new IRunningAggregateFunction() {
+                return new ICopyRunningAggregateFunction() {
 
                     int cnt;
                     ISerializerDeserializer<AInt32> serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
@@ -68,7 +74,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.TID;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/base/AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/base/AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
index 52a44ae..bcab30f 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/base/AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/base/AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor.java
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.base;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionDescriptorTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor;
 
-public abstract class AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor implements IUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+public abstract class AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor extends AbstractFunctionDescriptor {
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
     public FunctionDescriptorTag getFunctionDescriptorTag() {
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/RangeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/RangeDescriptor.java
index 1865017..dade5b19 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/RangeDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/RangeDescriptor.java
@@ -2,21 +2,23 @@
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableInt32;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.base.AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
@@ -24,32 +26,36 @@
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "range", 2, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new RangeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.RANGE;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IUnnestingFunctionFactory createUnnestingFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory createUnnestingFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IUnnestingFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory() {
 
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IUnnestingFunction createUnnestingFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
+            public ICopyUnnestingFunction createUnnestingFunction(final IDataOutputProvider provider)
                     throws AlgebricksException {
-                return new IUnnestingFunction() {
+                return new ICopyUnnestingFunction() {
 
                     private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
-                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer serde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.AINT32);
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private IEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
                     private AMutableInt32 aInt32 = new AMutableInt32(0);
                     private int current;
                     private int max;
@@ -58,10 +64,10 @@
                     public void init(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                         inputVal.reset();
                         eval0.evaluate(tuple);
-                        current = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                        current = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                         inputVal.reset();
                         eval1.evaluate(tuple);
-                        max = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                        max = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
                     }
 
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/ScanCollectionDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/ScanCollectionDescriptor.java
index a325d96..c70cdf8 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/ScanCollectionDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/ScanCollectionDescriptor.java
@@ -1,147 +1,105 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.std;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.common.AsterixListAccessor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.base.AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 
 public class ScanCollectionDescriptor extends AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "scan-collection", 1, true);
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ScanCollectionDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SCAN_COLLECTION;
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IUnnestingFunctionFactory createUnnestingFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
+    public ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory createUnnestingFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) {
         return new ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory(args[0]);
     }
 
-    private static class ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory implements IUnnestingFunctionFactory {
+    public static class ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory implements ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory {
 
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+        private ICopyEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory;
 
-        private IEvaluatorFactory listEvalFactory;
-        private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
-        private final static byte SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST.serialize();
-        private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
-        private ATypeTag itemTag;
-        private byte serItemTypeTag;
-        private boolean selfDescList = false;
-
-        public ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory(IEvaluatorFactory arg) {
+        public ScanCollectionUnnestingFunctionFactory(ICopyEvaluatorFactory arg) {
             this.listEvalFactory = arg;
         }
 
         @Override
-        public IUnnestingFunction createUnnestingFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider) throws AlgebricksException {
+        public ICopyUnnestingFunction createUnnestingFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider) throws AlgebricksException {
 
             final DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
 
-            return new IUnnestingFunction() {
+            return new ICopyUnnestingFunction() {
 
+                private final AsterixListAccessor listAccessor = new AsterixListAccessor();
                 private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                private IEvaluator argEval = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-                private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
-                        .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
-                private int numItems;
-                private int pos;
-                private int itemOffset;
-                private int itemLength;
-                private byte serListTag;
+                private ICopyEvaluator argEval = listEvalFactory.createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                private int itemIndex;
 
                 @Override
                 public void init(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                     try {
                         inputVal.reset();
                         argEval.evaluate(tuple);
-                        byte[] serList = inputVal.getBytes();
-
-                        if (serList[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
-                            return;
-                        }
-
-                        if (serList[0] != SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG && serList[0] != SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException("Scan collection is not defined for values of type"
-                                    + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[0]));
-                        }
-
-                        serListTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(inputVal.getBytes()[0])
-                                .serialize();
-                        if (serListTag == SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG)
-                            numItems = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
-                        else
-                            numItems = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getNumberOfItems(inputVal.getBytes());
-
-                        itemTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[1]);
-                        if (itemTag == ATypeTag.ANY)
-                            selfDescList = true;
-                        else
-                            serItemTypeTag = serList[1];
-
-                        pos = 0;
-                    } catch (IOException e) {
+                        listAccessor.reset(inputVal.getByteArray(), 0);
+                        itemIndex = 0;
+                    } catch (AsterixException e) {
                         throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                     }
                 }
 
                 @Override
                 public boolean step() throws AlgebricksException {
-
                     try {
-                        if (pos < numItems) {
-                            byte[] serList = inputVal.getBytes();
-
-                            try {
-                                if (serListTag == SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG) {
-                                    itemOffset = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getItemOffset(serList, pos);
-                                } else {
-                                    itemOffset = AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer.getItemOffset(serList, pos);
-                                }
-                                if (selfDescList)
-                                    itemTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serList[itemOffset]);
-                                itemLength = NonTaggedFormatUtil.getFieldValueLength(serList, itemOffset, itemTag,
-                                        selfDescList);
-                                if (!selfDescList)
-                                    out.writeByte(serItemTypeTag);
-                                out.write(serList, itemOffset, itemLength + (!selfDescList ? 0 : 1));
-                            } catch (AsterixException e) {
-                                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
-                            }
-                            ++pos;
+                        if (itemIndex < listAccessor.size()) {
+                            listAccessor.writeItem(itemIndex, out);
+                            ++itemIndex;
                             return true;
-                        } else
-                            return false;
-
+                        }
                     } catch (IOException e) {
                         throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                    } catch (AsterixException e) {
+                        throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                     }
+                    return false;
                 }
 
             };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/SubsetCollectionDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/SubsetCollectionDescriptor.java
index 9ca8512..67b0e9f 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/SubsetCollectionDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/unnestingfunctions/std/SubsetCollectionDescriptor.java
@@ -4,57 +4,64 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionConstants;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.AUnorderedListSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.unnestingfunctions.base.AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IEvaluatorFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunction;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.runtime.base.IUnnestingFunctionFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.api.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.IntegerSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class SubsetCollectionDescriptor extends AbstractUnnestingFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private final static FunctionIdentifier FID = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
-            "subset-collection", 3, true);
 
     private final static byte SER_ORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.ORDEREDLIST.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_UNORDEREDLIST_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.UNORDEREDLIST.serialize();
     private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
 
+    public static final IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new SubsetCollectionDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
     @Override
-    public IUnnestingFunctionFactory createUnnestingFunctionFactory(final IEvaluatorFactory[] args)
+    public ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory createUnnestingFunctionFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args)
             throws AlgebricksException {
-        return new IUnnestingFunctionFactory() {
+        return new ICopyUnnestingFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
             @Override
-            public IUnnestingFunction createUnnestingFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider) throws AlgebricksException {
+            public ICopyUnnestingFunction createUnnestingFunction(IDataOutputProvider provider)
+                    throws AlgebricksException {
 
                 final DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
 
-                return new IUnnestingFunction() {
+                return new ICopyUnnestingFunction() {
                     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                     private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
                             .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private IEvaluator evalList = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private IEvaluator evalStart = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
-                    private IEvaluator evalLen = args[2].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalList = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalStart = args[1].createEvaluator(inputVal);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator evalLen = args[2].createEvaluator(inputVal);
                     private int numItems;
                     private int numItemsMax;
                     private int posStart;
@@ -67,16 +74,16 @@
                         try {
                             inputVal.reset();
                             evalStart.evaluate(tuple);
-                            posStart = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                            posStart = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                             inputVal.reset();
                             evalLen.evaluate(tuple);
-                            numItems = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getBytes(), 1);
+                            numItems = IntegerSerializerDeserializer.getInt(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
 
                             inputVal.reset();
                             evalList.evaluate(tuple);
 
-                            byte[] serList = inputVal.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serList = inputVal.getByteArray();
 
                             if (serList[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
                                 nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
@@ -105,7 +112,7 @@
                     @Override
                     public boolean step() throws AlgebricksException {
                         if (posCrt < posStart + numItems && posCrt < numItemsMax) {
-                            byte[] serList = inputVal.getBytes();
+                            byte[] serList = inputVal.getByteArray();
                             int itemLength = 0;
                             try {
                                 int itemOffset = AOrderedListSerializerDeserializer.getItemOffset(serList, posCrt);
@@ -133,7 +140,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
-        return FID;
+        return AsterixBuiltinFunctions.SUBSET_COLLECTION;
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/javacc/AdmLexer.jj b/asterix-runtime/src/main/javacc/AdmLexer.jj
deleted file mode 100644
index fbab62f..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/javacc/AdmLexer.jj
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,150 +0,0 @@
-options {
-
-	  
-       STATIC = false;
-	
-}
-
-PARSER_BEGIN(AdmLexer)
-
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser;
-
-import java.io.*;
-
-public class AdmLexer {
-
-	public static void main(String args[]) throws ParseException, TokenMgrError, IOException, FileNotFoundException {
-	   	File file = new File(args[0]);
-		Reader freader =  new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader 
-		         (new FileInputStream(file), "UTF-8"));		
-		AdmLexer flexer = new AdmLexer(freader);
-		Token t = null;
-		do {
-		   t = flexer.next();		   
-		   System.out.println(AdmLexerConstants.tokenImage[t.kind]);
-		} while (t.kind != EOF);
-	    freader.close();
-	}
-	
-	public Token next() throws ParseException {
-	   return getNextToken();
-	}
-	
-	public String tokenKindToString(int tokenKind) {
-	   return AdmLexerConstants.tokenImage[tokenKind];
-	}
-}
-
-PARSER_END(AdmLexer)
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<NULL_LITERAL : "null">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<TRUE_LITERAL : "true">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<FALSE_LITERAL : "false">
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<INTEGER_LITERAL : ("-")? (<DIGIT>)+ >
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<#DIGIT : ["0" - "9"]>
-}
-
-
-TOKEN:
-{
-  < DOUBLE_LITERAL: 
-	      ("-")? <INTEGER> ( "." <INTEGER> )? (<EXPONENT>)? 
-	    | ("-")? "." <INTEGER>
-  >
-  | < #EXPONENT: ["e","E"] (["+","-"])? (["0"-"9"])+ >
-	| <INTEGER : (<DIGIT>)+ >
-	| <FLOAT_LITERAL: <DOUBLE_LITERAL>("f"|"F")>
- }
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<STRING_LITERAL : ("\"" (<EscapeQuot> | ~["\""])* "\"") >
-	|
-	< #EscapeQuot: "\\\"" >
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<START_RECORD : "{">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<END_RECORD : "}">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<COMMA : ",">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<COLON : ":">
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<START_ORDERED_LIST : "[">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<END_ORDERED_LIST : "]">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<START_UNORDERED_LIST : "{{">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<END_UNORDERED_LIST : "}}">
-}
-
-
-
-
-SKIP:
-{
-    " "
-|   "\t"
-|   "\r"
-|   "\n"
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/javacc/nontagged/AdmLexer.jj b/asterix-runtime/src/main/javacc/nontagged/AdmLexer.jj
deleted file mode 100644
index f556d54..0000000
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/javacc/nontagged/AdmLexer.jj
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,362 +0,0 @@
-options {
-
-	  
-       STATIC = false;
-	
-}
-
-PARSER_BEGIN(AdmLexer)
-
-package edu.uci.ics.asterix.adm.parser.nontagged;
-
-import java.io.*;
-
-public class AdmLexer {
-
-	public static void main(String args[]) throws ParseException, TokenMgrError, IOException, FileNotFoundException {
-	   	File file = new File(args[0]);
-	   	Reader freader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader
-                      (new FileInputStream(file), "UTF-8"));
-		AdmLexer flexer = new AdmLexer(freader);
-		Token t = null;
-		do {
-		   t = flexer.next();		   
-		   System.out.println(AdmLexerConstants.tokenImage[t.kind]);
-		} while (t.kind != EOF);
-	    freader.close();
-	}
-	
-	public Token next() throws ParseException {
-	   return getNextToken();
-	}
-	
-	public String tokenKindToString(int tokenKind) {
-	   return AdmLexerConstants.tokenImage[tokenKind];
-	}
-}
-
-PARSER_END(AdmLexer)
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<NULL_LITERAL : "null">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<TRUE_LITERAL : "true">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<FALSE_LITERAL : "false">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<BOOLEAN_CONS : ("boolean") >	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN : ("(")>	
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE : (")")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN:
-{
-	<INT8_LITERAL : ("-" | "+")? (<DIGIT>)+ ("i8")>
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<INT8_CONS : ("int8") >	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN:
-{
-	<INT16_LITERAL : ("-" | "+")? (<DIGIT>)+ ("i16")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<INT16_CONS : ("int16") >	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<INT32_LITERAL : ("-" | "+")? (<DIGIT>)+ ("i32")>
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<INT32_CONS : ("int32")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN:
-{
-	<INT64_LITERAL : ("-" | "+")? (<DIGIT>)+ ("i64")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<INT64_CONS : ("int64") >	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN:
-{
-	<INT_LITERAL : ("-" | "+")? (<DIGIT>)+>
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<CIRCLE_LITERAL : "P"<DOUBLE_LITERAL>(",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> ("R") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> >	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<CIRCLE_CONS : ("circle") >	
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<TIMEZONE_LITERAL : (("+"|"-")<INTEGER>(":")<INTEGER>) | ("Z") >
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<DATE_LITERAL : ("-")?<INTEGER>("-")<INTEGER>("-")<INTEGER> (<TIMEZONE_LITERAL>)? >
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<DATE_CONS : ("date")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<TIME_LITERAL : <INTEGER>(":")<INTEGER>(":")<INTEGER> ( (":")<INTEGER>)? (<TIMEZONE_LITERAL>)? >
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<TIME_CONS : ("time")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<DATETIME_LITERAL : ("-")? <INTEGER>("-")<INTEGER>("-")<INTEGER>("T")<INTEGER>(":")<INTEGER>(":")<INTEGER> ( (":")<INTEGER>)? (<TIMEZONE_LITERAL>)?>
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<DATETIME_CONS : ("datetime")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<DURATION_LITERAL : ("-")? ("D")(<INTEGER>("Y"))?(<INTEGER>("M"))?(<INTEGER>("D"))?(("T")(<INTEGER>("H"))?(<INTEGER>("M"))?(<INTEGER>("S"))?)?>
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<DURATION_CONS : ("duration")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<#DIGIT : ["0" - "9"]>
-}
-
-TOKEN:
-{
-  < DOUBLE_LITERAL: 
-	      ("-" | "+")? <INTEGER> ( "." <INTEGER> )? (<EXPONENT>)? 
-	    | ("-" | "+")? "." <INTEGER>
-  >
-  | < #EXPONENT: ["e","E"] (["+","-"])? (["0"-"9"])+ >
-	| <INTEGER : (<DIGIT>)+ >
-	| <FLOAT_LITERAL: <DOUBLE_LITERAL>("f"|"F")>
- }
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<FLOAT_CONS : ("float")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<DOUBLE_CONS : ("double")>	
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<STRING_LITERAL : ("\"" (<EscapeQuot> | ~["\""])* "\"") >
-	|
-	< #EscapeQuot: "\\\"" >
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<STRING_CONS : ("string")>	
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<POINT_LITERAL : "P"<DOUBLE_LITERAL>(",")<DOUBLE_LITERAL>>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<POINT_CONS : ("point")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<POINT3D_LITERAL : "P" <DOUBLE_LITERAL>(",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> (",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL>>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<POINT3D_CONS : ("point3d")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<LINE_LITERAL : "P"<DOUBLE_LITERAL>(",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> ("P") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> (",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL>>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<LINE_CONS : ("line")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<POLYGON_LITERAL : "P"<DOUBLE_LITERAL>(",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> ("P") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> (",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> (("P") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> (",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL>)+>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<POLYGON_CONS : ("polygon")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<RECTANGLE_CONS : ("rectangle")>	
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<RECTANGLE_LITERAL : "P"<DOUBLE_LITERAL>(",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> ("P") <DOUBLE_LITERAL> (",") <DOUBLE_LITERAL>>		
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<START_RECORD : "{">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<END_RECORD : "}">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<COMMA : ",">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<COLON : ":">
-}
-
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<START_ORDERED_LIST : "[">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<END_ORDERED_LIST : "]">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<START_UNORDERED_LIST : "{{">
-}
-
-<DEFAULT>
-TOKEN :
-{
-	<END_UNORDERED_LIST : "}}">
-}
-
-
-
-
-SKIP:
-{
-    " "
-|   "\t"
-|   "\r"
-|   "\n"
-}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/resources/adm.grammar b/asterix-runtime/src/main/resources/adm.grammar
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d4158f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/resources/adm.grammar
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# LEXER GENERATOR configuration file
+# ---------------------------------------
+# Place *first* the generic configuration
+# then list your grammar.
+
+PACKAGE:          edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file.adm
+LEXER_NAME:       AdmLexer
+
+TOKENS:
+
+BOOLEAN_CONS   = string(boolean)
+INT8_CONS      = string(int8)
+INT16_CONS     = string(int16)
+INT32_CONS     = string(int32)
+INT64_CONS     = string(int64)
+FLOAT_CONS     = string(float)
+DOUBLE_CONS    = string(double)
+DATE_CONS      = string(date)
+DATETIME_CONS  = string(datetime)
+DURATION_CONS  = string(duration)
+STRING_CONS    = string(string)
+POINT_CONS     = string(point)
+POINT3D_CONS   = string(point3d)
+LINE_CONS      = string(line)
+POLYGON_CONS   = string(polygon)
+RECTANGLE_CONS = string(rectangle)
+CIRCLE_CONS    = string(circle)
+TIME_CONS      = string(time)
+INTERVAL_TIME_CONS      = string(interval-time)
+INTERVAL_DATE_CONS      = string(interval-date)
+INTERVAL_DATETIME_CONS  = string(interval-datetime)
+
+NULL_LITERAL   = string(null)
+TRUE_LITERAL   = string(true)
+FALSE_LITERAL  = string(false)
+
+CONSTRUCTOR_OPEN     = char(()
+CONSTRUCTOR_CLOSE    = char())
+START_RECORD         = char({)
+END_RECORD           = char(})
+COMMA                = char(\,)
+COLON                = char(:)
+START_ORDERED_LIST   = char([)
+END_ORDERED_LIST     = char(])
+START_UNORDERED_LIST = string({{)
+END_UNORDERED_LIST   = string(}})
+
+STRING_LITERAL       = char("), anythingUntil(")
+
+INT_LITERAL          = signOrNothing(), digitSequence()
+INT8_LITERAL         = token(INT_LITERAL), string(i8)
+INT16_LITERAL        = token(INT_LITERAL), string(i16)
+INT32_LITERAL        = token(INT_LITERAL), string(i32)
+INT64_LITERAL        = token(INT_LITERAL), string(i64)
+
+@EXPONENT            = caseInsensitiveChar(e), signOrNothing(), digitSequence()
+
+DOUBLE_LITERAL		 = signOrNothing(), char(.), digitSequence()
+DOUBLE_LITERAL		 = signOrNothing(), digitSequence(), char(.), digitSequence()
+DOUBLE_LITERAL		 = signOrNothing(), digitSequence(), char(.), digitSequence(), token(@EXPONENT)
+DOUBLE_LITERAL		 = signOrNothing(), digitSequence(), token(@EXPONENT)
+
+FLOAT_LITERAL		 = token(DOUBLE_LITERAL), caseInsensitiveChar(f)