diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/btree-example/btreeapp/pom.xml b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/btree-example/btreeapp/pom.xml
index e3f0590..737eaa0 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/btree-example/btreeapp/pom.xml
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/btree-example/btreeapp/pom.xml
@@ -11,6 +11,35 @@
   </parent>
 
   <build>
+    <pluginManagement>
+      <plugins>
+        <plugin>
+          <groupId>org.eclipse.m2e</groupId>
+          <artifactId>lifecycle-mapping</artifactId>
+          <version>1.0.0</version>
+          <configuration>
+            <lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+              <pluginExecutions>
+                <pluginExecution>
+                  <pluginExecutionFilter>
+                    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>maven-dependency-plugin</artifactId>
+                    <versionRange>[1.0.0,)</versionRange>
+                    <goals>
+                      <goal>copy-dependencies</goal>
+                    </goals>
+                  </pluginExecutionFilter>
+                  <action>
+                    <ignore />
+                  </action>
+                </pluginExecution>
+              </pluginExecutions>
+            </lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+          </configuration>
+        </plugin>
+      </plugins>
+	</pluginManagement>
+  
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/hadoop-compat-example/hadoopcompatapp/pom.xml b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/hadoop-compat-example/hadoopcompatapp/pom.xml
index 0d3ab7f..5fc56a1 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/hadoop-compat-example/hadoopcompatapp/pom.xml
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/hadoop-compat-example/hadoopcompatapp/pom.xml
@@ -11,6 +11,35 @@
   </parent>
 
   <build>
+    <pluginManagement>
+      <plugins>
+        <plugin>
+          <groupId>org.eclipse.m2e</groupId>
+          <artifactId>lifecycle-mapping</artifactId>
+          <version>1.0.0</version>
+          <configuration>
+            <lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+              <pluginExecutions>
+                <pluginExecution>
+                  <pluginExecutionFilter>
+                    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>maven-dependency-plugin</artifactId>
+                    <versionRange>[1.0.0,)</versionRange>
+                    <goals>
+                      <goal>copy-dependencies</goal>
+                    </goals>
+                  </pluginExecutionFilter>
+                  <action>
+                    <ignore />
+                  </action>
+                </pluginExecution>
+              </pluginExecutions>
+            </lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+          </configuration>
+        </plugin>
+      </plugins>
+	</pluginManagement>
+  
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/text-example/textapp/pom.xml b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/text-example/textapp/pom.xml
index 269ef2b..dd1b5ae 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/text-example/textapp/pom.xml
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/text-example/textapp/pom.xml
@@ -11,6 +11,35 @@
   </parent>
 
   <build>
+    <pluginManagement>
+      <plugins>
+        <plugin>
+          <groupId>org.eclipse.m2e</groupId>
+          <artifactId>lifecycle-mapping</artifactId>
+          <version>1.0.0</version>
+          <configuration>
+            <lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+              <pluginExecutions>
+                <pluginExecution>
+                  <pluginExecutionFilter>
+                    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>maven-dependency-plugin</artifactId>
+                    <versionRange>[1.0.0,)</versionRange>
+                    <goals>
+                      <goal>copy-dependencies</goal>
+                    </goals>
+                  </pluginExecutionFilter>
+                  <action>
+                    <ignore />
+                  </action>
+                </pluginExecution>
+              </pluginExecutions>
+            </lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+          </configuration>
+        </plugin>
+      </plugins>
+	</pluginManagement>
+  
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/tpch-example/tpchapp/pom.xml b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/tpch-example/tpchapp/pom.xml
index 5e11a20..3ea1e99 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-examples/tpch-example/tpchapp/pom.xml
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-examples/tpch-example/tpchapp/pom.xml
@@ -11,6 +11,35 @@
   </parent>
 
   <build>
+    <pluginManagement>
+      <plugins>
+        <plugin>
+          <groupId>org.eclipse.m2e</groupId>
+          <artifactId>lifecycle-mapping</artifactId>
+          <version>1.0.0</version>
+          <configuration>
+            <lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+              <pluginExecutions>
+                <pluginExecution>
+                  <pluginExecutionFilter>
+                    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>maven-dependency-plugin</artifactId>
+                    <versionRange>[1.0.0,)</versionRange>
+                    <goals>
+                      <goal>copy-dependencies</goal>
+                    </goals>
+                  </pluginExecutionFilter>
+                  <action>
+                    <ignore />
+                  </action>
+                </pluginExecution>
+              </pluginExecutions>
+            </lifecycleMappingMetadata>
+          </configuration>
+        </plugin>
+      </plugins>
+	</pluginManagement>
+  
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrame.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrame.java
index c0c6d49..ab3171b 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrame.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrame.java
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IFrameCompressor;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IPrefixSlotManager;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.compressors.FieldPrefixCompressor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeDuplicateKeyException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.FieldPrefixPrefixTupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.FieldPrefixSlotManager;
@@ -292,8 +293,18 @@
 
     @Override
     public int findTupleIndex(ITupleReference tuple, MultiComparator cmp) throws Exception {
-        return slotManager.findSlot(tuple, frameTuple, framePrefixTuple, cmp, FindTupleMode.FTM_INCLUSIVE,
+        int slot = slotManager.findSlot(tuple, frameTuple, framePrefixTuple, cmp, FindTupleMode.FTM_INCLUSIVE,
                 FindTupleNoExactMatchPolicy.FTP_HIGHER_KEY);
+        int tupleIndex = slotManager.decodeSecondSlotField(slot);
+        if (tupleIndex != FieldPrefixSlotManager.GREATEST_SLOT) {
+            frameTuple.setFieldCount(cmp.getFieldCount());
+            frameTuple.resetByTupleIndex(this, tupleIndex);
+            int comparison = cmp.fieldRangeCompare(tuple, frameTuple, 0, cmp.getKeyFieldCount());
+            if (comparison == 0) {
+                throw new BTreeDuplicateKeyException("Trying to insert duplicate key into leaf node.");
+            }
+        }
+        return slot;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -521,7 +532,7 @@
 
                     int bytesWritten = 0;
                     if (lastPrefixSlotNum != prefixSlotNum) {
-                        bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(framePrefixTuple, right, freeSpace);
+                        bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(framePrefixTuple, right.array(), freeSpace);
                         int newPrefixSlot = rf.slotManager
                                 .encodeSlotFields(framePrefixTuple.getFieldCount(), freeSpace);
                         int prefixSlotOff = rf.slotManager.getPrefixSlotOff(prefixSlotNum);
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrameFactory.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
index 05b43d3..70ac13a 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 public class BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrameFactory implements ITreeIndexFrameFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
+    private final ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
 
     public BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrameFactory(ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory) {
         this.tupleWriterFactory = tupleWriterFactory;
@@ -32,4 +32,9 @@
     public IBTreeLeafFrame createFrame() {
         return new BTreeFieldPrefixNSMLeafFrame(tupleWriterFactory.createTupleWriter());
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory getTupleWriterFactory() {
+       return tupleWriterFactory;
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java
index 5ddb43a..c3ea402 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ITupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeInteriorFrame;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeDuplicateKeyException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.RangePredicate;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ISplitKey;
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@
                 isDuplicate = false;
         }
         if (isDuplicate) {
-            throw new BTreeException("Trying to insert duplicate value into interior node.");
+            throw new BTreeDuplicateKeyException("Trying to insert duplicate key into interior node.");
         }
         return tupleIndex;
     }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java
index 6b30ee0..8618df8 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 public class BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory implements ITreeIndexFrameFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
+    private final ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
 
     public BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory(ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory) {
         this.tupleWriterFactory = tupleWriterFactory;
@@ -32,4 +32,9 @@
     public IBTreeInteriorFrame createFrame() {
         return new BTreeNSMInteriorFrame(tupleWriterFactory.createTupleWriter());
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory getTupleWriterFactory() {
+        return tupleWriterFactory;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrame.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrame.java
index ebb85a9..f726b86 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrame.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrame.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ITupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeLeafFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeDuplicateKeyException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ISplitKey;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndexFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndexTupleReference;
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
                 isDuplicate = false;
         }
         if (isDuplicate) {
-            throw new BTreeException("Trying to insert duplicate value into leaf of unique index");
+            throw new BTreeDuplicateKeyException("Trying to insert duplicate key into leaf node.");
         }
 
         return tupleIndex;
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
     public void insert(ITupleReference tuple, MultiComparator cmp, int tupleIndex) throws Exception {
         slotManager.insertSlot(tupleIndex, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff));
         int freeSpace = buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff);
-        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf, freeSpace);
+        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf.array(), freeSpace);
         buf.putInt(tupleCountOff, buf.getInt(tupleCountOff) + 1);
         buf.putInt(freeSpaceOff, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff) + bytesWritten);
         buf.putInt(totalFreeSpaceOff, buf.getInt(totalFreeSpaceOff) - bytesWritten - slotManager.getSlotSize());
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
     public void insertSorted(ITupleReference tuple, MultiComparator cmp) throws HyracksDataException {
         int freeSpace = buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff);
         slotManager.insertSlot(-1, freeSpace);
-        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf, freeSpace);
+        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf.array(), freeSpace);
         buf.putInt(tupleCountOff, buf.getInt(tupleCountOff) + 1);
         buf.putInt(freeSpaceOff, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff) + bytesWritten);
         buf.putInt(totalFreeSpaceOff, buf.getInt(totalFreeSpaceOff) - bytesWritten - slotManager.getSlotSize());
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
index d59b391..a56390b 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 public class BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory implements ITreeIndexFrameFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
+    private final ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
 
     public BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory(ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory) {
         this.tupleWriterFactory = tupleWriterFactory;
@@ -32,4 +32,9 @@
     public IBTreeLeafFrame createFrame() {
         return new BTreeNSMLeafFrame(tupleWriterFactory.createTupleWriter());
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory getTupleWriterFactory() {
+        return tupleWriterFactory;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeDuplicateKeyException.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeDuplicateKeyException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1aa7fff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeDuplicateKeyException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls;
+
+public class BTreeDuplicateKeyException extends BTreeException {
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    
+    public BTreeDuplicateKeyException(Exception e) {
+        super(e);
+    }
+    
+    public BTreeDuplicateKeyException(String message) {
+        super(message);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeException.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeException.java
index 8019bcb..1658989 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeException.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeException.java
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 
 public class BTreeException extends TreeIndexException {
 
-    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private boolean handled = false;
+    protected static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    protected boolean handled = false;
 
     public BTreeException(Exception e) {
         super(e);
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexFrameFactory.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexFrameFactory.java
index 83b95b6..32c77be 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexFrameFactory.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexFrameFactory.java
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@
 
 public interface ITreeIndexFrameFactory extends Serializable {
     public ITreeIndexFrame createFrame();
+    public ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory getTupleWriterFactory();
 }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexTupleWriter.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexTupleWriter.java
index 39577ea..f0bb7aa 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexTupleWriter.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/api/ITreeIndexTupleWriter.java
@@ -21,9 +21,12 @@
 
 public interface ITreeIndexTupleWriter {
     public int writeTuple(ITupleReference tuple, ByteBuffer targetBuf, int targetOff);
+    
+    public int writeTuple(ITupleReference tuple, byte[] targetBuf, int targetOff);
 
     public int bytesRequired(ITupleReference tuple);
 
+    // TODO: change to byte[] as well.
     public int writeTupleFields(ITupleReference tuple, int startField, int numFields, ByteBuffer targetBuf,
             int targetOff);
 
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/frames/TreeIndexNSMFrame.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/frames/TreeIndexNSMFrame.java
index af1e337..e6e08ef 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/frames/TreeIndexNSMFrame.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/frames/TreeIndexNSMFrame.java
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@
     @Override
     public void insert(ITupleReference tuple, MultiComparator cmp, int tupleIndex) throws Exception {
         slotManager.insertSlot(tupleIndex, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff));
-        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff));
+        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf.array(), buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff));
         buf.putInt(tupleCountOff, buf.getInt(tupleCountOff) + 1);
         buf.putInt(freeSpaceOff, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff) + bytesWritten);
         buf.putInt(totalFreeSpaceOff, buf.getInt(totalFreeSpaceOff) - bytesWritten - slotManager.getSlotSize());
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/SimpleTupleWriter.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/SimpleTupleWriter.java
index 1730c4a..a47b6c3 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/SimpleTupleWriter.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/SimpleTupleWriter.java
@@ -67,6 +67,13 @@
 
         return runner - targetOff;
     }
+    
+    @Override
+	public int writeTuple(ITupleReference tuple, byte[] targetBuf, int targetOff) {
+		// TODO Implement this.
+    	System.out.println("IN HERE HUHUHU");
+		return -1;
+	}
 
     @Override
     public int writeTupleFields(ITupleReference tuple, int startField, int numFields, ByteBuffer targetBuf,
@@ -106,5 +113,5 @@
 
     protected int getFieldSlotsBytes(ITupleReference tuple, int startField, int numFields) {
         return numFields * 2;
-    }
+    }	
 }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleReference.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleReference.java
index 4f571b3..91ceee1 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleReference.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleReference.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
     public TypeAwareTupleReference(ITypeTrait[] typeTraits) {
         this.typeTraits = typeTraits;
         this.fieldStartIndex = 0;
+        setFieldCount(typeTraits.length);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleWriter.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleWriter.java
index 81b48e5..56c4d10 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleWriter.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-common/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/common/tuples/TypeAwareTupleWriter.java
@@ -56,15 +56,20 @@
 
     @Override
     public int writeTuple(ITupleReference tuple, ByteBuffer targetBuf, int targetOff) {
+        return writeTuple(tuple, targetBuf.array(), targetOff);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int writeTuple(ITupleReference tuple, byte[] targetBuf, int targetOff) {
         int runner = targetOff;
         int nullFlagsBytes = getNullFlagsBytes(tuple);
         // write null indicator bits
         for (int i = 0; i < nullFlagsBytes; i++) {
-            targetBuf.put(runner++, (byte) 0);
+        	targetBuf[runner++] = (byte) 0;
         }
 
         // write field slots for variable length fields
-        encDec.reset(targetBuf.array(), runner);
+        encDec.reset(targetBuf, runner);
         for (int i = 0; i < tuple.getFieldCount(); i++) {
             if (typeTraits[i].getStaticallyKnownDataLength() == ITypeTrait.VARIABLE_LENGTH) {
                 encDec.encode(tuple.getFieldLength(i));
@@ -74,14 +79,14 @@
 
         // write data fields
         for (int i = 0; i < tuple.getFieldCount(); i++) {
-            System.arraycopy(tuple.getFieldData(i), tuple.getFieldStart(i), targetBuf.array(), runner,
+            System.arraycopy(tuple.getFieldData(i), tuple.getFieldStart(i), targetBuf, runner,
                     tuple.getFieldLength(i));
             runner += tuple.getFieldLength(i);
         }
 
         return runner - targetOff;
     }
-
+    
     @Override
     public int writeTupleFields(ITupleReference tuple, int startField, int numFields, ByteBuffer targetBuf,
             int targetOff) {
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java
index 6080c9d..18c0d38 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrame.java
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
             tupleIndex = findTupleByPointer(tuple, cmp);
         }
         if (tupleIndex != -1) {
-            tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf, getTupleOffset(tupleIndex));
+            tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf.array(), getTupleOffset(tupleIndex));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java
index 2a12e48..227d351 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory.java
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 public class RTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory implements ITreeIndexFrameFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
-    private int keyFieldCount;
+    private final ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
+    private final int keyFieldCount;
 
     public RTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory(ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory, int keyFieldCount) {
         this.tupleWriterFactory = tupleWriterFactory;
@@ -37,4 +37,9 @@
     public IRTreeInteriorFrame createFrame() {
         return new RTreeNSMInteriorFrame(tupleWriterFactory.createTupleWriter(), keyFieldCount);
     }
+
+	@Override
+	public ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory getTupleWriterFactory() {
+		return tupleWriterFactory;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrame.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrame.java
index 2cf7a97..ed366ca 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrame.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrame.java
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@
     public void insert(ITupleReference tuple, MultiComparator cmp, int tupleIndex) throws Exception {
         frameTuple.setFieldCount(cmp.getFieldCount());
         slotManager.insertSlot(-1, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff));
-        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff));
+        int bytesWritten = tupleWriter.writeTuple(tuple, buf.array(), buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff));
 
         buf.putInt(tupleCountOff, buf.getInt(tupleCountOff) + 1);
         buf.putInt(freeSpaceOff, buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff) + bytesWritten);
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
index 70c6456..d12c0b1 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/frames/RTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory.java
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 public class RTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory implements ITreeIndexFrameFactory {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
-    private ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
-    private int keyFieldCount;
+    private final ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory;
+    private final int keyFieldCount;
 
     public RTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory(ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory, int keyFieldCount) {
         this.tupleWriterFactory = tupleWriterFactory;
@@ -37,4 +37,9 @@
     public IRTreeLeafFrame createFrame() {
         return new RTreeNSMLeafFrame(tupleWriterFactory.createTupleWriter(), keyFieldCount);
     }
+
+	@Override
+	public ITreeIndexTupleWriterFactory getTupleWriterFactory() {
+		return tupleWriterFactory;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriter.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriter.java
index 96820c9..244c69e 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriter.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriter.java
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
         super(typeTraits);
     }
 
-    public int writeTupleFields(ITreeIndexTupleReference[] refs, int startField, ByteBuffer targetBuf, int targetOff) {
-        int runner = targetOff;
+    public int writeTupleFields(ITreeIndexTupleReference[] refs, int startField, ByteBuffer targetBuf, int targetOff) {        
+    	int runner = targetOff;
         int nullFlagsBytes = getNullFlagsBytes(refs.length);
         // write null indicator bits
         for (int i = 0; i < nullFlagsBytes; i++) {
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriterFactory.java b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriterFactory.java
index e2e99c7..a27d8cd 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriterFactory.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-rtree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/rtree/tuples/RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriterFactory.java
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@
         this.typeTraits = typeTraits;
     }
 
-    @Override
+    @Override    
     public ITreeIndexTupleWriter createTupleWriter() {
         return new RTreeTypeAwareTupleWriter(typeTraits);
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMTest.java b/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMTest.java
index 935a0ee..f155b2b 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMTest.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeFieldPrefixNSMTest.java
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
                 int a = rnd.nextInt() % smallMax;
                 int b = rnd.nextInt() % smallMax;
                 int c = i;
-
+                
                 ITupleReference tuple = createTuple(ctx, a, b, c, false);
                 try {
                     int targetTupleIndex = frame.findTupleIndex(tuple, cmp);
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
                 savedFields[i][2] = c;
 
                 if (rnd.nextInt() % compactFreq == 0) {
-                    before = frame.printKeys(cmp, sers);
+                    before = frame.printKeys(cmp, sers);                    
                     frame.compact(cmp);
                     after = frame.printKeys(cmp, sers);
                     Assert.assertEquals(before, after);
diff --git a/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeTest.java b/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeTest.java
index d94f22a..7d93761 100644
--- a/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeTest.java
+++ b/hyracks/hyracks-tests/hyracks-storage-am-btree-test/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/BTreeTest.java
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.impls.TreeDiskOrderScanCursor;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.ophelpers.IndexOp;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.ophelpers.MultiComparator;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.tuples.SimpleTupleWriterFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.tuples.TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.buffercache.IBufferCache;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.file.IFileMapProvider;
@@ -313,8 +312,6 @@
         MultiComparator cmp = new MultiComparator(typeTraits, cmps);
 
         TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory(typeTraits);
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory();
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory leafFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory interiorFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
         ITreeIndexMetaDataFrameFactory metaFrameFactory = new LIFOMetaDataFrameFactory();
@@ -499,9 +496,7 @@
 
         MultiComparator cmp = new MultiComparator(typeTraits, cmps);
 
-        SimpleTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new SimpleTupleWriterFactory();
-        // TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new
-        // TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory(typeTraits);
+        TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory(typeTraits);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory leafFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory interiorFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
         ITreeIndexMetaDataFrameFactory metaFrameFactory = new LIFOMetaDataFrameFactory();
@@ -674,8 +669,6 @@
 
         MultiComparator cmp = new MultiComparator(typeTraits, cmps);
 
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory();
         TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory(typeTraits);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory leafFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory interiorFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
@@ -836,8 +829,6 @@
 
         MultiComparator cmp = new MultiComparator(typeTraits, cmps);
 
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory();
         TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory(typeTraits);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory leafFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory interiorFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
@@ -991,8 +982,6 @@
         cmps[1] = IntegerBinaryComparatorFactory.INSTANCE.createBinaryComparator();
         MultiComparator cmp = new MultiComparator(typeTraits, cmps);
 
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new
-        // SimpleTupleWriterFactory();
         TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory tupleWriterFactory = new TypeAwareTupleWriterFactory(typeTraits);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory leafFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMLeafFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
         ITreeIndexFrameFactory interiorFrameFactory = new BTreeNSMInteriorFrameFactory(tupleWriterFactory);
diff --git a/hyracks/pom.xml b/hyracks/pom.xml
index 32fc946..4e28e25 100644
--- a/hyracks/pom.xml
+++ b/hyracks/pom.xml
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
   </build>
 
   <scm>
-    <connection>scm:svn:https://hyracks.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/hyracks</connection>
-    <developerConnection>scm:svn:https://hyracks.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/hyracks</developerConnection>
-    <url>http://code.google.com/p/hyracks/source/browse/#svn/trunk/hyracks</url>
+    <connection>scm:svn:https://hyracks.googlecode.com/svn/tags/0.1.8-SNAPSHOT</connection>
+    <developerConnection>scm:svn:https://hyracks.googlecode.com/svn/tags/0.1.8-SNAPSHOT</developerConnection>
+    <url>http://code.google.com/p/hyracks/source/browse/#svn/tags/0.1.8-SNAPSHOT</url>
   </scm>
 
   <distributionManagement>