diff --git a/asterix-algebra/pom.xml b/asterix-algebra/pom.xml
index 70f8c53..b81e77f 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-algebra/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -14,8 +15,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 			<plugin>
diff --git a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ByNameToByIndexFieldAccessRule.java b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ByNameToByIndexFieldAccessRule.java
index 704ccb5..028be17 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ByNameToByIndexFieldAccessRule.java
+++ b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ByNameToByIndexFieldAccessRule.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -93,40 +94,44 @@
             }
 
             IAType t = (IAType) env.getType(fce.getArguments().get(0).getValue());
-            switch (t.getTypeTag()) {
-                case ANY: {
-                    return false;
-                }
-                case RECORD: {
-                    ARecordType recType = (ARecordType) t;
-                    ILogicalExpression fai = createFieldAccessByIndex(recType, fce);
-                    if (fai == null) {
+            try {
+                switch (t.getTypeTag()) {
+                    case ANY: {
                         return false;
                     }
-                    expressions.get(i).setValue(fai);
-                    changed = true;
-                    break;
-                }
-                case UNION: {
-                    AUnionType unionT = (AUnionType) t;
-                    if (unionT.isNullableType()) {
-                        IAType t2 = unionT.getUnionList().get(1);
-                        if (t2.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.RECORD) {
-                            ARecordType recType = (ARecordType) t2;
-                            ILogicalExpression fai = createFieldAccessByIndex(recType, fce);
-                            if (fai == null) {
-                                return false;
-                            }
-                            expressions.get(i).setValue(fai);
-                            changed = true;
-                            break;
+                    case RECORD: {
+                        ARecordType recType = (ARecordType) t;
+                        ILogicalExpression fai = createFieldAccessByIndex(recType, fce);
+                        if (fai == null) {
+                            return false;
                         }
+                        expressions.get(i).setValue(fai);
+                        changed = true;
+                        break;
                     }
-                    throw new NotImplementedException("Union " + unionT);
+                    case UNION: {
+                        AUnionType unionT = (AUnionType) t;
+                        if (unionT.isNullableType()) {
+                            IAType t2 = unionT.getUnionList().get(1);
+                            if (t2.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.RECORD) {
+                                ARecordType recType = (ARecordType) t2;
+                                ILogicalExpression fai = createFieldAccessByIndex(recType, fce);
+                                if (fai == null) {
+                                    return false;
+                                }
+                                expressions.get(i).setValue(fai);
+                                changed = true;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        throw new NotImplementedException("Union " + unionT);
+                    }
+                    default: {
+                        throw new AlgebricksException("Cannot call field-access on data of type " + t);
+                    }
                 }
-                default: {
-                    throw new AlgebricksException("Cannot call field-access on data of type " + t);
-                }
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
             }
         }
         assign.removeAnnotation(AsterixOperatorAnnotations.PUSHED_FIELD_ACCESS);
@@ -134,7 +139,8 @@
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-    private static ILogicalExpression createFieldAccessByIndex(ARecordType recType, AbstractFunctionCallExpression fce) {
+    private static ILogicalExpression createFieldAccessByIndex(ARecordType recType, AbstractFunctionCallExpression fce)
+            throws IOException {
         String s = getStringSecondArgument(fce);
         if (s == null) {
             return null;
diff --git a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
index bc61c49..e1080dc 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
+++ b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules;
 
 import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -188,7 +189,12 @@
                 ARecordType rt = (ARecordType) _emptyTypeEnv.getType(expr.getArguments().get(0).getValue());
                 String str = ((AString) ((AsterixConstantValue) ((ConstantExpression) expr.getArguments().get(1)
                         .getValue()).getValue()).getObject()).getStringValue();
-                int k = rt.findFieldPosition(str);
+                int k;
+                try {
+                    k = rt.findFieldPosition(str);
+                } catch (IOException e) {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                }
                 if (k >= 0) {
                     // wait for the ByNameToByIndex rule to apply
                     return new Pair<Boolean, ILogicalExpression>(changed, expr);
diff --git a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/AccessMethodUtils.java b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/AccessMethodUtils.java
index 6651ea3..09f2ec8 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/AccessMethodUtils.java
+++ b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/AccessMethodUtils.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.am;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -44,7 +45,8 @@
  * Static helper functions for rewriting plans using indexes.
  */
 public class AccessMethodUtils {
-    public static void appendPrimaryIndexTypes(Dataset dataset, IAType itemType, List<Object> target) {
+    public static void appendPrimaryIndexTypes(Dataset dataset, IAType itemType, List<Object> target)
+            throws IOException {
         ARecordType recordType = (ARecordType) itemType;
         List<String> partitioningKeys = DatasetUtils.getPartitioningKeys(dataset);
         for (String partitioningKey : partitioningKeys) {
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@
         analysisCtx.matchedFuncExprs.add(new OptimizableFuncExpr(funcExpr, fieldVar, constFilterVal));
         return true;
     }
-    
+
     public static boolean analyzeFuncExprArgsForTwoVars(AbstractFunctionCallExpression funcExpr,
             AccessMethodAnalysisContext analysisCtx) {
         LogicalVariable fieldVar1 = null;
@@ -180,7 +182,11 @@
         // Primary keys.
         List<String> partitioningKeys = DatasetUtils.getPartitioningKeys(dataset);
         for (String partitioningKey : partitioningKeys) {
-            dest.add(recordType.getFieldType(partitioningKey));
+            try {
+                dest.add(recordType.getFieldType(partitioningKey));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -229,14 +235,14 @@
     }
 
     /**
-     *  Returns the first expr optimizable by this index.
+     * Returns the first expr optimizable by this index.
      */
     public static IOptimizableFuncExpr chooseFirstOptFuncExpr(Index chosenIndex, AccessMethodAnalysisContext analysisCtx) {
         List<Integer> indexExprs = analysisCtx.getIndexExprs(chosenIndex);
         int firstExprIndex = indexExprs.get(0);
         return analysisCtx.matchedFuncExprs.get(firstExprIndex);
     }
-    
+
     public static UnnestMapOperator createSecondaryIndexUnnestMap(Dataset dataset, ARecordType recordType, Index index,
             ILogicalOperator inputOp, AccessMethodJobGenParams jobGenParams, IOptimizationContext context,
             boolean outputPrimaryKeysOnly, boolean retainInput) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -299,7 +305,11 @@
         List<Object> primaryIndexOutputTypes = new ArrayList<Object>();
         // Append output variables/types generated by the primary-index search (not forwarded from input).
         primaryIndexUnnestVars.addAll(dataSourceScan.getVariables());
-        appendPrimaryIndexTypes(dataset, recordType, primaryIndexOutputTypes);
+        try {
+            appendPrimaryIndexTypes(dataset, recordType, primaryIndexOutputTypes);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
         // An index search is expressed as an unnest over an index-search function.
         IFunctionInfo primaryIndexSearch = FunctionUtils.getFunctionInfo(AsterixBuiltinFunctions.INDEX_SEARCH);
         AbstractFunctionCallExpression primaryIndexSearchFunc = new ScalarFunctionCallExpression(primaryIndexSearch,
diff --git a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/BTreeAccessMethod.java b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/BTreeAccessMethod.java
index 5c65299..37af6e9 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/BTreeAccessMethod.java
+++ b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/am/BTreeAccessMethod.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.am;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.BitSet;
 import java.util.HashSet;
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@
                 if (optFuncExpr.getNumLogicalVars() > 1) {
                     // If we are optimizing a join, the matching field may be the second field name.
                     keyPos = indexOf(optFuncExpr.getFieldName(1), chosenIndex.getKeyFieldNames());
-                }                
+                }
             }
             if (keyPos < 0) {
                 throw new AlgebricksException(
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@
                     // If high and low keys are set, we exit for now.
                     if (setLowKeys.cardinality() == numSecondaryKeys && setHighKeys.cardinality() == numSecondaryKeys) {
                         doneWithExprs = true;
-                    }                    
+                    }
                     break;
                 }
                 case HIGH_EXCLUSIVE: {
@@ -390,7 +391,11 @@
                     secondaryIndexUnnestOp, context, true, retainInput, false);
         } else {
             List<Object> primaryIndexOutputTypes = new ArrayList<Object>();
-            AccessMethodUtils.appendPrimaryIndexTypes(dataset, recordType, primaryIndexOutputTypes);
+            try {
+                AccessMethodUtils.appendPrimaryIndexTypes(dataset, recordType, primaryIndexOutputTypes);
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
             primaryIndexUnnestOp = new UnnestMapOperator(dataSourceScan.getVariables(),
                     secondaryIndexUnnestOp.getExpressionRef(), primaryIndexOutputTypes, retainInput);
             primaryIndexUnnestOp.getInputs().add(new MutableObject<ILogicalOperator>(inputOp));
@@ -521,7 +526,7 @@
             return (optFuncExpr.getOperatorSubTree(0) == null || optFuncExpr.getOperatorSubTree(0) == probeSubTree);
         }
     }
-    
+
     private ILogicalExpression createSelectCondition(List<Mutable<ILogicalExpression>> predList) {
         if (predList.size() > 1) {
             IFunctionInfo finfo = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.getAsterixFunctionInfo(AlgebricksBuiltinFunctions.AND);
diff --git a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/translator/TypeTranslator.java b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/translator/TypeTranslator.java
index 4047d9a..deebdbc 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/translator/TypeTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/translator/TypeTranslator.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.aql.expression.UnorderedListTypeDefinition;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.annotations.IRecordFieldDataGen;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.annotations.RecordDataGenAnnotation;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataManager;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataTransactionContext;
@@ -89,41 +90,45 @@
             throw new AlgebricksException("Cannot redefine builtin type " + tdname + " .");
         }
         TypeSignature typeSignature = new TypeSignature(typeDataverse, tdname);
-        switch (texpr.getTypeKind()) {
-            case TYPEREFERENCE: {
-                TypeReferenceExpression tre = (TypeReferenceExpression) texpr;
-                IAType t = solveTypeReference(typeSignature, typeMap);
-                if (t != null) {
-                    typeMap.put(typeSignature, t);
-                } else {
-                    addIncompleteTopLevelTypeReference(tdname, tre, incompleteTopLevelTypeReferences, typeDataverse);
+        try {
+            switch (texpr.getTypeKind()) {
+                case TYPEREFERENCE: {
+                    TypeReferenceExpression tre = (TypeReferenceExpression) texpr;
+                    IAType t = solveTypeReference(typeSignature, typeMap);
+                    if (t != null) {
+                        typeMap.put(typeSignature, t);
+                    } else {
+                        addIncompleteTopLevelTypeReference(tdname, tre, incompleteTopLevelTypeReferences, typeDataverse);
+                    }
+                    break;
                 }
-                break;
+                case RECORD: {
+                    RecordTypeDefinition rtd = (RecordTypeDefinition) texpr;
+                    ARecordType recType = computeRecordType(typeSignature, rtd, typeMap, incompleteFieldTypes,
+                            incompleteItemTypes, typeDataverse);
+                    typeMap.put(typeSignature, recType);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case ORDEREDLIST: {
+                    OrderedListTypeDefinition oltd = (OrderedListTypeDefinition) texpr;
+                    AOrderedListType olType = computeOrderedListType(typeSignature, oltd, typeMap, incompleteItemTypes,
+                            incompleteFieldTypes, typeDataverse);
+                    typeMap.put(typeSignature, olType);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case UNORDEREDLIST: {
+                    UnorderedListTypeDefinition ultd = (UnorderedListTypeDefinition) texpr;
+                    AUnorderedListType ulType = computeUnorderedListType(typeSignature, ultd, typeMap,
+                            incompleteItemTypes, incompleteFieldTypes, typeDataverse);
+                    typeMap.put(typeSignature, ulType);
+                    break;
+                }
+                default: {
+                    throw new IllegalStateException();
+                }
             }
-            case RECORD: {
-                RecordTypeDefinition rtd = (RecordTypeDefinition) texpr;
-                ARecordType recType = computeRecordType(typeSignature, rtd, typeMap, incompleteFieldTypes,
-                        incompleteItemTypes, typeDataverse);
-                typeMap.put(typeSignature, recType);
-                break;
-            }
-            case ORDEREDLIST: {
-                OrderedListTypeDefinition oltd = (OrderedListTypeDefinition) texpr;
-                AOrderedListType olType = computeOrderedListType(typeSignature, oltd, typeMap, incompleteItemTypes,
-                        incompleteFieldTypes, typeDataverse);
-                typeMap.put(typeSignature, olType);
-                break;
-            }
-            case UNORDEREDLIST: {
-                UnorderedListTypeDefinition ultd = (UnorderedListTypeDefinition) texpr;
-                AUnorderedListType ulType = computeUnorderedListType(typeSignature, ultd, typeMap, incompleteItemTypes,
-                        incompleteFieldTypes, typeDataverse);
-                typeMap.put(typeSignature, ulType);
-                break;
-            }
-            default: {
-                throw new IllegalStateException();
-            }
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -181,7 +186,7 @@
                 }
                 t = dt.getDatatype();
             } else {
-                t = typeMap.get(typeSignature);   
+                t = typeMap.get(typeSignature);
             }
             for (AbstractCollectionType act : incompleteItemTypes.get(typeSignature)) {
                 act.setItemType(t);
@@ -191,7 +196,8 @@
 
     private static AOrderedListType computeOrderedListType(TypeSignature typeSignature, OrderedListTypeDefinition oltd,
             Map<TypeSignature, IAType> typeMap, Map<TypeSignature, List<AbstractCollectionType>> incompleteItemTypes,
-            Map<String, Map<ARecordType, List<Integer>>> incompleteFieldTypes, String defaultDataverse) {
+            Map<String, Map<ARecordType, List<Integer>>> incompleteFieldTypes, String defaultDataverse)
+            throws AsterixException {
         TypeExpression tExpr = oltd.getItemTypeExpression();
         String typeName = typeSignature != null ? typeSignature.getName() : null;
         AOrderedListType aolt = new AOrderedListType(null, typeName);
@@ -202,7 +208,8 @@
     private static AUnorderedListType computeUnorderedListType(TypeSignature typeSignature,
             UnorderedListTypeDefinition ultd, Map<TypeSignature, IAType> typeMap,
             Map<TypeSignature, List<AbstractCollectionType>> incompleteItemTypes,
-            Map<String, Map<ARecordType, List<Integer>>> incompleteFieldTypes, String defaulDataverse) {
+            Map<String, Map<ARecordType, List<Integer>>> incompleteFieldTypes, String defaulDataverse)
+            throws AsterixException {
         TypeExpression tExpr = ultd.getItemTypeExpression();
         String typeName = typeSignature != null ? typeSignature.getName() : null;
         AUnorderedListType ault = new AUnorderedListType(null, typeName);
@@ -213,7 +220,7 @@
     private static void setCollectionItemType(TypeExpression tExpr, Map<TypeSignature, IAType> typeMap,
             Map<TypeSignature, List<AbstractCollectionType>> incompleteItemTypes,
             Map<String, Map<ARecordType, List<Integer>>> incompleteFieldTypes, AbstractCollectionType act,
-            String defaultDataverse) {
+            String defaultDataverse) throws AsterixException {
         switch (tExpr.getTypeKind()) {
             case ORDEREDLIST: {
                 OrderedListTypeDefinition oltd = (OrderedListTypeDefinition) tExpr;
@@ -306,7 +313,8 @@
 
     private static ARecordType computeRecordType(TypeSignature typeSignature, RecordTypeDefinition rtd,
             Map<TypeSignature, IAType> typeMap, Map<String, Map<ARecordType, List<Integer>>> incompleteFieldTypes,
-            Map<TypeSignature, List<AbstractCollectionType>> incompleteItemTypes, String defaultDataverse) {
+            Map<TypeSignature, List<AbstractCollectionType>> incompleteItemTypes, String defaultDataverse)
+            throws AsterixException {
         List<String> names = rtd.getFieldNames();
         int n = names.size();
         String[] fldNames = new String[n];
@@ -318,14 +326,14 @@
         boolean isOpen = rtd.getRecordKind() == RecordKind.OPEN;
         ARecordType recType = new ARecordType(typeSignature == null ? null : typeSignature.getName(), fldNames,
                 fldTypes, isOpen);
-        
+
         List<IRecordFieldDataGen> fieldDataGen = rtd.getFieldDataGen();
         if (fieldDataGen.size() == n) {
             IRecordFieldDataGen[] rfdg = new IRecordFieldDataGen[n];
             rfdg = fieldDataGen.toArray(rfdg);
             recType.getAnnotations().add(new RecordDataGenAnnotation(rfdg, rtd.getUndeclaredFieldsDataGen()));
         }
-        
+
         for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
             TypeExpression texpr = rtd.getFieldTypes().get(j);
             switch (texpr.getTypeKind()) {
diff --git a/asterix-app/pom.xml b/asterix-app/pom.xml
index 2f80c30..7d6e64a 100644
--- a/asterix-app/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-app/pom.xml
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 			<plugin>
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/DatasetOperations.java b/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/DatasetOperations.java
index 8d804a4..1ea4231 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/DatasetOperations.java
+++ b/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/DatasetOperations.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.file;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.rmi.RemoteException;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
@@ -329,7 +330,12 @@
         ISerializerDeserializer[] recordFields = new ISerializerDeserializer[1 + numKeys];
         recordFields[0] = payloadSerde;
         for (int i = 0; i < numKeys; i++) {
-            IAType keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            IAType keyType;
+            try {
+                keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
             ISerializerDeserializer keySerde = dataFormat.getSerdeProvider().getSerializerDeserializer(keyType);
             recordFields[i + 1] = keySerde;
         }
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/SecondaryIndexCreator.java b/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/SecondaryIndexCreator.java
index 34ba208..3bcce70 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/SecondaryIndexCreator.java
+++ b/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/file/SecondaryIndexCreator.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.file;
 
 import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.DatasetConfig.DatasetType;
@@ -137,13 +138,12 @@
         numPrimaryKeys = DatasetUtils.getPartitioningKeys(dataset).size();
         numSecondaryKeys = createIndexStmt.getKeyFields().size();
         Pair<IFileSplitProvider, AlgebricksPartitionConstraint> primarySplitsAndConstraint = metadataProvider
-                .splitProviderAndPartitionConstraintsForInternalOrFeedDataset(
-                        dataverseName, datasetName, datasetName);
+                .splitProviderAndPartitionConstraintsForInternalOrFeedDataset(dataverseName, datasetName, datasetName);
         primaryFileSplitProvider = primarySplitsAndConstraint.first;
         primaryPartitionConstraint = primarySplitsAndConstraint.second;
         Pair<IFileSplitProvider, AlgebricksPartitionConstraint> secondarySplitsAndConstraint = metadataProvider
-                .splitProviderAndPartitionConstraintsForInternalOrFeedDataset(
-                        dataverseName, datasetName, secondaryIndexName);
+                .splitProviderAndPartitionConstraintsForInternalOrFeedDataset(dataverseName, datasetName,
+                        secondaryIndexName);
         secondaryFileSplitProvider = secondarySplitsAndConstraint.first;
         secondaryPartitionConstraint = secondarySplitsAndConstraint.second;
         // Must be called in this order.
@@ -159,7 +159,12 @@
         primaryComparatorFactories = new IBinaryComparatorFactory[numPrimaryKeys];
         ISerializerDeserializerProvider serdeProvider = metadataProvider.getFormat().getSerdeProvider();
         for (int i = 0; i < numPrimaryKeys; i++) {
-            IAType keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            IAType keyType;
+            try {
+                keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
             primaryRecFields[i] = serdeProvider.getSerializerDeserializer(keyType);
             primaryComparatorFactories[i] = AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider.INSTANCE.getBinaryComparatorFactory(
                     keyType, true);
@@ -286,8 +291,8 @@
             fieldPermutation[i] = i;
         }
         Pair<IFileSplitProvider, AlgebricksPartitionConstraint> secondarySplitsAndConstraint = metadataProvider
-                .splitProviderAndPartitionConstraintsForInternalOrFeedDataset(
-                        dataverseName, datasetName, secondaryIndexName);
+                .splitProviderAndPartitionConstraintsForInternalOrFeedDataset(dataverseName, datasetName,
+                        secondaryIndexName);
         TreeIndexBulkLoadOperatorDescriptor treeIndexBulkLoadOp = new TreeIndexBulkLoadOperatorDescriptor(spec,
                 AsterixStorageManagerInterface.INSTANCE, AsterixIndexRegistryProvider.INSTANCE,
                 secondarySplitsAndConstraint.first, secondaryRecDesc.getTypeTraits(), secondaryComparatorFactories,
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/constructor/int_01.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/constructor/int_01.aql
index 683481f..58ae18d 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/constructor/int_01.aql
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/constructor/int_01.aql
@@ -13,5 +13,4 @@
 let $c7 := int32("-320")
 let $c8 := int64("-640i64")
 let $c9 := int64("-9223372036854775808")
-return {"int8": $c1,"int16": $c2,"int32": $c3, "int64": $c4, "int8": $c5,"int16": $c6,"int32": $c7, "int64": $c8, "int64_min" : $c9}
-
+return {"int8": $c1,"int16": $c2,"int32": $c3, "int64": $c4, "int8_2": $c5,"int16_2": $c6,"int32_2": $c7, "int64_2": $c8, "int64_min" : $c9}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.aql
index 8266c79..197baaa 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.aql
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.aql
@@ -57,4 +57,4 @@
 for $o in dataset('test2.Orders')
 where $c.cid = $o.cid
 order by $c.name, $o.total
-return {"cust_name":$c.name, "cust_age": $c.age, "order_total":$o.total, "orderList":[$o.oid, $o.cid], "orderList":{{$o.oid, $o.cid}}}
+return {"cust_name":$c.name, "cust_age": $c.age, "order_total":$o.total, "orderList":[$o.oid, $o.cid]}
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/join_q_01.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/join_q_01.aql
index ddde56e..f5d2080 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/join_q_01.aql
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/join_q_01.aql
@@ -47,4 +47,4 @@
 for $o in dataset('Orders')
 where $c.cid = $o.cid 
 order by $c.name, $o.total
-return {"cust_name":$c.name, "cust_age": $c.age, "order_total":$o.total, "orderList":[$o.oid, $o.cid], "orderList":{{$o.oid, $o.cid}}} 
+return {"cust_name":$c.name, "cust_age": $c.age, "order_total":$o.total, "orderList":[$o.oid, $o.cid]} 
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_03.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_03.aql
index b930a10..52bc6d2 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_03.aql
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_03.aql
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@
 let $c2 := {{ $o.orderstatus, $o.clerk}}
 let $c3 := [$o.heList, $o.openlist, $o.loc, $o.line, $o.poly, $o.lastorder]
 let $c4 := [$o.heList, $o.openlist, $o.loc, $o.line, $o.poly, $o.lastorder]
-return { "orderid": $o.oid, "ordertot":$o.total, "list": $c1, "item1": $c1[0], "item1": $c1[?], "item2": $c1[1], "item3": $c1[2]}
+return { "orderid": $o.oid, "ordertot":$o.total, "list": $c1, "item1": $c1[0], "item2": $c1[1], "item3": $c1[2]}
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_04.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_04.aql
index b2d55d9..e2fd5b6 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_04.aql
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_04.aql
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@
 let $c2 := {{ $o.orderstatus, $o.clerk}}
 let $c3 := [$o.heList, $o.openlist, $o.loc, $o.line, $o.poly, $o.lastorder]
 let $c4 := [$o.heList, $o.openlist, $o.loc, $o.line, $o.poly, $o.lastorder]
-return { "orderid": $o.oid, "ordertot":$o.total, "list": $c3, "item1": $c3[0], "item1": $c3[?], "item2": $c3[1], "item5": $c3[5], "item10": $c3[10]}
+return { "orderid": $o.oid, "ordertot":$o.total, "list": $c3, "item1": $c3[0], "item2": $c3[1], "item5": $c3[5], "item10": $c3[10]}
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_05.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_05.aql
index 5693312..481c1fd 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_05.aql
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/custord/order_q_05.aql
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@
 for $o in dataset('Orders')
 let $c1 := []
 let $c2 := {{}}
-return { "orderid": $o.oid, "ordertot":$o.total, "emptyorderedlist": $c1, "emptyunorderedlist": $c2, "olist_item1": $c1[0], "olist_item1": $c1[?], "olist_item5": $c1[4], "ulist_item1": $c2[?]}
+return { "orderid": $o.oid, "ordertot":$o.total, "emptyorderedlist": $c1, "emptyunorderedlist": $c2, "olist_item1": $c1[0], "olist_item5": $c1[4], "ulist_item1": $c2[?]}
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/closed-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/closed-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6963f23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/closed-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+drop dataverse test if exists;
+create dataverse test;
+use dataverse test;
+
+let $x := {"name": "john", "name": "smith"}
+return $x
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/open-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/open-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5457bea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/open-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+drop dataverse test if exists;
+create dataverse test;
+use dataverse test;
+
+create type opentype as open {
+id:int32,
+fname:string
+}
+
+create dataset testds(opentype) primary key id; 
+
+insert into dataset testds({'id': 1, 'fname': "name"});
+
+for $x in dataset('testds')
+return {$x.fname: "smith", lowercase("NAME"): "john"}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/open-open-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/open-open-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..391e9b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/records/open-open-fieldname-conflict_issue173.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+drop dataverse test if exists;
+create dataverse test;
+use dataverse test;
+
+create type opentype as open {
+fname1: string,
+fname2: string
+}
+
+create dataset testds(opentype) primary key fname1; 
+
+insert into dataset testds({'fname1': "name", 'fname2': "name"});
+
+for $x in dataset('testds')
+return {$x.fname1: "john", $x.fname2: "smith"}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/constructor/int_01.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/constructor/int_01.adm
index fb52e3b..470d1f8 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/constructor/int_01.adm
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/constructor/int_01.adm
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{ "int8": 80i8, "int16": 160i16, "int32": 320, "int64": 640i64, "int8": -80i8, "int16": -160i16, "int32": -320, "int64": -640i64, "int64_min": -9223372036854775808i64 }
\ No newline at end of file
+{ "int8": 80i8, "int16": 160i16, "int32": 320, "int64": 640i64, "int8_2": -80i8, "int16_2": -160i16, "int32_2": -320, "int64_2": -640i64, "int64_min": -9223372036854775808i64 }
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.adm
index 87619a8..e78ad8f 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.adm
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/cross-dataverse/join_across_dataverses.adm
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-{ "cust_name": "Jodi Alex", "cust_age": 19, "order_total": 7.206f, "orderList": [ 10, 5 ], "orderList": {{ 10, 5 }} }
-{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 14.2326f, "orderList": [ 10, 775 ], "orderList": {{ 10, 775 }} }
-{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 97.20656f, "orderList": [ 1000, 775 ], "orderList": {{ 1000, 775 }} }
+{ "cust_name": "Jodi Alex", "cust_age": 19, "order_total": 7.206f, "orderList": [ 10, 5 ] }
+{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 14.2326f, "orderList": [ 10, 775 ] }
+{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 97.20656f, "orderList": [ 1000, 775 ] }
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/join_q_01.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/join_q_01.adm
index 7648e4a..e78ad8f 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/join_q_01.adm
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/join_q_01.adm
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-{ "cust_name": "Jodi Alex", "cust_age": 19, "order_total": 7.206f, "orderList": [ 10, 5 ], "orderList": {{ 10, 5 }} }
-{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 14.2326f, "orderList": [ 10, 775 ], "orderList": {{ 10, 775 }} }
-{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 97.20656f, "orderList": [ 1000, 775 ], "orderList": {{ 1000, 775 }} }
\ No newline at end of file
+{ "cust_name": "Jodi Alex", "cust_age": 19, "order_total": 7.206f, "orderList": [ 10, 5 ] }
+{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 14.2326f, "orderList": [ 10, 775 ] }
+{ "cust_name": "Jodi Rotruck", "cust_age": null, "order_total": 97.20656f, "orderList": [ 1000, 775 ] }
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_03.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_03.adm
index 903c00d..4e02c4b 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_03.adm
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_03.adm
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ "orderid": 1000, "ordertot": 97.20656f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "Kathryne" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "Kathryne", "item3": null }
-{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 7.206f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "ALEX" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "ALEX", "item3": null }
-{ "orderid": 100, "ordertot": 124.26f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "YASSER" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "YASSER", "item3": null }
-{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 14.2326f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "MIKE" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "MIKE", "item3": null }
+{ "orderid": 1000, "ordertot": 97.20656f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "Kathryne" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "Kathryne", "item3": null }
+{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 7.206f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "ALEX" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "ALEX", "item3": null }
+{ "orderid": 100, "ordertot": 124.26f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "YASSER" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "YASSER", "item3": null }
+{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 14.2326f, "list": [ "ORDER_DELIVERED", "MIKE" ], "item1": "ORDER_DELIVERED", "item2": "MIKE", "item3": null }
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_04.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_04.adm
index f22ea7f..3992f7d 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_04.adm
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_04.adm
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ "orderid": 1000, "ordertot": 97.20656f, "list": [ [ "1.0f", "yassser" ], [ 11, 14, "yasir", 1.6f ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), null ], "item1": [ "1.0f", "yassser" ], "item1": [ "1.0f", "yassser" ], "item2": [ 11, 14, "yasir", 1.6f ], "item5": null, "item10": null }
-{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 7.206f, "list": [ [ 1.0f, "5.2f", "60" ], [ 13231, "foo", null, 13.25d, 13.2f ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), null ], "item1": [ 1.0f, "5.2f", "60" ], "item1": [ 1.0f, "5.2f", "60" ], "item2": [ 13231, "foo", null, 13.25d, 13.2f ], "item5": null, "item10": null }
-{ "orderid": 100, "ordertot": 124.26f, "list": [ [ 1.3f, 5.2f, "60", 12.32f ], [ 10, 2.0f, 3.0d, 40 ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), null ], "item1": [ 1.3f, 5.2f, "60", 12.32f ], "item1": [ 1.3f, 5.2f, "60", 12.32f ], "item2": [ 10, 2.0f, 3.0d, 40 ], "item5": null, "item10": null }
-{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 14.2326f, "list": [ [ 2.4f, "15" ], [ 110 ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), { "oid": 75, "total": 87.61863f } ], "item1": [ 2.4f, "15" ], "item1": [ 2.4f, "15" ], "item2": [ 110 ], "item5": { "oid": 75, "total": 87.61863f }, "item10": null }
+{ "orderid": 1000, "ordertot": 97.20656f, "list": [ [ "1.0f", "yassser" ], [ 11, 14, "yasir", 1.6f ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), null ], "item1": [ "1.0f", "yassser" ], "item2": [ 11, 14, "yasir", 1.6f ], "item5": null, "item10": null }
+{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 7.206f, "list": [ [ 1.0f, "5.2f", "60" ], [ 13231, "foo", null, 13.25d, 13.2f ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), null ], "item1": [ 1.0f, "5.2f", "60" ], "item2": [ 13231, "foo", null, 13.25d, 13.2f ], "item5": null, "item10": null }
+{ "orderid": 100, "ordertot": 124.26f, "list": [ [ 1.3f, 5.2f, "60", 12.32f ], [ 10, 2.0f, 3.0d, 40 ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), null ], "item1": [ 1.3f, 5.2f, "60", 12.32f ], "item2": [ 10, 2.0f, 3.0d, 40 ], "item5": null, "item10": null }
+{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 14.2326f, "list": [ [ 2.4f, "15" ], [ 110 ], point("10.1,11.1"), line("10.1,11.1 10.2,11.2"), polygon("1.2,1.3 2.1,2.5 3.5,3.6 4.6,4.8"), { "oid": 75, "total": 87.61863f } ], "item1": [ 2.4f, "15" ], "item2": [ 110 ], "item5": { "oid": 75, "total": 87.61863f }, "item10": null }
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_05.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_05.adm
index dd3420e..4d8b37c 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_05.adm
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/custord/order_q_05.adm
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ "orderid": 1000, "ordertot": 97.20656f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
-{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 7.206f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
-{ "orderid": 100, "ordertot": 124.26f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
-{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 14.2326f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
+{ "orderid": 1000, "ordertot": 97.20656f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
+{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 7.206f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
+{ "orderid": 100, "ordertot": 124.26f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
+{ "orderid": 10, "ordertot": 14.2326f, "emptyorderedlist": [  ], "emptyunorderedlist": {{  }}, "olist_item1": null, "olist_item5": null, "ulist_item1": null }
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml
index 6956e4b..de694cd 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml
@@ -2626,6 +2626,24 @@
         <output-file compare="Text">open-record-constructor_02.adm</output-file>
       </compilation-unit>
     </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="records">
+      <compilation-unit name="closed-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173">
+        <output-file compare="Text">closed-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.adm</output-file>
+        <expected-error>edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException</expected-error>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+  <test-case FilePath="records">
+      <compilation-unit name="open-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173">
+        <output-file compare="Text">open-closed-fieldname-conflict_issue173.adm</output-file>
+        <expected-error>edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException</expected-error>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="records">
+      <compilation-unit name="open-open-fieldname-conflict_issue173">
+        <output-file compare="Text">open-open-fieldname-conflict_issue173.adm</output-file>
+        <expected-error>edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException</expected-error>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
   </test-group>
   <test-group name="scan">
     <test-case FilePath="scan">
diff --git a/asterix-aql/pom.xml b/asterix-aql/pom.xml
index 7ac2cbb..7617582 100644
--- a/asterix-aql/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-aql/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -13,8 +14,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 			<plugin>
@@ -36,14 +37,15 @@
 						<goals>
 							<goal>jjdoc</goal>
 						</goals>
-                        <phase>process-sources</phase>
+						<phase>process-sources</phase>
 					</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.-->
+				<!--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>
diff --git a/asterix-common/pom.xml b/asterix-common/pom.xml
index ee81e75..0994109 100644
--- a/asterix-common/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-common/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -15,8 +16,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 		</plugins>
diff --git a/asterix-external-data/pom.xml b/asterix-external-data/pom.xml
index 3076323..337da7f 100644
--- a/asterix-external-data/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-external-data/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -14,8 +15,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 			<plugin>
@@ -50,14 +51,12 @@
 				<artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
 				<version>2.7.2</version>
 				<configuration>
-					<!--
-						doesn't work from m2eclipse, currently
-						<additionalClasspathElements>
-						<additionalClasspathElement>${basedir}/src/main/resources</additionalClasspathElement>
-						</additionalClasspathElements>
-					-->
+					<!-- doesn't work from m2eclipse, currently <additionalClasspathElements> 
+						<additionalClasspathElement>${basedir}/src/main/resources</additionalClasspathElement> 
+						</additionalClasspathElements> -->
 					<forkMode>pertest</forkMode>
-					<argLine>-enableassertions -Xmx${test.heap.size}m -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
+					<argLine>-enableassertions -Xmx${test.heap.size}m
+						-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
 						-Djava.util.logging.config.file=src/test/resources/logging.properties</argLine>
 					<includes>
 						<include>**/*TestSuite.java</include>
@@ -102,39 +101,39 @@
 			<version>1.3.1-201002241208</version>
 			<scope>test</scope>
 		</dependency>
-                <dependency>
-                        <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>
-                </dependency>
-                <dependency>
-                        <groupId>net.java.dev.rome</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>rome-fetcher</artifactId>
-                        <version>1.0.0</version>
-                        <type>jar</type>
-                        <scope>compile</scope>
-                </dependency>
-                <dependency>
-                         <groupId>rome</groupId>
-                         <artifactId>rome</artifactId>
-                         <version>1.0.1-modified-01</version>
-                </dependency>
-	        <dependency>
-		         <groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-		         <artifactId>hyracks-dataflow-hadoop</artifactId>
-	        </dependency>
-<dependency>
-            <groupId>jdom</groupId>
-            <artifactId>jdom</artifactId>
-            <version>1.0</version>
-        </dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<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>
+		</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>net.java.dev.rome</groupId>
+			<artifactId>rome-fetcher</artifactId>
+			<version>1.0.0</version>
+			<type>jar</type>
+			<scope>compile</scope>
+		</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>rome</groupId>
+			<artifactId>rome</artifactId>
+			<version>1.0.1-modified-01</version>
+		</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
+			<artifactId>hyracks-dataflow-hadoop</artifactId>
+		</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>jdom</groupId>
+			<artifactId>jdom</artifactId>
+			<version>1.0</version>
+		</dependency>
 	</dependencies>
 
 </project>
diff --git a/asterix-hyracks-glue/pom.xml b/asterix-hyracks-glue/pom.xml
index 5f991a4..1a18d1c 100644
--- a/asterix-hyracks-glue/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-hyracks-glue/pom.xml
@@ -1,51 +1,52 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<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-hyracks-glue</artifactId>
-  <version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
-  <build>
-       <plugins>
-           <plugin>
-              <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
-              <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-              <version>2.0.2</version>
-              <configuration>
-                 <source>1.6</source>
-                 <target>1.6</target>
-              </configuration>
-           </plugin>
-       </plugins>
-  </build>     
-  <name>asterix-hyracks-glue</name>
-  <url>http://maven.apache.org</url>
-  <dependencies>
-    <dependency>
-      <groupId>junit</groupId>
-      <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
-      <version>3.8.1</version>
-      <scope>test</scope>
-    </dependency>
-    <dependency>
-       <groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
-       <artifactId>asterix-transactions</artifactId>
-       <version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
-       <scope>compile</scope>
-    </dependency>
-    <dependency>
-    	<groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
-    	<artifactId>asterix-common</artifactId>
-    	<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
-    	<type>jar</type>
-    	<scope>compile</scope>
-    </dependency>
-  </dependencies>
-  <properties>
-    <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-  </properties>
+<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-hyracks-glue</artifactId>
+	<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
+	<build>
+		<plugins>
+			<plugin>
+				<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+				<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+				<version>2.0.2</version>
+				<configuration>
+					<source>1.7</source>
+					<target>1.7</target>
+				</configuration>
+			</plugin>
+		</plugins>
+	</build>
+	<name>asterix-hyracks-glue</name>
+	<url>http://maven.apache.org</url>
+	<dependencies>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>junit</groupId>
+			<artifactId>junit</artifactId>
+			<version>3.8.1</version>
+			<scope>test</scope>
+		</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
+			<artifactId>asterix-transactions</artifactId>
+			<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
+			<scope>compile</scope>
+		</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>edu.uci.ics.asterix</groupId>
+			<artifactId>asterix-common</artifactId>
+			<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
+			<type>jar</type>
+			<scope>compile</scope>
+		</dependency>
+	</dependencies>
+	<properties>
+		<project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
+	</properties>
 </project>
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/pom.xml b/asterix-metadata/pom.xml
index 58566f8..3e8e0f9 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-metadata/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -14,8 +15,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 		</plugins>
@@ -54,12 +55,12 @@
 			<version>0.0.4-SNAPSHOT</version>
 			<scope>compile</scope>
 		</dependency>
-                <dependency>
-                        <groupId>org.apache.hadoop</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>hadoop-core</artifactId>
-                        <version>0.20.2</version>
-                        <type>jar</type>
-                        <scope>compile</scope>
-                </dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>org.apache.hadoop</groupId>
+			<artifactId>hadoop-core</artifactId>
+			<version>0.20.2</version>
+			<type>jar</type>
+			<scope>compile</scope>
+		</dependency>
 	</dependencies>
 </project>
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/api/IMetadataEntityTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/api/IMetadataEntityTupleTranslator.java
index df61cd9..82f3d16 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/api/IMetadataEntityTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/api/IMetadataEntityTupleTranslator.java
@@ -50,5 +50,5 @@
      *            Metadata entity to be written into a tuple.
      * @throws IOException
      */
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(T metadataEntity) throws IOException;
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(T metadataEntity) throws MetadataException, IOException;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/bootstrap/MetadataRecordTypes.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/bootstrap/MetadataRecordTypes.java
index 01c849b..1651433 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/bootstrap/MetadataRecordTypes.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/bootstrap/MetadataRecordTypes.java
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
@@ -49,31 +51,34 @@
     /**
      * Create all metadata record types.
      */
-    public static void init() {
+    public static void init() throws MetadataException {
         // Attention: The order of these calls is important because some types
         // depend on other types being created first.
         // These calls are one "dependency chain".
-        DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_PROPERTIES_RECORDTYPE = createPropertiesRecordType();
-        INTERNAL_DETAILS_RECORDTYPE = createInternalDetailsRecordType();
-        EXTERNAL_DETAILS_RECORDTYPE = createExternalDetailsRecordType();
-        FEED_DETAILS_RECORDTYPE = createFeedDetailsRecordType();
-        DATASET_HINTS_RECORDTYPE = createPropertiesRecordType();
-        DATASET_RECORDTYPE = createDatasetRecordType();
+        try {
+            DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_PROPERTIES_RECORDTYPE = createPropertiesRecordType();
+            INTERNAL_DETAILS_RECORDTYPE = createInternalDetailsRecordType();
+            EXTERNAL_DETAILS_RECORDTYPE = createExternalDetailsRecordType();
+            FEED_DETAILS_RECORDTYPE = createFeedDetailsRecordType();
+            DATASET_HINTS_RECORDTYPE = createPropertiesRecordType();
+            DATASET_RECORDTYPE = createDatasetRecordType();
 
-        // Starting another dependency chain.
-        FIELD_RECORDTYPE = createFieldRecordType();
-        RECORD_RECORDTYPE = createRecordTypeRecordType();
-        DERIVEDTYPE_RECORDTYPE = createDerivedTypeRecordType();
-        DATATYPE_RECORDTYPE = createDatatypeRecordType();
+            // Starting another dependency chain.
+            FIELD_RECORDTYPE = createFieldRecordType();
+            RECORD_RECORDTYPE = createRecordTypeRecordType();
+            DERIVEDTYPE_RECORDTYPE = createDerivedTypeRecordType();
+            DATATYPE_RECORDTYPE = createDatatypeRecordType();
 
-        // Independent of any other types.
-        DATAVERSE_RECORDTYPE = createDataverseRecordType();
-        INDEX_RECORDTYPE = createIndexRecordType();
-        NODE_RECORDTYPE = createNodeRecordType();
-        NODEGROUP_RECORDTYPE = createNodeGroupRecordType();
-        FUNCTION_RECORDTYPE = createFunctionRecordType();
-        DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_RECORDTYPE = createDatasourceAdapterRecordType();
-
+            // Independent of any other types.
+            DATAVERSE_RECORDTYPE = createDataverseRecordType();
+            INDEX_RECORDTYPE = createIndexRecordType();
+            NODE_RECORDTYPE = createNodeRecordType();
+            NODEGROUP_RECORDTYPE = createNodeGroupRecordType();
+            FUNCTION_RECORDTYPE = createFunctionRecordType();
+            DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_RECORDTYPE = createDatasourceAdapterRecordType();
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
     }
 
     // Helper constants for accessing fields in an ARecord of type
@@ -82,7 +87,7 @@
     public static final int DATAVERSE_ARECORD_FORMAT_FIELD_INDEX = 1;
     public static final int DATAVERSE_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX = 2;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createDataverseRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createDataverseRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         return new ARecordType("DataverseRecordType", new String[] { "DataverseName", "DataFormat", "Timestamp" },
                 new IAType[] { BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING }, true);
     }
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@
     public static final int DATASOURCE_PROPERTIES_NAME_FIELD_INDEX = 0;
     public static final int DATASOURCE_PROPERTIES_VALUE_FIELD_INDEX = 1;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createPropertiesRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createPropertiesRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         String[] fieldNames = { "Name", "Value" };
         IAType[] fieldTypes = { BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING };
         return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, true);
@@ -107,7 +112,7 @@
     public static final int INTERNAL_DETAILS_ARECORD_PRIMARYKEY_FIELD_INDEX = 3;
     public static final int INTERNAL_DETAILS_ARECORD_GROUPNAME_FIELD_INDEX = 4;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createInternalDetailsRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createInternalDetailsRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         AOrderedListType olType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.ASTRING, null);
         String[] fieldNames = { "FileStructure", "PartitioningStrategy", "PartitioningKey", "PrimaryKey", "GroupName" };
         IAType[] fieldTypes = { BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING, olType, olType, BuiltinType.ASTRING };
@@ -119,7 +124,7 @@
     public static final int EXTERNAL_DETAILS_ARECORD_DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_FIELD_INDEX = 0;
     public static final int EXTERNAL_DETAILS_ARECORD_PROPERTIES_FIELD_INDEX = 1;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createExternalDetailsRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createExternalDetailsRecordType() throws AsterixException {
 
         AOrderedListType orderedPropertyListType = new AOrderedListType(DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_PROPERTIES_RECORDTYPE, null);
         String[] fieldNames = { "DatasourceAdapter", "Properties" };
@@ -137,7 +142,7 @@
     public static final int FEED_DETAILS_ARECORD_FUNCTION_FIELD_INDEX = 7;
     public static final int FEED_DETAILS_ARECORD_STATE_FIELD_INDEX = 8;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createFeedDetailsRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createFeedDetailsRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         AOrderedListType orderedListType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.ASTRING, null);
         AOrderedListType orderedListOfPropertiesType = new AOrderedListType(DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_PROPERTIES_RECORDTYPE,
                 null);
@@ -168,7 +173,7 @@
     public static final int DATASET_ARECORD_HINTS_FIELD_INDEX = 7;
     public static final int DATASET_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX = 8;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createDatasetRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createDatasetRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         String[] fieldNames = { "DataverseName", "DatasetName", "DataTypeName", "DatasetType", "InternalDetails",
                 "ExternalDetails", "FeedDetails", "Hints", "Timestamp" };
 
@@ -200,7 +205,7 @@
     public static final int FIELD_ARECORD_FIELDNAME_FIELD_INDEX = 0;
     public static final int FIELD_ARECORD_FIELDTYPE_FIELD_INDEX = 1;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createFieldRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createFieldRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         String[] fieldNames = { "FieldName", "FieldType" };
         IAType[] fieldTypes = { BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING };
         return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, true);
@@ -211,7 +216,7 @@
     public static final int RECORDTYPE_ARECORD_ISOPEN_FIELD_INDEX = 0;
     public static final int RECORDTYPE_ARECORD_FIELDS_FIELD_INDEX = 1;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createRecordTypeRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createRecordTypeRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         AOrderedListType olType = new AOrderedListType(FIELD_RECORDTYPE, null);
         String[] fieldNames = { "IsOpen", "Fields" };
         IAType[] fieldTypes = { BuiltinType.ABOOLEAN, olType };
@@ -228,7 +233,7 @@
     public static final int DERIVEDTYPE_ARECORD_UNORDEREDLIST_FIELD_INDEX = 5;
     public static final int DERIVEDTYPE_ARECORD_ORDEREDLIST_FIELD_INDEX = 6;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createDerivedTypeRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createDerivedTypeRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         String[] fieldNames = { "Tag", "IsAnonymous", "EnumValues", "Record", "Union", "UnorderedList", "OrderedList" };
         List<IAType> recordUnionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
         recordUnionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
@@ -257,7 +262,7 @@
     public static final int DATATYPE_ARECORD_DERIVED_FIELD_INDEX = 2;
     public static final int DATATYPE_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX = 3;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createDatatypeRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createDatatypeRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         String[] fieldNames = { "DataverseName", "DatatypeName", "Derived", "Timestamp" };
         List<IAType> recordUnionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
         recordUnionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
@@ -277,7 +282,7 @@
     public static final int INDEX_ARECORD_ISPRIMARY_FIELD_INDEX = 5;
     public static final int INDEX_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX = 6;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createIndexRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createIndexRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         AOrderedListType olType = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.ASTRING, null);
         String[] fieldNames = { "DataverseName", "DatasetName", "IndexName", "IndexStructure", "SearchKey",
                 "IsPrimary", "Timestamp" };
@@ -292,7 +297,7 @@
     public static final int NODE_ARECORD_NUMBEROFCORES_FIELD_INDEX = 1;
     public static final int NODE_ARECORD_WORKINGMEMORYSIZE_FIELD_INDEX = 2;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createNodeRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createNodeRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         String[] fieldNames = { "NodeName", "NumberOfCores", "WorkingMemorySize" };
         IAType[] fieldTypes = { BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.AINT32, BuiltinType.AINT32 };
         return new ARecordType("NodeRecordType", fieldNames, fieldTypes, true);
@@ -304,7 +309,7 @@
     public static final int NODEGROUP_ARECORD_NODENAMES_FIELD_INDEX = 1;
     public static final int NODEGROUP_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX = 2;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createNodeGroupRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createNodeGroupRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         AUnorderedListType ulType = new AUnorderedListType(BuiltinType.ASTRING, null);
         String[] fieldNames = { "GroupName", "NodeNames", "Timestamp" };
         IAType[] fieldTypes = { BuiltinType.ASTRING, ulType, BuiltinType.ASTRING };
@@ -326,7 +331,7 @@
     public static final int FUNCTION_ARECORD_FUNCTION_LANGUAGE_FIELD_INDEX = 6;
     public static final int FUNCTION_ARECORD_FUNCTION_KIND_FIELD_INDEX = 7;
 
-    private static final ARecordType createFunctionRecordType() {
+    private static final ARecordType createFunctionRecordType() throws AsterixException {
 
         String[] fieldNames = { "DataverseName", "Name", "Arity", "Params", "ReturnType", "Definition", "Language",
                 "Kind" };
@@ -342,7 +347,7 @@
     public static final int DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_ARECORD_TYPE_FIELD_INDEX = 3;
     public static final int DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX = 4;
 
-    private static ARecordType createDatasourceAdapterRecordType() {
+    private static ARecordType createDatasourceAdapterRecordType() throws AsterixException {
         String[] fieldNames = { "DataverseName", "Name", "Classname", "Type", "Timestamp" };
         IAType[] fieldTypes = { BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING, BuiltinType.ASTRING,
                 BuiltinType.ASTRING };
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlDataSource.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlDataSource.java
index b7ba1a1..70eafb9 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlDataSource.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlDataSource.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.declared;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -63,46 +64,54 @@
         this.id = id;
         this.dataset = dataset;
         this.datasourceType = datasourceType;
-        switch (datasourceType) {
-            case FEED:
-                initFeedDataset(itemType, dataset);
-            case INTERNAL: {
-                initInternalDataset(itemType);
-                break;
+        try {
+            switch (datasourceType) {
+                case FEED:
+                    initFeedDataset(itemType, dataset);
+                case INTERNAL: {
+                    initInternalDataset(itemType);
+                    break;
+                }
+                case EXTERNAL_FEED:
+                case EXTERNAL: {
+                    initExternalDataset(itemType);
+                    break;
+                }
+                default: {
+                    throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+                }
             }
-            case EXTERNAL_FEED:
-            case EXTERNAL: {
-                initExternalDataset(itemType);
-                break;
-            }
-            default: {
-                throw new IllegalArgumentException();
-            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
         }
     }
 
     public AqlDataSource(AqlSourceId id, Dataset dataset, IAType itemType) throws AlgebricksException {
         this.id = id;
         this.dataset = dataset;
-        switch (dataset.getDatasetType()) {
-            case FEED:
-                initFeedDataset(itemType, dataset);
-                break;
-            case INTERNAL:
-                initInternalDataset(itemType);
-                break;
-            case EXTERNAL: {
-                initExternalDataset(itemType);
-                break;
+        try {
+            switch (dataset.getDatasetType()) {
+                case FEED:
+                    initFeedDataset(itemType, dataset);
+                    break;
+                case INTERNAL:
+                    initInternalDataset(itemType);
+                    break;
+                case EXTERNAL: {
+                    initExternalDataset(itemType);
+                    break;
+                }
+                default: {
+                    throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+                }
             }
-            default: {
-                throw new IllegalArgumentException();
-            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
         }
     }
 
     // TODO: Seems like initFeedDataset() could simply call this method.
-    private void initInternalDataset(IAType itemType) {
+    private void initInternalDataset(IAType itemType) throws IOException {
         List<String> partitioningKeys = DatasetUtils.getPartitioningKeys(dataset);
         ARecordType recordType = (ARecordType) itemType;
         int n = partitioningKeys.size();
@@ -114,7 +123,7 @@
         domain = new AsterixNodeGroupDomain(DatasetUtils.getNodegroupName(dataset));
     }
 
-    private void initFeedDataset(IAType itemType, Dataset dataset) {
+    private void initFeedDataset(IAType itemType, Dataset dataset) throws IOException {
         if (dataset.getDatasetDetails() instanceof ExternalDatasetDetails) {
             initExternalDataset(itemType);
         } else {
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlMetadataProvider.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlMetadataProvider.java
index d92c76d..8719879 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlMetadataProvider.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/declared/AqlMetadataProvider.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.declared;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -851,7 +852,7 @@
                     splitsAndConstraint.first, typeTraits, comparatorFactories, fieldPermutation, indexOp,
                     new BTreeDataflowHelperFactory(), filterFactory, NoOpOperationCallbackProvider.INSTANCE, jobTxnId);
             return new Pair<IOperatorDescriptor, AlgebricksPartitionConstraint>(btreeInsert, splitsAndConstraint.second);
-        } catch (MetadataException e) {
+        } catch (MetadataException | IOException e) {
             throw new AlgebricksException(e);
         }
     }
@@ -918,8 +919,8 @@
                     new RTreeDataflowHelperFactory(valueProviderFactories), filterFactory,
                     NoOpOperationCallbackProvider.INSTANCE, jobTxnId);
             return new Pair<IOperatorDescriptor, AlgebricksPartitionConstraint>(rtreeUpdate, splitsAndConstraint.second);
-        } catch (MetadataException me) {
-            throw new AlgebricksException(me);
+        } catch (MetadataException | IOException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/ExternalDatasetDetails.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/ExternalDatasetDetails.java
index 07da617..7805424 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/ExternalDatasetDetails.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/ExternalDatasetDetails.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.DatasetConfig.DatasetType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.IDatasetDetails;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
@@ -76,7 +77,8 @@
         fieldValue.reset();
         aString.setValue(this.getAdapter());
         stringSerde.serialize(aString, fieldValue.getDataOutput());
-        externalRecordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.EXTERNAL_DETAILS_ARECORD_DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
+        externalRecordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.EXTERNAL_DETAILS_ARECORD_DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_FIELD_INDEX,
+                fieldValue);
 
         // write field 1
         listBuilder.reset((AOrderedListType) externalRecordType.getFieldTypes()[1]);
@@ -93,8 +95,8 @@
 
         try {
             externalRecordBuilder.write(out, true);
-        } catch (IOException ioe) {
-            throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
+        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(e);
         }
 
     }
@@ -121,8 +123,8 @@
 
         try {
             propertyRecordBuilder.write(out, true);
-        } catch (IOException ioe) {
-            throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
+        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(e);
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/FeedDatasetDetails.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/FeedDatasetDetails.java
index 367066b..93ba57b 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/FeedDatasetDetails.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/FeedDatasetDetails.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.DatasetConfig.DatasetType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionSignature;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
@@ -160,8 +161,8 @@
 
         try {
             feedRecordBuilder.write(out, true);
-        } catch (IOException ioe) {
-            throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
+        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(e);
         }
 
     }
@@ -188,8 +189,8 @@
 
         try {
             propertyRecordBuilder.write(out, true);
-        } catch (IOException ioe) {
-            throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
+        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/InternalDatasetDetails.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/InternalDatasetDetails.java
index 51d154a..fcc7d0b 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/InternalDatasetDetails.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entities/InternalDatasetDetails.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.DatasetConfig.DatasetType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.IDatasetDetails;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
@@ -146,8 +147,8 @@
 
         try {
             internalRecordBuilder.write(out, true);
-        } catch (IOException ioe) {
-            throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
+        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+            throw new HyracksDataException(e);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasetTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasetTupleTranslator.java
index 483bb70..a8b91ad 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasetTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasetTupleTranslator.java
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.UnorderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.DatasetConfig.DatasetType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.functions.FunctionSignature;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.IDatasetDetails;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataPrimaryIndexes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.entities.Dataset;
@@ -212,7 +214,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Dataset dataset) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Dataset dataset) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first 2 fields of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(dataset.getDataverseName());
@@ -277,7 +279,11 @@
         recordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.DATASET_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
 
         // write record
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
 
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
@@ -342,7 +348,7 @@
 
         try {
             propertyRecordBuilder.write(out, true);
-        } catch (IOException ioe) {
+        } catch (IOException | AsterixException ioe) {
             throw new HyracksDataException(ioe);
         }
     }
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasourceAdapterTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasourceAdapterTupleTranslator.java
index 6353e99..fd0d3bf 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasourceAdapterTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatasourceAdapterTupleTranslator.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Calendar;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.external.dataset.adapter.AdapterIdentifier;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
@@ -64,7 +65,8 @@
 
     private DatasourceAdapter createAdapterFromARecord(ARecord adapterRecord) {
         String dataverseName = ((AString) adapterRecord
-                .getValueByPos(MetadataRecordTypes.DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_ARECORD_DATAVERSENAME_FIELD_INDEX)).getStringValue();
+                .getValueByPos(MetadataRecordTypes.DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_ARECORD_DATAVERSENAME_FIELD_INDEX))
+                .getStringValue();
         String adapterName = ((AString) adapterRecord
                 .getValueByPos(MetadataRecordTypes.DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_ARECORD_NAME_FIELD_INDEX)).getStringValue();
         String classname = ((AString) adapterRecord
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(DatasourceAdapter adapter) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(DatasourceAdapter adapter) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first 2 fields of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(adapter.getAdapterIdentifier().getNamespace());
@@ -121,7 +123,11 @@
         recordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.DATASOURCE_ADAPTER_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
 
         // write record
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
 
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatatypeTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatatypeTupleTranslator.java
index d37fbc6..e266ff7 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatatypeTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DatatypeTupleTranslator.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.IARecordBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataNode;
@@ -140,8 +141,12 @@
                         fieldTypes[fieldId] = getTypeFromTypeName(dataverseName, fieldTypeName);
                         fieldId++;
                     }
-                    return new Datatype(dataverseName, datatypeName, new ARecordType(datatypeName, fieldNames,
-                            fieldTypes, isOpen), isAnonymous);
+                    try {
+                        return new Datatype(dataverseName, datatypeName, new ARecordType(datatypeName, fieldNames,
+                                fieldTypes, isOpen), isAnonymous);
+                    } catch (AsterixException e) {
+                        throw new MetadataException(e);
+                    }
                 }
                 case UNION: {
                     IACursor cursor = ((AOrderedList) derivedTypeRecord
@@ -189,7 +194,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Datatype dataType) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Datatype dataType) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first two fields of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(dataType.getDataverseName());
@@ -218,7 +223,11 @@
         ATypeTag tag = dataType.getDatatype().getTypeTag();
         if (isDerivedType(tag)) {
             fieldValue.reset();
-            writeDerivedTypeRecord(dataType, fieldValue.getDataOutput());
+            try {
+                writeDerivedTypeRecord(dataType, fieldValue.getDataOutput());
+            } catch (AsterixException e) {
+                throw new MetadataException(e);
+            }
             recordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.DATATYPE_ARECORD_DERIVED_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
         }
 
@@ -229,14 +238,18 @@
         recordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.DATATYPE_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
 
         // write record
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
 
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
         return tuple;
     }
 
-    public void writeDerivedTypeRecord(Datatype type, DataOutput out) throws IOException {
+    private void writeDerivedTypeRecord(Datatype type, DataOutput out) throws IOException, AsterixException {
         DerivedTypeTag tag;
         IARecordBuilder derivedRecordBuilder = new RecordBuilder();
         ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValue = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
@@ -348,7 +361,7 @@
         listBuilder.write(dataOutput, true);
     }
 
-    public void writeRecordType(Datatype instance, DataOutput out) throws IOException {
+    private void writeRecordType(Datatype instance, DataOutput out) throws IOException, AsterixException {
 
         ArrayBackedValueStorage fieldValue = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
         ArrayBackedValueStorage itemValue = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DataverseTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DataverseTupleTranslator.java
index 271bf90..2fefa4e 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DataverseTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/DataverseTupleTranslator.java
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Calendar;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataPrimaryIndexes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.entities.Dataverse;
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Dataverse instance) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Dataverse instance) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first field of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(instance.getDataverseName());
@@ -88,7 +90,11 @@
         stringSerde.serialize(aString, fieldValue.getDataOutput());
         recordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.DATAVERSE_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
 
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
 
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/FunctionTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/FunctionTupleTranslator.java
index 8296a22..d3c2bb0 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/FunctionTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/FunctionTupleTranslator.java
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
 import java.util.List;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataPrimaryIndexes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.entities.Function;
@@ -48,7 +50,6 @@
     // Third key field.
     public static final int FUNCTION_FUNCTIONARITY_TUPLE_FIELD_INDEX = 2;
 
-    
     // Payload field containing serialized Function.
     public static final int FUNCTION_PAYLOAD_TUPLE_FIELD_INDEX = 3;
 
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Function function) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Function function) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first 2 fields of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(function.getDataverseName());
@@ -178,7 +179,11 @@
         recordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.FUNCTION_ARECORD_FUNCTION_KIND_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
 
         // write record
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
 
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/IndexTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/IndexTupleTranslator.java
index d71480f..90e81fb 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/IndexTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/IndexTupleTranslator.java
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.OrderedListBuilder;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.DatasetConfig.IndexType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataPrimaryIndexes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.entities.Index;
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Index instance) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Index instance) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first 3 fields of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(instance.getDataverseName());
@@ -181,11 +183,19 @@
             aString.setValue(GRAM_LENGTH_FIELD_NAME);
             stringSerde.serialize(aString, nameValue.getDataOutput());
             intSerde.serialize(new AInt32(instance.getGramLength()), fieldValue.getDataOutput());
-            recordBuilder.addField(nameValue, fieldValue);
+            try {
+                recordBuilder.addField(nameValue, fieldValue);
+            } catch (AsterixException e) {
+                throw new MetadataException(e);
+            }
         }
 
         // write record
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
 
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeGroupTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeGroupTupleTranslator.java
index da66d4b..fe34334 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeGroupTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeGroupTupleTranslator.java
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@
 import java.util.List;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.UnorderedListBuilder;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataPrimaryIndexes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.entities.NodeGroup;
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(NodeGroup instance) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(NodeGroup instance) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first field of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(instance.getNodeGroupName());
@@ -114,7 +116,11 @@
         stringSerde.serialize(aString, fieldValue.getDataOutput());
         recordBuilder.addField(MetadataRecordTypes.NODEGROUP_ARECORD_TIMESTAMP_FIELD_INDEX, fieldValue);
 
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
 
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeTupleTranslator.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeTupleTranslator.java
index 8d324b4..ba25eb6 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeTupleTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/entitytupletranslators/NodeTupleTranslator.java
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@
 
 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.metadata.MetadataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataPrimaryIndexes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.bootstrap.MetadataRecordTypes;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.entities.Node;
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Node instance) throws IOException {
+    public ITupleReference getTupleFromMetadataEntity(Node instance) throws IOException, MetadataException {
         // write the key in the first field of the tuple
         tupleBuilder.reset();
         aString.setValue(instance.getNodeName());
@@ -121,7 +123,11 @@
         // listBuilder.write(fieldValue.getDataOutput());
         // recordBuilder.addField(3, fieldValue);
 
-        recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        try {
+            recordBuilder.write(tupleBuilder.getDataOutput(), true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new MetadataException(e);
+        }
         tupleBuilder.addFieldEndOffset();
         tuple.reset(tupleBuilder.getFieldEndOffsets(), tupleBuilder.getByteArray());
         return tuple;
diff --git a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/utils/DatasetUtils.java b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/utils/DatasetUtils.java
index cead5f2..555c853 100644
--- a/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/utils/DatasetUtils.java
+++ b/asterix-metadata/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/metadata/utils/DatasetUtils.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.metadata.utils;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.DatasetConfig.DatasetType;
@@ -25,7 +26,12 @@
         List<String> partitioningKeys = getPartitioningKeys(dataset);
         IBinaryComparatorFactory[] bcfs = new IBinaryComparatorFactory[partitioningKeys.size()];
         for (int i = 0; i < partitioningKeys.size(); i++) {
-            IAType keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            IAType keyType;
+            try {
+                keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
             bcfs[i] = comparatorFactoryProvider.getBinaryComparatorFactory(keyType, true);
         }
         return bcfs;
@@ -39,7 +45,12 @@
         List<String> partitioningKeys = getPartitioningKeys(dataset);
         IBinaryHashFunctionFactory[] bhffs = new IBinaryHashFunctionFactory[partitioningKeys.size()];
         for (int i = 0; i < partitioningKeys.size(); i++) {
-            IAType keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            IAType keyType;
+            try {
+                keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
             bhffs[i] = hashFunProvider.getBinaryHashFunctionFactory(keyType);
         }
         return bhffs;
@@ -54,7 +65,12 @@
         int numKeys = partitioningKeys.size();
         ITypeTraits[] typeTraits = new ITypeTraits[numKeys + 1];
         for (int i = 0; i < numKeys; i++) {
-            IAType keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            IAType keyType;
+            try {
+                keyType = itemType.getFieldType(partitioningKeys.get(i));
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+            }
             typeTraits[i] = AqlTypeTraitProvider.INSTANCE.getTypeTrait(keyType);
         }
         typeTraits[numKeys] = AqlTypeTraitProvider.INSTANCE.getTypeTrait(itemType);
diff --git a/asterix-om/pom.xml b/asterix-om/pom.xml
index 8cceaa0..8ff3f84 100644
--- a/asterix-om/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-om/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -14,8 +15,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 		</plugins>
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/IARecordBuilder.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/IARecordBuilder.java
index 544b532..4542d76 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/IARecordBuilder.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/IARecordBuilder.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
 
@@ -49,8 +50,9 @@
      *            The field name.
      * @param out
      *            The field value.
+     * @throws AsterixException
      */
-    public void addField(IValueReference name, IValueReference value);
+    public void addField(IValueReference name, IValueReference value) throws AsterixException;
 
     /**
      * @param out
@@ -59,8 +61,9 @@
      *            Whether to write a typetag as part of the record's serialized
      *            representation.
      * @throws IOException
+     * @throws AsterixException
      */
-    public void write(DataOutput out, boolean writeTypeTag) throws IOException;
+    public void write(DataOutput out, boolean writeTypeTag) throws IOException, AsterixException;
 
     public int getFieldId(String fieldName);
 
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/RecordBuilder.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/RecordBuilder.java
index 03f0e20..1530f97 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/RecordBuilder.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/builders/RecordBuilder.java
@@ -1,40 +1,31 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders;
 
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
 import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
 import java.io.DataOutput;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.SerializerDeserializerUtil;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.util.NonTaggedFormatUtil;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryHashFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.accessors.PointableBinaryComparatorFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.accessors.PointableBinaryHashFunctionFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.UTF8StringSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class RecordBuilder implements IARecordBuilder {
-    private int openPartOffset;
+    private final static int DEFAULT_NUM_OPEN_FIELDS = 10;
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static byte RECORD_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.RECORD.serialize();
 
-    private ARecordType recType;
-
-    private ByteArrayOutputStream closedPartOutputStream;
-    private int[] closedPartOffsets;
-    private int numberOfClosedFields;
-    private byte[] nullBitMap;
-    private int nullBitMapSize;
-
-    private ByteArrayOutputStream openPartOutputStream;
-    private long[] openPartOffsets;
-    private long[] tempOpenPartOffsets;
-
-    private int numberOfOpenFields;
-
-    private int fieldNameHashCode;
-    private final IBinaryHashFunction utf8HashFunction;
-
-    // for write()
     private int openPartOffsetArraySize;
     private byte[] openPartOffsetArray;
     private int offsetPosition;
@@ -42,25 +33,40 @@
     private boolean isOpen;
     private boolean isNullable;
     private int numberOfSchemaFields;
-    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
-    private final static byte RECORD_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.RECORD.serialize();
+
+    private int openPartOffset;
+    private ARecordType recType;
+
+    private final IBinaryHashFunction utf8HashFunction;
+    private final IBinaryComparator utf8Comparator;
+
+    private final ByteArrayOutputStream closedPartOutputStream;
+    private int[] closedPartOffsets;
+    private int numberOfClosedFields;
+    private byte[] nullBitMap;
+    private int nullBitMapSize;
+
+    private final ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream openPartOutputStream;
+    private long[] openPartOffsets;
+    private int[] openFieldNameLengths;
+
+    private int numberOfOpenFields;
 
     public RecordBuilder() {
 
         this.closedPartOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
         this.numberOfClosedFields = 0;
 
-        this.openPartOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
-        this.openPartOffsets = new long[20];
-        this.tempOpenPartOffsets = new long[20];
-
+        this.openPartOutputStream = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+        this.openPartOffsets = new long[DEFAULT_NUM_OPEN_FIELDS];
+        this.openFieldNameLengths = new int[DEFAULT_NUM_OPEN_FIELDS];
         this.numberOfOpenFields = 0;
 
-        this.fieldNameHashCode = 0;
         this.utf8HashFunction = new PointableBinaryHashFunctionFactory(UTF8StringPointable.FACTORY)
                 .createBinaryHashFunction();
+        this.utf8Comparator = new PointableBinaryComparatorFactory(UTF8StringPointable.FACTORY)
+                .createBinaryComparator();
 
-        // for write()
         this.openPartOffsetArray = null;
         this.openPartOffsetArraySize = 0;
         this.offsetPosition = 0;
@@ -135,23 +141,31 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void addField(IValueReference name, IValueReference value) {
+    public void addField(IValueReference name, IValueReference value) throws AsterixException {
         if (numberOfOpenFields == openPartOffsets.length) {
-            tempOpenPartOffsets = openPartOffsets;
-            openPartOffsets = new long[numberOfOpenFields + 20];
-            for (int i = 0; i < tempOpenPartOffsets.length; i++)
-                openPartOffsets[i] = tempOpenPartOffsets[i];
+            openPartOffsets = Arrays.copyOf(openPartOffsets, openPartOffsets.length + DEFAULT_NUM_OPEN_FIELDS);
+            openFieldNameLengths = Arrays.copyOf(openFieldNameLengths, openFieldNameLengths.length
+                    + DEFAULT_NUM_OPEN_FIELDS);
         }
-        fieldNameHashCode = utf8HashFunction.hash(name.getByteArray(), name.getStartOffset() + 1, name.getLength());
+        int fieldNameHashCode = utf8HashFunction.hash(name.getByteArray(), name.getStartOffset() + 1, name.getLength());
+        if (recType != null) {
+            int cFieldPos = recType.findFieldPosition(name.getByteArray(), name.getStartOffset() + 1,
+                    name.getLength() - 1);
+            if (cFieldPos >= 0) {
+                throw new AsterixException("Open field \"" + recType.getFieldNames()[cFieldPos]
+                        + "\" has the same field name as closed field at index " + cFieldPos);
+            }
+        }
         openPartOffsets[this.numberOfOpenFields] = fieldNameHashCode;
         openPartOffsets[this.numberOfOpenFields] = (openPartOffsets[numberOfOpenFields] << 32);
-        openPartOffsets[numberOfOpenFields++] += openPartOutputStream.size();
+        openPartOffsets[numberOfOpenFields] += openPartOutputStream.size();
+        openFieldNameLengths[numberOfOpenFields++] = name.getLength() - 1;
         openPartOutputStream.write(name.getByteArray(), name.getStartOffset() + 1, name.getLength() - 1);
         openPartOutputStream.write(value.getByteArray(), value.getStartOffset(), value.getLength());
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void write(DataOutput out, boolean writeTypeTag) throws IOException {
+    public void write(DataOutput out, boolean writeTypeTag) throws IOException, AsterixException {
         int h = headerSize;
         int recordLength;
         // prepare the open part
@@ -163,13 +177,27 @@
                 openPartOffsetArray = new byte[openPartOffsetArraySize];
 
             Arrays.sort(this.openPartOffsets, 0, numberOfOpenFields);
+            if (numberOfOpenFields > 1) {
+                byte[] openBytes = openPartOutputStream.getByteArray();
+                for (int i = 1; i < numberOfOpenFields; i++) {
+                    if (utf8Comparator.compare(openBytes, (int) openPartOffsets[i - 1], openFieldNameLengths[i - 1],
+                            openBytes, (int) openPartOffsets[i], openFieldNameLengths[i]) == 0) {
+                        String field = UTF8StringSerializerDeserializer.INSTANCE
+                                .deserialize(new DataInputStream(new ByteArrayInputStream(openBytes,
+                                        (int) openPartOffsets[i], openFieldNameLengths[i])));
+                        throw new AsterixException("Open fields " + (i - 1) + " and " + i
+                                + " have the same field name \"" + field + "\"");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
 
             openPartOffset = h + numberOfSchemaFields * 4 + closedPartOutputStream.size();
+            int fieldNameHashCode;
             for (int i = 0; i < numberOfOpenFields; i++) {
                 fieldNameHashCode = (int) (openPartOffsets[i] >> 32);
                 SerializerDeserializerUtil.writeIntToByteArray(openPartOffsetArray, (int) fieldNameHashCode,
                         offsetPosition);
-                int fieldOffset = (int) ((openPartOffsets[i] << 64) >> 64);
+                int fieldOffset = (int) openPartOffsets[i];
                 SerializerDeserializerUtil.writeIntToByteArray(openPartOffsetArray, fieldOffset + openPartOffset + 4
                         + openPartOffsetArraySize, offsetPosition + 4);
                 offsetPosition += 8;
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/dataflow/data/nontagged/serde/ARecordSerializerDeserializer.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/dataflow/data/nontagged/serde/ARecordSerializerDeserializer.java
index 393f634..bcd71be 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/dataflow/data/nontagged/serde/ARecordSerializerDeserializer.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/dataflow/data/nontagged/serde/ARecordSerializerDeserializer.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 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.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryComparatorFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlBinaryHashFunctionFactoryProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@
             } else {
                 return new ARecord(this.recordType, closedFields);
             }
-        } catch (IOException e) {
+        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
             throw new HyracksDataException(e);
         }
     }
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@
         return fields;
     }
 
-    private ARecordType mergeRecordTypes(ARecordType recType1, ARecordType recType2) {
+    private ARecordType mergeRecordTypes(ARecordType recType1, ARecordType recType2) throws AsterixException {
 
         String[] fieldNames = new String[recType1.getFieldNames().length + recType2.getFieldNames().length];
         IAType[] fieldTypes = new IAType[recType1.getFieldTypes().length + recType2.getFieldTypes().length];
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@
             }
             try {
                 recordBuilder.write(out, false);
-            } catch (IOException e) {
+            } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
                 throw new HyracksDataException(e);
             }
         } else {
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/pointables/base/DefaultOpenFieldType.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/pointables/base/DefaultOpenFieldType.java
index 9184616..b372ca4 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/pointables/base/DefaultOpenFieldType.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/pointables/base/DefaultOpenFieldType.java
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.pointables.base;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixRuntimeException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AOrderedListType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
@@ -27,13 +29,19 @@
  * fields in the open part, e.g., a "record" (nested) field in the open part is
  * always a fully open one, and a "list" field in the open part is always a list
  * of "ANY".
- * 
  */
 public class DefaultOpenFieldType {
 
     // nested open field rec type
-    public static ARecordType NESTED_OPEN_RECORD_TYPE = new ARecordType("nested-open", new String[] {},
-            new IAType[] {}, true);
+    public static ARecordType NESTED_OPEN_RECORD_TYPE;
+
+    static {
+        try {
+            NESTED_OPEN_RECORD_TYPE = new ARecordType("nested-open", new String[] {}, new IAType[] {}, true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AsterixRuntimeException();
+        }
+    }
 
     // nested open list type
     public static AOrderedListType NESTED_OPEN_AORDERED_LIST_TYPE = new AOrderedListType(BuiltinType.ANY,
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/ClosedRecordConstructorResultType.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/ClosedRecordConstructorResultType.java
index daf7164..15da765 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/ClosedRecordConstructorResultType.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/ClosedRecordConstructorResultType.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.mutable.Mutable;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.constants.AsterixConstantValue;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.typecomputer.base.IResultTypeComputer;
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@
         ARecordType type = (ARecordType) TypeComputerUtilities.getRequiredType(f);
         if (type != null)
             return type;
-        
+
         int n = f.getArguments().size() / 2;
         String[] fieldNames = new String[n];
         IAType[] fieldTypes = new IAType[n];
@@ -68,6 +69,10 @@
             fieldTypes[i] = (IAType) env.getType(e2);
             i++;
         }
-        return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, false);
+        try {
+            return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, false);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/NonTaggedLocalAvgTypeComputer.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/NonTaggedLocalAvgTypeComputer.java
index 8b54197..9099acc 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/NonTaggedLocalAvgTypeComputer.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/NonTaggedLocalAvgTypeComputer.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.typecomputer.base.IResultTypeComputer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
@@ -23,7 +24,11 @@
         List<IAType> unionList = new ArrayList<IAType>();
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ANULL);
         unionList.add(BuiltinType.ADOUBLE);
-        return new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
-                new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+        try {
+            return new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                    new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/OpenRecordConstructorResultType.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/OpenRecordConstructorResultType.java
index c46c59b..92fa7ca 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/OpenRecordConstructorResultType.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/OpenRecordConstructorResultType.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.mutable.Mutable;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.constants.AsterixConstantValue;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.typecomputer.base.IResultTypeComputer;
@@ -72,6 +73,10 @@
         IAType[] fieldTypes = new IAType[n];
         fieldNames = namesList.toArray(fieldNames);
         fieldTypes = typesList.toArray(fieldTypes);
-        return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, true);
+        try {
+            return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/RecordConstructorResultType.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/RecordConstructorResultType.java
index d20f43b..6a594b4 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/RecordConstructorResultType.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/typecomputer/impl/RecordConstructorResultType.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.mutable.Mutable;
 
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AString;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.constants.AsterixConstantValue;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.typecomputer.base.IResultTypeComputer;
@@ -58,6 +59,10 @@
             }
             i++;
         }
-        return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, isOpen);
+        try {
+            return new ARecordType(null, fieldNames, fieldTypes, isOpen);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/types/ARecordType.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/types/ARecordType.java
index 1cf6ba7..6a980cb 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/types/ARecordType.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/types/ARecordType.java
@@ -1,15 +1,23 @@
 package edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types;
 
+import java.io.DataOutputStream;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.ObjectInputStream;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
-import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Map;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.annotations.IRecordTypeAnnotation;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.IAObject;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.visitors.IOMVisitor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.IBinaryHashFunction;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.accessors.PointableBinaryComparatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.accessors.PointableBinaryHashFunctionFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.primitive.UTF8StringPointable;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.marshalling.UTF8StringSerializerDeserializer;
 
 public class ARecordType extends AbstractComplexType {
 
@@ -18,16 +26,87 @@
     private IAType[] fieldTypes;
     private boolean isOpen;
     private final List<IRecordTypeAnnotation> annotations = new ArrayList<IRecordTypeAnnotation>();
-    private final Map<String, Integer> typeMap = new HashMap<String, Integer>();
 
-    public ARecordType(String typeName, String[] fieldNames, IAType[] fieldTypes, boolean isOpen) {
+    private transient IBinaryHashFunction fieldNameHashFunction;
+    private transient IBinaryComparator fieldNameComparator;
+    private final byte serializedFieldNames[];
+    private final int serializedFieldNameOffsets[];
+    private final long hashCodeIndexPairs[];
+
+    public ARecordType(String typeName, String[] fieldNames, IAType[] fieldTypes, boolean isOpen)
+            throws AsterixException {
         super(typeName);
         this.fieldNames = fieldNames;
         this.fieldTypes = fieldTypes;
         this.isOpen = isOpen;
+
+        fieldNameComparator = new PointableBinaryComparatorFactory(UTF8StringPointable.FACTORY)
+                .createBinaryComparator();
+        fieldNameHashFunction = new PointableBinaryHashFunctionFactory(UTF8StringPointable.FACTORY)
+                .createBinaryHashFunction();
+        ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream baaos = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+        DataOutputStream dos = new DataOutputStream(baaos);
+        serializedFieldNameOffsets = new int[fieldNames.length];
+        hashCodeIndexPairs = new long[fieldNames.length];
+
+        int length = 0;
         for (int i = 0; i < fieldNames.length; i++) {
-            typeMap.put(fieldNames[i], i);
+            serializedFieldNameOffsets[i] = baaos.size();
+            try {
+                dos.writeUTF(fieldNames[i]);
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                //                throw new HyracksDataException(e);
+            }
+            length = baaos.size() - serializedFieldNameOffsets[i];
+            hashCodeIndexPairs[i] = fieldNameHashFunction.hash(baaos.getByteArray(), serializedFieldNameOffsets[i],
+                    length);
+            hashCodeIndexPairs[i] = hashCodeIndexPairs[i] << 32;
+            hashCodeIndexPairs[i] = hashCodeIndexPairs[i] | i;
         }
+        serializedFieldNames = baaos.getByteArray();
+
+        Arrays.sort(hashCodeIndexPairs);
+        int j;
+        for (int i = 0; i < fieldNames.length; i++) {
+            j = findFieldPosition(serializedFieldNames, serializedFieldNameOffsets[i],
+                    UTF8StringPointable.getStringLength(serializedFieldNames, serializedFieldNameOffsets[i]));
+            if (j != i) {
+                throw new AsterixException("Closed fields " + j + " and " + i + " have the same field name \""
+                        + fieldNames[i] + "\"");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void readObject(ObjectInputStream ois) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException {
+        ois.defaultReadObject();
+        fieldNameComparator = new PointableBinaryComparatorFactory(UTF8StringPointable.FACTORY)
+                .createBinaryComparator();
+        fieldNameHashFunction = new PointableBinaryHashFunctionFactory(UTF8StringPointable.FACTORY)
+                .createBinaryHashFunction();
+    }
+
+    public int findFieldPosition(byte[] bytes, int start, int length) {
+        if (hashCodeIndexPairs.length == 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        int fIndex;
+        int probeFieldHash = fieldNameHashFunction.hash(bytes, start, length);
+        int i = Arrays.binarySearch(hashCodeIndexPairs, ((long) probeFieldHash) << 32);
+        i = (i < 0) ? (i = -1 * (i + 1)) : i;
+
+        while (i < hashCodeIndexPairs.length && (int) (hashCodeIndexPairs[i] >>> 32) == probeFieldHash) {
+            fIndex = (int) hashCodeIndexPairs[i];
+            int cFieldLength = UTF8StringPointable.getStringLength(serializedFieldNames,
+                    serializedFieldNameOffsets[fIndex]);
+            if (fieldNameComparator.compare(serializedFieldNames, serializedFieldNameOffsets[fIndex], cFieldLength,
+                    bytes, start, length) == 0) {
+                return fIndex;
+            }
+            i++;
+        }
+
+        return -1;
     }
 
     public final String[] getFieldNames() {
@@ -73,17 +152,15 @@
         return isOpen;
     }
 
-    public int findFieldPosition(String fldName) {
-        for (int i = 0; i < fieldNames.length; i++) {
-            if (fieldNames[i].equals(fldName)) {
-                return i;
-            }
-        }
-        return -1;
+    public int findFieldPosition(String fieldName) throws IOException {
+        ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream baaos = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+        DataOutputStream dos = new DataOutputStream(baaos);
+        UTF8StringSerializerDeserializer.INSTANCE.serialize(fieldName, dos);
+        return findFieldPosition(baaos.getByteArray(), 0, baaos.getByteArray().length);
     }
 
-    public IAType getFieldType(String fieldName) {
-        return fieldTypes[typeMap.get(fieldName)];
+    public IAType getFieldType(String fieldName) throws IOException {
+        return fieldTypes[findFieldPosition(fieldName)];
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -115,12 +192,11 @@
     public int hash() {
         int h = 0;
         for (int i = 0; i < fieldNames.length; i++) {
-            h += 31 * h + fieldNames[i].hashCode();
+            h += 31 * h + (int) (hashCodeIndexPairs[i] >> 32);
         }
         for (int i = 0; i < fieldTypes.length; i++) {
             h += 31 * h + fieldTypes[i].hashCode();
         }
         return h;
     }
-
 }
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/pom.xml b/asterix-runtime/pom.xml
index a56f732..be64661 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-runtime/pom.xml
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 	      	<plugin>
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 89081ab..83326fa 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
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
+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;
@@ -59,8 +60,15 @@
         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);
+        }
+
+        final ARecordType recType = _recType;
 
         return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
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 41047f7..c97efbb 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
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
+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;
@@ -63,8 +64,15 @@
         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);
+        }
+
+        final ARecordType recType = _recType;
 
         return new ICopySerializableAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
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 4fe5e35..ebd5a19 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
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import java.util.List;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.config.GlobalConfig;
+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;
@@ -64,8 +65,15 @@
         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 _recType;
+        try {
+            _recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                    new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, true);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+        final ARecordType recType = _recType;
 
         return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
@@ -78,7 +86,7 @@
 
                     private DataOutput out = provider.getDataOutput();
                     private ArrayBackedValueStorage inputVal = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);                    
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval = args[0].createEvaluator(inputVal);
                     private double sum;
                     private int count;
                     private ATypeTag aggType;
@@ -115,13 +123,13 @@
                     @Override
                     public void step(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
                         inputVal.reset();
-                        eval.evaluate(tuple);                        
+                        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) {                           
+                        } else if (aggType == ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
                             aggType = typeTag;
                         } else if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL && typeTag != aggType) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException("Unexpected type " + typeTag
@@ -129,7 +137,7 @@
                         }
                         if (typeTag != ATypeTag.SYSTEM_NULL) {
                             ++count;
-                        }                        
+                        }
                         switch (typeTag) {
                             case INT8: {
                                 byte val = AInt8SerializerDeserializer.getByte(inputVal.getByteArray(), 1);
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 347f5e7..3d92f13 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
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
-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;
@@ -61,8 +61,15 @@
         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 _recType;
+        try {
+            _recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                    new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+        } catch (AsterixException e) {
+            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+        }
+
+        final ARecordType recType = _recType;
 
         return new ICopyAggregateFunctionFactory() {
             private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
@@ -114,7 +121,7 @@
                         inputVal.reset();
                         eval.evaluate(tuple);
                         byte[] serBytes = inputVal.getByteArray();
-                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]);                        
+                        ATypeTag typeTag = EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(serBytes[0]);
                         switch (typeTag) {
                             case NULL: {
                                 metNull = true;
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 de02246..89ff3b2 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
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
-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;
@@ -72,8 +72,15 @@
                 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 _recType;
+                try {
+                    _recType = new ARecordType(null, new String[] { "sum", "count" }, new IAType[] {
+                            new AUnionType(unionList, "OptionalDouble"), BuiltinType.AINT32 }, false);
+                } catch (AsterixException e) {
+                    throw new AlgebricksException(e);
+                }
+
+                final ARecordType recType = _recType;
 
                 return new ICopyAggregateFunction() {
 
@@ -204,5 +211,4 @@
             }
         };
     }
-
 }
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 38983e2..99c3f5b 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
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 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.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
@@ -72,8 +73,8 @@
                     }
                 }
                 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/OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/OpenRecordConstructorDescriptor.java
index 77869ba..dcd70d6 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
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.builders.RecordBuilder;
+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;
@@ -86,8 +87,8 @@
                                 }
                             }
                             recBuilder.write(out, true);
-                        } catch (IOException ioe) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(ioe);
+                        } catch (IOException | AsterixException e) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(e);
                         }
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/asterix-test-framework/pom.xml b/asterix-test-framework/pom.xml
index 2f0142e..9462b5d 100755
--- a/asterix-test-framework/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-test-framework/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -13,21 +14,21 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
-            <plugin>
-                <groupId>org.jvnet.jaxb2.maven2</groupId>
-                <artifactId>maven-jaxb2-plugin</artifactId>
-                <executions>
-                    <execution>
-                        <goals>
-                            <goal>generate</goal>
-                        </goals>
-                    </execution>
-                </executions>
-            </plugin>
+			<plugin>
+				<groupId>org.jvnet.jaxb2.maven2</groupId>
+				<artifactId>maven-jaxb2-plugin</artifactId>
+				<executions>
+					<execution>
+						<goals>
+							<goal>generate</goal>
+						</goals>
+					</execution>
+				</executions>
+			</plugin>
 		</plugins>
 	</build>
 
diff --git a/asterix-tools/pom.xml b/asterix-tools/pom.xml
index 62176d9..0440618 100644
--- a/asterix-tools/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-tools/pom.xml
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 			<plugin>
diff --git a/asterix-transactions/pom.xml b/asterix-transactions/pom.xml
index 7db5cd9..a402077 100644
--- a/asterix-transactions/pom.xml
+++ b/asterix-transactions/pom.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-<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>
@@ -16,8 +17,8 @@
 				<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>
 				</configuration>
 			</plugin>
 		</plugins>
@@ -25,9 +26,9 @@
 	</build>
 
 	<dependencies>
-	    <dependency>
-  		<groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-  		<artifactId>hyracks-storage-am-common</artifactId>
-  	</dependency>
+		<dependency>
+			<groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
+			<artifactId>hyracks-storage-am-common</artifactId>
+		</dependency>
 	</dependencies>
 </project>