diff --git a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java
index 8756078..7130c26 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java
+++ b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceEnforcedListTypeRule;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceInstantLockSearchCallbackRule;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceMaterializationForInsertWithSelfScanRule;
-import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectRule;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectAssignRule;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceSecondaryIndexInsertDeleteRule;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceStaticTypeCastForInsertRule;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceUnnestForCollectionToSequenceRule;
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@
         physicalRewritesTopLevel.add(new PushLimitDownRule());
         physicalRewritesTopLevel.add(new IntroduceProjectsRule());
         physicalRewritesTopLevel.add(new SetAlgebricksPhysicalOperatorsRule());
-        physicalRewritesTopLevel.add(new IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectRule());
+        physicalRewritesTopLevel.add(new IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectAssignRule());
         physicalRewritesTopLevel.add(new SetExecutionModeRule());
         return physicalRewritesTopLevel;
     }
diff --git a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectRule.java b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectAssignRule.java
similarity index 67%
rename from asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectRule.java
rename to asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectAssignRule.java
index d3e11ed2..98f7eeb 100644
--- a/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectRule.java
+++ b/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/optimizer/rules/IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectAssignRule.java
@@ -22,21 +22,23 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.base.IOptimizationContext;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.base.LogicalOperatorTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.logical.AbstractLogicalOperator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.logical.AssignOperator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.logical.ExtensionOperator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.logical.ProjectOperator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.physical.AssignPOperator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.operators.physical.StreamProjectPOperator;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.rewriter.base.IAlgebraicRewriteRule;
 
 /**
- * This rule will search for project operators in an insert/delete/update plan and
- * pass a hint to all those projects between the first "insert" and the commit
- * operator. This hint is used by the project operator so that frames are pushed to
+ * This rule will search for project and assign operators in an insert/delete/update plan and
+ * pass a hint to all of them. This hint is used by the project and assign operators so that frames are pushed to
  * the next operator without waiting until they get full. The purpose of this is to
- * reduce the time of holding exclusive locks on the keys that have been inserted.
+ * reduce the time of holding exclusive locks on the keys that have been inserted. Also to allow feeds batching
+ * to work correctly.
  * 
  * @author salsubaiee
  */
-public class IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectRule implements IAlgebraicRewriteRule {
+public class IntroduceRapidFrameFlushProjectAssignRule implements IAlgebraicRewriteRule {
 
     @Override
     public boolean rewritePre(Mutable<ILogicalOperator> opRef, IOptimizationContext context) throws AlgebricksException {
@@ -52,44 +54,49 @@
             return false;
         }
 
-        AbstractLogicalOperator descendantOp = op;
-        while (descendantOp != null) {
-            if (descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.PROJECT) {
+        for (int i = 0; i < op.getInputs().size(); ++i) {
+            AbstractLogicalOperator descendantOp = (AbstractLogicalOperator) op.getInputs().get(i).getValue();
+
+            if (descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.PROJECT
+                    || descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.ASSIGN) {
                 if (descendantOp.getPhysicalOperator() == null) {
                     return false;
                 }
-            } else if (descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.INSERT_DELETE) {
-                break;
             }
-            descendantOp = (AbstractLogicalOperator) descendantOp.getInputs().get(0).getValue();
+            checkIfRuleIsApplicable(descendantOp);
         }
         return true;
     }
 
+    private boolean changeRule(AbstractLogicalOperator op) {
+        boolean planModified = false;
+        for (int i = 0; i < op.getInputs().size(); ++i) {
+            AbstractLogicalOperator descendantOp = (AbstractLogicalOperator) op.getInputs().get(i).getValue();
+
+            if (descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.PROJECT) {
+                ProjectOperator projectOp = (ProjectOperator) descendantOp;
+                StreamProjectPOperator physicalOp = (StreamProjectPOperator) projectOp.getPhysicalOperator();
+                physicalOp.setRapidFrameFlush(true);
+                planModified = true;
+            } else if (descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.ASSIGN) {
+                AssignOperator assignOp = (AssignOperator) descendantOp;
+                AssignPOperator physicalOp = (AssignPOperator) assignOp.getPhysicalOperator();
+                physicalOp.setRapidFrameFlush(true);
+                planModified = true;
+            }
+            changeRule(descendantOp);
+        }
+        return planModified;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public boolean rewritePost(Mutable<ILogicalOperator> opRef, IOptimizationContext context)
             throws AlgebricksException {
 
         AbstractLogicalOperator op = (AbstractLogicalOperator) opRef.getValue();
-
         if (!checkIfRuleIsApplicable(op)) {
             return false;
         }
-        AbstractLogicalOperator descendantOp = op;
-        ProjectOperator projectOp = null;
-
-        boolean planModified = false;
-        while (descendantOp != null) {
-            if (descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.PROJECT) {
-                projectOp = (ProjectOperator) descendantOp;
-                StreamProjectPOperator physicalOp = (StreamProjectPOperator) projectOp.getPhysicalOperator();
-                physicalOp.setRapidFrameFlush(true);
-                planModified = true;
-            } else if (descendantOp.getOperatorTag() == LogicalOperatorTag.INSERT_DELETE) {
-                break;
-            }
-            descendantOp = (AbstractLogicalOperator) descendantOp.getInputs().get(0).getValue();
-        }
-        return planModified;
+        return changeRule(op);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/data/csv/sample_01.csv b/asterix-app/data/csv/sample_01.csv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dd437a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/data/csv/sample_01.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+1,0.899682764,5.6256,2013-08-07,07:22:35,1979-02-25T23:48:27.034
+2,0.669052398,,-1923-03-29,19:33:34,-1979-02-25T23:48:27.002
+3,0.572733058,192674,-1923-03-28,19:33:34,-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001
+4,,192674,-1923-03-27,19:33:34,-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001
+5,0.572733058,192674,,19:33:34,-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001
+6,0.572733058,192674,-1923-03-25,,-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001
+7,0.572733058,192674,-1923-03-24,19:33:34,
+8,,,,,
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/aql/translator/AqlTranslator.java b/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/aql/translator/AqlTranslator.java
index e931271..8aba12a 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/aql/translator/AqlTranslator.java
+++ b/asterix-app/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/aql/translator/AqlTranslator.java
@@ -1268,6 +1268,7 @@
         acquireReadLatch();
 
         try {
+            metadataProvider.setWriteTransaction(true);
             BeginFeedStatement bfs = (BeginFeedStatement) stmt;
             String dataverseName = getActiveDataverseName(bfs.getDataverseName());
 
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.1.ddl.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.1.ddl.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e890942
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.1.ddl.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * CSV file loading test
+ * Expected result: success
+ *
+ */
+ 
+drop dataverse temp if exists;
+create dataverse temp
+use dataverse temp;
+
+create type test as closed {
+    id: int32,
+    float: float?,
+    double: double?,
+    date: string?,
+    time: string?,
+    datetime: string?
+};
+
+create dataset testds (test)
+primary key id;
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.2.update.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.2.update.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3161d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.2.update.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * CSV file loading test
+ * Expected result: success
+ *
+ */
+
+use dataverse temp;
+
+load dataset testds
+using "edu.uci.ics.asterix.external.dataset.adapter.NCFileSystemAdapter"
+(("path"="nc1://data/csv/sample_01.csv"),("format"="delimited-text"),("delimiter"=","));
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.3.query.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.3.query.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..efa6dbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_01/csv_01.3.query.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * CSV file loading test
+ * Expected result: success
+ *
+ */
+
+use dataverse temp;
+
+for $i in dataset testds
+order by $i.id
+return { "id": $i.id, 
+         "float": $i.float, 
+         "double": $i.double, 
+         "date-before": $i.date, "date-after": date($i.date), 
+         "time-before": $i.time, "time-after": time($i.time),
+         "datetime-before": $i.datetime, "datetime-after": datetime($i.datetime)
+         }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.1.ddl.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.1.ddl.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6884a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.1.ddl.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * CSV file loading test
+ * Expected result: success
+ *
+ */
+ 
+drop dataverse temp if exists;
+create dataverse temp
+use dataverse temp;
+
+create type test as closed {
+    id: int32,
+    float: float?,
+    double: double?,
+    date: string,
+    time: string,
+    datetime: string
+};
+
+create dataset testds (test)
+primary key id;
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.2.update.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.2.update.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3161d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.2.update.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * CSV file loading test
+ * Expected result: success
+ *
+ */
+
+use dataverse temp;
+
+load dataset testds
+using "edu.uci.ics.asterix.external.dataset.adapter.NCFileSystemAdapter"
+(("path"="nc1://data/csv/sample_01.csv"),("format"="delimited-text"),("delimiter"=","));
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.3.query.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.3.query.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1299235
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/load/csv_02/csv_02.3.query.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * CSV file loading test
+ * Expected result: success
+ *
+ */
+
+use dataverse temp;
+
+for $i in dataset testds
+order by $i.id
+return { "id": $i.id, 
+         "float": $i.float, 
+         "double": $i.double, 
+         "date-string": $i.date, 
+         "time-string": $i.time,
+         "datetime-string": $i.datetime
+         }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.1.ddl.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.1.ddl.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b899dc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.1.ddl.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Test case for parsing temporal strings with format strings
+ * Expected Result: Success
+ **/
+
+drop dataverse test if exists;
+create dataverse test;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.2.update.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.2.update.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec16dd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.2.update.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/**
+ * Test case for parsing temporal strings with format strings
+ * Expected Result: Success
+ **/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.3.query.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.3.query.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53e1285
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.3.query.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/**
+ * Test case for parsing temporal strings with format strings
+ * Expected Result: Success
+ **/
+
+use dataverse test;
+
+{ "date1": parse-date("2013-8-23", "YY-M-D"), 
+  "date2": parse-date("Aug 12 -12", "MMM D Y"), 
+  "date3": parse-date("-1234-01-01", "YYYY-MM-DD"), 
+  "date4": parse-date("09/11/-1980", "D/M/Y"),
+  "date5": parse-date("09/11/-1990", "YY-M-D|MMM D Y|D/M/Y"),
+  "time1": parse-time("8:23:49", "h:m:s"), 
+  "time2": parse-time("8.19.23:32", "h.m.s:nn"), 
+  "time3": parse-time("08.19.23:32 pm", "h.m.s:nn a"), 
+  "time4": parse-time("6:30:40.948 pm PST", "h:mm:ss.nnn a z"),
+  "time5": parse-time("6:30:40.948 pm PST", "h:m:s|h.m.s:nn|h.m.s:nn a|h:mm:ss.nnn a z"),
+  "datetime1": parse-datetime("Dec 30 -1203 3:48:27 PM", "MMM DD YYYY h:m:s a"), 
+  "datetime2": parse-datetime("12/30/-1203 03:48:27.392 PM Asia/Shanghai", "MM/DD/YYY hh:mm:ss.nnn a z"), 
+  "datetime3": parse-datetime("1723-12-03T23:59:23.392Z", "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.nnnz"), 
+  "datetime4": parse-datetime("1723-12-03T23:59:23.392-04:00", "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.nnnz"),
+  "datetime5": parse-datetime("1723-12-03T23:59:23.392-04:00", "MMM DD YYYY h:m:s a|MM/DD/YYY hh:mm:ss.nnn a z|YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.nnnz") }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.1.ddl.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.1.ddl.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b899dc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.1.ddl.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+/**
+ * Test case for parsing temporal strings with format strings
+ * Expected Result: Success
+ **/
+
+drop dataverse test if exists;
+create dataverse test;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.2.update.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.2.update.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec16dd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.2.update.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/**
+ * Test case for parsing temporal strings with format strings
+ * Expected Result: Success
+ **/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.3.query.aql b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.3.query.aql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7617d5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.3.query.aql
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/**
+ * Test case for parsing temporal strings with format strings
+ * Expected Result: Success
+ **/
+
+use dataverse test;
+
+let $date := date("-0123-01-30")
+let $time := time("08:07:29.030Z")
+let $datetime := datetime("0137-12-31T23:59:59.999+08:00")
+return { 
+  "date-string-1": print-date($date, "YY/M/D"),
+  "date-string-2": print-date($date, "MMM DD, YYYY"),
+  "date-string-3": print-date($date, "YYYY/MM/DD"),
+  "time-string-1": print-time($time, "h.m.s.nn a z"),
+  "time-string-2": print-time($time, "hh.mm.ss.nnn a z"),
+  "datetime-string-1": print-datetime($datetime, "MMM DD h:m:s.nnn a YY z"),
+  "datetime-string-2": print-datetime($datetime, "YYYY/MMM/DD h:m:s.nnnz a"),
+  "datetime-string-3": print-datetime($datetime, "YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.nnnz")
+ }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/load/csv_01/csv_01.1.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/load/csv_01/csv_01.1.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8d4151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/load/csv_01/csv_01.1.adm
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{ "id": 1, "float": 0.89968276f, "double": 5.6256d, "date-before": "2013-08-07", "date-after": date("2013-08-07"), "time-before": "07:22:35", "time-after": time("07:22:35.000Z"), "datetime-before": "1979-02-25T23:48:27.034", "datetime-after": datetime("1979-02-25T23:48:27.034Z") }
+{ "id": 2, "float": 0.6690524f, "double": null, "date-before": "-1923-03-29", "date-after": date("-1923-03-29"), "time-before": "19:33:34", "time-after": time("19:33:34.000Z"), "datetime-before": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.002", "datetime-after": datetime("-1979-02-25T23:48:27.002Z") }
+{ "id": 3, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-before": "-1923-03-28", "date-after": date("-1923-03-28"), "time-before": "19:33:34", "time-after": time("19:33:34.000Z"), "datetime-before": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001", "datetime-after": datetime("-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001Z") }
+{ "id": 4, "float": null, "double": 192674.0d, "date-before": "-1923-03-27", "date-after": date("-1923-03-27"), "time-before": "19:33:34", "time-after": time("19:33:34.000Z"), "datetime-before": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001", "datetime-after": datetime("-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001Z") }
+{ "id": 5, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-before": null, "date-after": null, "time-before": "19:33:34", "time-after": time("19:33:34.000Z"), "datetime-before": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001", "datetime-after": datetime("-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001Z") }
+{ "id": 6, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-before": "-1923-03-25", "date-after": date("-1923-03-25"), "time-before": null, "time-after": null, "datetime-before": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001", "datetime-after": datetime("-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001Z") }
+{ "id": 7, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-before": "-1923-03-24", "date-after": date("-1923-03-24"), "time-before": "19:33:34", "time-after": time("19:33:34.000Z"), "datetime-before": null, "datetime-after": null }
+{ "id": 8, "float": null, "double": null, "date-before": null, "date-after": null, "time-before": null, "time-after": null, "datetime-before": null, "datetime-after": null }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/load/csv_02/csv_02.1.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/load/csv_02/csv_02.1.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44240dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/load/csv_02/csv_02.1.adm
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{ "id": 1, "float": 0.89968276f, "double": 5.6256d, "date-string": "2013-08-07", "time-string": "07:22:35", "datetime-string": "1979-02-25T23:48:27.034" }
+{ "id": 2, "float": 0.6690524f, "double": null, "date-string": "-1923-03-29", "time-string": "19:33:34", "datetime-string": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.002" }
+{ "id": 3, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-string": "-1923-03-28", "time-string": "19:33:34", "datetime-string": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001" }
+{ "id": 4, "float": null, "double": 192674.0d, "date-string": "-1923-03-27", "time-string": "19:33:34", "datetime-string": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001" }
+{ "id": 5, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-string": "", "time-string": "19:33:34", "datetime-string": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001" }
+{ "id": 6, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-string": "-1923-03-25", "time-string": "", "datetime-string": "-1979-02-25T23:48:27.001" }
+{ "id": 7, "float": 0.57273304f, "double": 192674.0d, "date-string": "-1923-03-24", "time-string": "19:33:34", "datetime-string": "" }
+{ "id": 8, "float": null, "double": null, "date-string": "", "time-string": "", "datetime-string": "" }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.1.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.1.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f86335c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/temporal/parse_01/parse_01.1.adm
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "date1": date("2013-08-23"), "date2": date("-0012-08-12"), "date3": date("-1234-01-01"), "date4": date("-1980-11-09"), "date5": date("-1990-11-09"), "time1": time("08:23:49.000Z"), "time2": time("08:19:23.320Z"), "time3": time("20:19:23.320Z"), "time4": time("10:30:40.948Z"), "time5": time("10:30:40.948Z"), "datetime1": datetime("-1203-12-30T15:48:27.000Z"), "datetime2": datetime("-1203-12-30T23:48:27.392Z"), "datetime3": datetime("1723-12-03T23:59:23.392Z"), "datetime4": datetime("1723-12-04T03:59:23.392Z"), "datetime5": datetime("1723-12-04T03:59:23.392Z") }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.1.adm b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.1.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..963e8d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/temporal/parse_02/parse_02.1.adm
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "date-string-1": "-123/1/30", "date-string-2": "JAN 30, -0123", "date-string-3": "-0123/01/30", "time-string-1": "8.7.29.03 AM Z", "time-string-2": "08.07.29.030 AM Z", "datetime-string-1": "DEC 31 3:59:59.999 PM 137 Z", "datetime-string-2": "0137/DEC/31 3:59:59.999Z PM", "datetime-string-3": "0137-12-31T15:59:59.999Z" }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml
index fec809e..5ad90d5 100644
--- a/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml
+++ b/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite.xml
@@ -4280,6 +4280,16 @@
   </test-group>
   <test-group name="load">
     <test-case FilePath="load">
+      <compilation-unit name="csv_01">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">csv_01</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="load">
+      <compilation-unit name="csv_02">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">csv_02</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="load">
       <compilation-unit name="issue14_query">
         <output-dir compare="Text">none</output-dir>
         <expected-error>edu.uci.ics.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException</expected-error> 
@@ -4371,6 +4381,16 @@
   </test-group>
   <test-group name="temporal">
     <test-case FilePath="temporal">
+     <compilation-unit name="parse_02">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">parse_02</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="temporal">
+     <compilation-unit name="parse_01">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">parse_01</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="temporal">
      <compilation-unit name="day_of_week_01">
         <output-dir compare="Text">day_of_week_01</output-dir>
       </compilation-unit>
diff --git a/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/external/dataset/adapter/FileSystemBasedAdapter.java b/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/external/dataset/adapter/FileSystemBasedAdapter.java
index 38903ec..33ee11f 100644
--- a/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/external/dataset/adapter/FileSystemBasedAdapter.java
+++ b/asterix-external-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/external/dataset/adapter/FileSystemBasedAdapter.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.logging.Level;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.external.util.INodeResolverFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.AUnionType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.IAType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file.AdmSchemafullRecordParserFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.operators.file.NtDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory;
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@
                 throw new IllegalArgumentException(" Unspecified data format");
             } else if (FORMAT_DELIMITED_TEXT.equalsIgnoreCase(specifiedFormat)) {
                 parserFactory = getDelimitedDataTupleParserFactory((ARecordType) atype);
-            } else if (FORMAT_ADM.equalsIgnoreCase((String)configuration.get(KEY_FORMAT))) {
+            } else if (FORMAT_ADM.equalsIgnoreCase((String) configuration.get(KEY_FORMAT))) {
                 parserFactory = getADMDataTupleParserFactory((ARecordType) atype);
             } else {
                 throw new IllegalArgumentException(" format " + configuration.get(KEY_FORMAT) + " not supported");
@@ -104,7 +106,19 @@
         int n = recordType.getFieldTypes().length;
         IValueParserFactory[] fieldParserFactories = new IValueParserFactory[n];
         for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-            ATypeTag tag = recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag();
+            ATypeTag tag = null;
+            if (recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.UNION) {
+                List<IAType> unionTypes = ((AUnionType) recordType.getFieldTypes()[i]).getUnionList();
+                if (unionTypes.size() != 2 && unionTypes.get(0).getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                    throw new NotImplementedException("Non-optional UNION type is not supported.");
+                }
+                tag = unionTypes.get(1).getTypeTag();
+            } else {
+                tag = recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag();
+            }
+            if (tag == null) {
+                throw new NotImplementedException("Failed to get the type information for field " + i + ".");
+            }
             IValueParserFactory vpf = typeToValueParserFactMap.get(tag);
             if (vpf == null) {
                 throw new NotImplementedException("No value parser factory for delimited fields of type " + tag);
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java
index 2200ea3..3a0a80a 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java
@@ -181,11 +181,6 @@
                 }
             }
 
-            if (timezoneHour < GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_HOUR_MIN
-                    || timezoneHour > GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_HOUR_MAX) {
-                throw new HyracksDataException(timeErrorMessage + ": time zone hour " + timezoneHour);
-            }
-
             int temp_offset = (timeString.charAt(start + 3) == ':') ? 1 : 0;
 
             for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
@@ -197,15 +192,11 @@
                 }
             }
 
-            if (timezoneMinute < GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_MIN_MIN
-                    || timezoneMinute > GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_MIN_MAX) {
-                throw new HyracksDataException(timeErrorMessage + ": time zone minute " + timezoneMinute);
-            }
+            timezone = (int) (timezoneHour * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR + timezoneMinute
+                    * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE);
 
-            if (timeString.charAt(start) == '-') {
-                timezone = (byte) -((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
-            } else {
-                timezone = (byte) ((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
+            if (timeString.charAt(start) == '+') {
+                timezone *= -1;
             }
         }
         return timezone;
@@ -345,11 +336,6 @@
                 }
             }
 
-            if (timezoneHour < GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_HOUR_MIN
-                    || timezoneHour > GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_HOUR_MAX) {
-                throw new HyracksDataException(timeErrorMessage + ": time zone hour " + timezoneHour);
-            }
-
             int temp_offset = (timeString[start + 3] == ':') ? 1 : 0;
 
             for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
@@ -360,15 +346,11 @@
                 }
             }
 
-            if (timezoneMinute < GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_MIN_MIN
-                    || timezoneMinute > GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_MIN_MAX) {
-                throw new HyracksDataException(timeErrorMessage + ": time zone minute " + timezoneMinute);
-            }
+            timezone = (int) (timezoneHour * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR + timezoneMinute
+                    * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE);
 
-            if (timeString[start] == '-') {
-                timezone = (byte) -((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
-            } else {
-                timezone = (byte) ((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
+            if (timeString[start] == '+') {
+                timezone *= -1;
             }
         }
         return timezone;
@@ -508,11 +490,6 @@
                 }
             }
 
-            if (timezoneHour < GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_HOUR_MIN
-                    || timezoneHour > GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_HOUR_MAX) {
-                throw new HyracksDataException(timeErrorMessage + ": time zone hour " + timezoneHour);
-            }
-
             int temp_offset = (timeString[start + 3] == ':') ? 1 : 0;
 
             for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
@@ -523,15 +500,11 @@
                 }
             }
 
-            if (timezoneMinute < GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_MIN_MIN
-                    || timezoneMinute > GregorianCalendarSystem.TIMEZONE_MIN_MAX) {
-                throw new HyracksDataException(timeErrorMessage + ": time zone minute " + timezoneMinute);
-            }
+            timezone = (int) (timezoneHour * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_HOUR + timezoneMinute
+                    * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_MINUTE);
 
-            if (timeString[start] == '-') {
-                timezone = (byte) -((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
-            } else {
-                timezone = (byte) ((timezoneHour * 4) + timezoneMinute / 15);
+            if (timeString[start] == '+') {
+                timezone *= -1;
             }
         }
         return timezone;
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/AsterixTemporalTypeParseException.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/AsterixTemporalTypeParseException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9354d5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/AsterixTemporalTypeParseException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+
+public class AsterixTemporalTypeParseException extends HyracksDataException {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+    public AsterixTemporalTypeParseException() {
+        super();
+    }
+
+    public AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(Exception ex) {
+        super(ex);
+    }
+
+    public AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(String msg) {
+        super(msg);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/DateTimeFormatUtils.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/DateTimeFormatUtils.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd74ad4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/DateTimeFormatUtils.java
@@ -0,0 +1,897 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Comparator;
+import java.util.TimeZone;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+
+/**
+ * {@link DateTimeFormatUtils} provides the utility methods to parse and print a date/time/datetime
+ * value based on the given format string. The format string may contain the following <b>format characters</b> (note that
+ * format string is <b>case-sensitive</b>):
+ * <p/>
+ * - <b>Y</b>: a digit for the year field. At most 4 year format characters are allowed for a valid format string.<br/>
+ * - <b>M</b>: a digit or character for the month field. At most 3 month format characters are allowed for a valid format string. When three month format characters are used, the shorten month names (like JAN, FEB etc.) are expected in the string to be parsed. Otherwise digits are expected.<br/>
+ * - <b>D</b>: a digit for the day field. At most 2 day format characters are allowed.<br/>
+ * - <b>h</b>: a digit for the hour field. At most 2 hour format characters are allowed.<br/>
+ * - <b>m</b>: a digit for the minute field. At most 2 minute format characters are allowed.<br/>
+ * - <b>s</b>: a digit for the second field. At most 2 second format characters are allowed.<br/>
+ * - <b>n</b>: a digit for the millisecond field. At most 3 millisecond format characters are allowed.<br/>
+ * - <b>a</b>: the AM/PM field. At most 1 am/pm format character is allowed, and it matches with AM and PM case-insensitively. <br/>
+ * - <b>z</b>: the timezone field. At most 1 timezone format characters are allowed. The valid timezone string matching with this format character include:<br/>
+ * -- <b>Z</b>: a single upper-case character representing the UTC timezone;<br/>
+ * -- <b>[UTC|GMT]+xx[:]xx</b>: representing a timezone by providing the actual offset time from the UTC time;<br/>
+ * -- A string representation of a timezone like PST, Asia/Shanghai. The names of the timezones are following the Zoneinfo database provided by the JDK library. See {@link TimeZone} for more details on this.<br/>
+ * - <b>Separators</b>: separators that can be used to separate the different fields. Currently only the following characters can be used as separator: <b>-(hyphen), :(colon), /(solidus), .(period) and ,(comma)</b>. 
+ * <p/>
+ * For the matching algorithm, both the format string and the data string are scanned from the beginning to the end, and the algorithm tried to match the format with the characters/digits/separators in the data string. The format string represents the <b>minimum</b> length of the required field (similar to the C-style printf formatting). This means that something like a year <it>1990</it> will match with the format strings <it>Y, YY, YYY and YYYY</it>.
+ * <p/>
+ * If the given string cannot be parsed by the given format string, an {@link AsterixTemporalTypeParseException} will be returned.
+ */
+public class DateTimeFormatUtils {
+
+    private final GregorianCalendarSystem CAL = GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance();
+
+    // For time
+    private final char HOUR_CHAR = 'h';
+    private final char MINUTE_CHAR = 'm';
+    private final char SECOND_CHAR = 's';
+    private final char MILLISECOND_CHAR = 'n';
+    private final char AMPM_CHAR = 'a';
+    private final char TIMEZONE_CHAR = 'z';
+
+    private final int MAX_HOUR_CHARS = 2;
+    private final int MAX_MINUTE_CHARS = 2;
+    private final int MAX_SECOND_CHARS = 2;
+    private final int MAX_MILLISECOND_CHARS = 3;
+    private final int MAX_AMPM_CHARS = 1;
+    private final int MAX_TIMEZONE_CHARS = 1;
+
+    private enum DateTimeProcessState {
+        INIT,
+        YEAR,
+        MONTH,
+        DAY,
+        HOUR,
+        MINUTE,
+        SECOND,
+        MILLISECOND,
+        AMPM,
+        TIMEZONE,
+        SEPARATOR
+    }
+
+    // For date
+    private final char YEAR_CHAR = 'Y';
+    private final char MONTH_CHAR = 'M';
+    private final char DAY_CHAR = 'D';
+
+    private final int MAX_YEAR_CHARS = 4;
+    private final int MAX_MONTH_CHARS = 3;
+    private final int MAX_DAY_CHARS = 2;
+
+    private final byte[][] MONTH_NAMES = new byte[][] { "jan".getBytes(), "feb".getBytes(), "mar".getBytes(),
+            "apr".getBytes(), "may".getBytes(), "jun".getBytes(), "jul".getBytes(), "aug".getBytes(), "sep".getBytes(),
+            "oct".getBytes(), "nov".getBytes(), "dec".getBytes() };
+
+    private final byte[] UTC_BYTEARRAY = "utc".getBytes();
+    private final byte[] GMT_BYTEARRAY = "gmt".getBytes();
+
+    private final byte[] AM_BYTEARRAY = "am".getBytes();
+    private final byte[] PM_BYTEARRAY = "pm".getBytes();
+
+    // Separators, for both time and date
+    private final char HYPHEN_CHAR = '-';
+    private final char COLON_CHAR = ':';
+    private final char SOLIDUS_CHAR = '/';
+    private final char PERIOD_CHAR = '.';
+    private final char COMMA_CHAR = ',';
+    private final char T_CHAR = 'T';
+
+    private final int MS_PER_MINUTE = 60 * 1000;
+    private final int MS_PER_HOUR = 60 * MS_PER_MINUTE;
+
+    private final byte TO_LOWER_OFFSET = 'A' - 'a';
+
+    private final String[] TZ_IDS = TimeZone.getAvailableIDs();
+    private final byte[][] TIMEZONE_IDS = new byte[TZ_IDS.length][];
+    {
+        Arrays.sort(TZ_IDS);
+        for (int i = 0; i < TIMEZONE_IDS.length; i++) {
+            TIMEZONE_IDS[i] = TZ_IDS[i].getBytes();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private final int[] TIMEZONE_OFFSETS = new int[TIMEZONE_IDS.length];
+    {
+        for (int i = 0; i < TIMEZONE_IDS.length; i++) {
+            TIMEZONE_OFFSETS[i] = TimeZone.getTimeZone(TZ_IDS[i]).getRawOffset();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static class DateTimeFormatUtilsHolder {
+        private static final DateTimeFormatUtils INSTANCE = new DateTimeFormatUtils();
+    }
+
+    public static DateTimeFormatUtils getInstance() {
+        return DateTimeFormatUtilsHolder.INSTANCE;
+    }
+
+    private DateTimeFormatUtils() {
+    }
+
+    private int parseFormatField(byte[] format, int formatStart, int formatLength, int formatPointer, char formatChar,
+            int maxAllowedFormatCharCopied) {
+
+        int formatCharCopies = 0;
+
+        formatPointer++;
+        formatCharCopies++;
+        while (formatPointer < formatLength && format[formatStart + formatPointer] == formatChar) {
+            formatPointer++;
+            formatCharCopies++;
+        }
+        if (formatCharCopies > maxAllowedFormatCharCopied) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("The format string for " + formatChar
+                    + " is too long: expected no more than " + maxAllowedFormatCharCopied + " but got "
+                    + formatCharCopies);
+        }
+
+        return formatCharCopies;
+    }
+
+    public enum DateTimeParseMode {
+        DATE_ONLY,
+        TIME_ONLY,
+        DATETIME
+    }
+
+    private boolean byteArrayEqualToString(byte[] barray, int start, int length, byte[] str) {
+        boolean equal = true;
+        if (length == str.length) {
+            for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
+                if (toLower(barray[start + i]) != str[i]) {
+                    equal = false;
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            equal = false;
+        }
+        return equal;
+    }
+
+    private Comparator<byte[]> byteArrayComparator = new Comparator<byte[]>() {
+        @Override
+        public int compare(byte[] o1, byte[] o2) {
+            int i = 0;
+            for (; i < o1.length && i < o2.length; i++) {
+                if (o1[i] != o2[i]) {
+                    return o1[i] - o2[i];
+                }
+            }
+            if (i < o1.length) {
+                return -1;
+            } else if (i < o2.length) {
+                return 1;
+            }
+            return 0;
+        }
+    };
+
+    private int monthIDSearch(byte[] barray, int start, int length) {
+        for (int i = 0; i < MONTH_NAMES.length; i++) {
+            if (byteArrayEqualToString(barray, start, length, MONTH_NAMES[i])) {
+                return i;
+            }
+        }
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    private int binaryTimezoneIDSearch(byte[] barray, int start, int length) {
+        return Arrays.binarySearch(TIMEZONE_IDS, 0, TIMEZONE_IDS.length,
+                Arrays.copyOfRange(barray, start, start + length), byteArrayComparator);
+    }
+
+    private int indexOf(byte[] barray, int start, int length, char c) {
+        int i = 0;
+        for (; i < length; i++) {
+            if (barray[start + i] == c) {
+                return i;
+            }
+        }
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    private byte toLower(byte b) {
+        if (b >= 'A' && b <= 'Z') {
+            return (byte) (b - TO_LOWER_OFFSET);
+        }
+        return b;
+    }
+
+    private byte toUpper(byte b) {
+        if (b >= 'a' && b <= 'z') {
+            return (byte) (b + TO_LOWER_OFFSET);
+        }
+        return b;
+    }
+
+    public long parseDateTime(byte[] data, int dataStart, int dataLength, byte[] format, int formatStart,
+            int formatLength, DateTimeParseMode parseMode) throws AsterixTemporalTypeParseException {
+        int year = 0, month = 0, day = 0, hour = 0, min = 0, sec = 0, ms = 0, timezone = 0;
+
+        boolean negativeYear = false;
+        int formatCharCopies = 0;
+
+        int dataStringPointer = 0, formatPointer = 0;
+
+        byte separatorChar = '\0';
+
+        DateTimeProcessState processState = DateTimeProcessState.INIT;
+
+        int pointerMove = 0;
+
+        while (dataStringPointer < dataLength && formatPointer < formatLength) {
+            formatCharCopies = 0;
+            switch (format[formatStart + formatPointer]) {
+                case YEAR_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.YEAR;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, YEAR_CHAR,
+                            MAX_YEAR_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case MONTH_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.MONTH;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, MONTH_CHAR,
+                            MAX_MONTH_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case DAY_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.DAY;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, DAY_CHAR,
+                            MAX_DAY_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case HOUR_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.HOUR;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, HOUR_CHAR,
+                            MAX_HOUR_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case MINUTE_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.MINUTE;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, MINUTE_CHAR,
+                            MAX_MINUTE_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case SECOND_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.SECOND;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, SECOND_CHAR,
+                            MAX_SECOND_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case MILLISECOND_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.MILLISECOND;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, MILLISECOND_CHAR,
+                            MAX_MILLISECOND_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+
+                case AMPM_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.AMPM;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, AMPM_CHAR,
+                            MAX_AMPM_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+
+                case TIMEZONE_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.TIMEZONE;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, TIMEZONE_CHAR,
+                            MAX_TIMEZONE_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case ' ':
+                case HYPHEN_CHAR:
+                case COLON_CHAR:
+                case SOLIDUS_CHAR:
+                case PERIOD_CHAR:
+                case COMMA_CHAR:
+                case T_CHAR:
+                    // separator
+                    separatorChar = format[formatStart + formatPointer];
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.SEPARATOR;
+                    formatPointer++;
+                    formatCharCopies++;
+                    while (formatPointer < formatLength && format[formatStart + formatPointer] == separatorChar) {
+                        formatPointer++;
+                        formatCharCopies++;
+                    }
+                    break;
+
+                default:
+                    throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected date format string at "
+                            + (formatStart + formatPointer) + ": " + format[formatStart + formatPointer]);
+            }
+
+            // check whether the process state is valid for the parse mode
+
+            switch (processState) {
+                case YEAR:
+                case MONTH:
+                case DAY:
+                    if (parseMode == DateTimeParseMode.TIME_ONLY) {
+                        throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                                "Unexpected date format string when parsing a time value");
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case HOUR:
+                case MINUTE:
+                case SECOND:
+                case MILLISECOND:
+                case AMPM:
+                case TIMEZONE:
+                    if (parseMode == DateTimeParseMode.DATE_ONLY) {
+                        throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                                "Unexpected time format string when parsing a date value");
+                    }
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    // do nothing
+            }
+
+            switch (processState) {
+                case INIT:
+                    break;
+                case YEAR:
+                    if (dataStringPointer < dataLength && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] == HYPHEN_CHAR) {
+                        negativeYear = true;
+                        dataStringPointer++;
+                    }
+                case DAY:
+                    int maxAllowedFormatCharCopies = (processState == DateTimeProcessState.YEAR) ? 4 : 2;
+                    int parsedValue = 0;
+
+                    int processedFieldsCount = 0;
+                    for (int i = 0; i < formatCharCopies; i++) {
+                        if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] < '0' || data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] > '9') {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected char for year field at "
+                                    + (dataStart + dataStringPointer) + ": " + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                        }
+                        parsedValue = parsedValue * 10 + (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] - '0');
+                        dataStringPointer++;
+                        processedFieldsCount++;
+                    }
+                    // for more digits
+                    while (processedFieldsCount < maxAllowedFormatCharCopies && dataStringPointer < dataLength
+                            && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] >= '0' && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] <= '9') {
+                        parsedValue = parsedValue * 10 + (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] - '0');
+                        dataStringPointer++;
+                        processedFieldsCount++;
+                    }
+                    if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.YEAR) {
+                        year = parsedValue;
+                        if (negativeYear) {
+                            year *= -1;
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        day = parsedValue;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case MONTH:
+                    if (formatCharCopies == 3) {
+                        // the month is in the text format
+                        int monthNameMatch = monthIDSearch(data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, 3);
+                        if (monthNameMatch >= 0) {
+                            month = monthNameMatch + 1;
+                            dataStringPointer += 3;
+                        } else {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unrecognizable month string "
+                                    + (char) data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] + " "
+                                    + (char) data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + 1] + " "
+                                    + (char) data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + 2]);
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        int processedMonthFieldsCount = 0;
+                        for (int i = 0; i < formatCharCopies; i++) {
+                            if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] < '0' || data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] > '9') {
+                                throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected char for month field at "
+                                        + (dataStart + dataStringPointer) + ": " + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                            }
+                            month = month * 10 + (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] - '0');
+                            dataStringPointer++;
+                            if (processedMonthFieldsCount++ > 2) {
+                                throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected char for month field at "
+                                        + (dataStart + dataStringPointer) + ": " + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        // if there are more than 2 digits for the day string
+                        while (processedMonthFieldsCount < 2 && dataStringPointer < dataLength
+                                && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] >= '0'
+                                && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] <= '9') {
+                            month = month * 10 + (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] - '0');
+                            dataStringPointer++;
+                            processedMonthFieldsCount++;
+                        }
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case HOUR:
+                case MINUTE:
+                case SECOND:
+                case MILLISECOND:
+                    int processFieldsCount = 0;
+                    int expectedMaxCount = (processState == DateTimeProcessState.MILLISECOND) ? 3 : 2;
+                    parsedValue = 0;
+                    for (int i = 0; i < formatCharCopies; i++) {
+                        if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] < '0' || data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] > '9') {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected char for " + processState.name()
+                                    + " field at " + (dataStart + dataStringPointer) + ": "
+                                    + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                        }
+                        parsedValue = parsedValue * 10 + (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] - '0');
+                        dataStringPointer++;
+                        if (processFieldsCount++ > expectedMaxCount) {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected char for " + processState.name()
+                                    + " field at " + dataStringPointer + ": " + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    // if there are more than formatCharCopies digits for the hour string
+                    while (processFieldsCount < expectedMaxCount && dataStringPointer < dataLength
+                            && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] >= '0' && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] <= '9') {
+                        parsedValue = parsedValue * 10 + (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] - '0');
+                        dataStringPointer++;
+                        processFieldsCount++;
+                    }
+                    if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.HOUR) {
+                        hour = parsedValue;
+                    } else if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.MINUTE) {
+                        min = parsedValue;
+                    } else if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.SECOND) {
+                        sec = parsedValue;
+                    } else if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.MILLISECOND) {
+                        ms = parsedValue;
+                        for (int i = processFieldsCount; i < 3; i++) {
+                            ms *= 10;
+                        }
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case TIMEZONE:
+                    if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] == 'Z'
+                            && ((dataStringPointer + 1 >= dataLength) || (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + 1] < 'A'
+                                    && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + 1] > 'Z'
+                                    && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + 1] < 'a' && data[dataStart
+                                    + dataStringPointer + 1] > 'z'))) {
+                        // UTC as Z
+                        timezone = 0;
+                        dataStringPointer++;
+                    } else if ((data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] == '+' || data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] == '-')
+                            || (dataStringPointer + 3 < dataLength && (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + 3] == '+' || data[dataStart
+                                    + dataStringPointer + 3] == '-'))) {
+                        // UTC+ or GMT+ format
+                        if (dataStringPointer + 3 < dataLength
+                                && (byteArrayEqualToString(data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, 3, UTC_BYTEARRAY) || byteArrayEqualToString(
+                                        data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, 3, GMT_BYTEARRAY))) {
+                            dataStringPointer += 3;
+                        }
+                        // parse timezone as +zz:zz or +zzzz
+                        boolean negativeTimeZone = false;
+                        if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] == '-') {
+                            negativeTimeZone = true;
+                            dataStringPointer++;
+                        } else if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] == '+') {
+                            dataStringPointer++;
+                        } else {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                                    "Incorrect timezone hour field: expecting sign + or - but got: "
+                                            + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                        }
+                        // timezone hours
+                        for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+                            if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + i] >= '0'
+                                    && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + i] <= '9') {
+                                timezone += (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + i] - '0') * MS_PER_HOUR;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                                        "Unexpected character for timezone hour field at "
+                                                + (dataStart + dataStringPointer) + ": "
+                                                + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        dataStringPointer += 2;
+                        // skip the ":" separator
+                        if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] == ':') {
+                            dataStringPointer++;
+                        }
+                        // timezone minutes
+                        for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+                            if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + i] >= '0'
+                                    && data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + i] <= '9') {
+                                timezone += (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer + i] - '0') * MS_PER_MINUTE;
+                            } else {
+                                throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                                        "Unexpected character for timezone minute field at "
+                                                + (dataStart + dataStringPointer) + ": "
+                                                + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        dataStringPointer += 2;
+                        if (!negativeTimeZone) {
+                            timezone *= -1;
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        // do lookup from the zoneinfor database
+                        int timezoneEndField = dataStringPointer;
+                        while (timezoneEndField < dataLength
+                                && ((data[dataStart + timezoneEndField] >= '0' && data[dataStart + timezoneEndField] <= '9')
+                                        || (data[dataStart + timezoneEndField] >= 'a' && data[dataStart
+                                                + timezoneEndField] <= 'z')
+                                        || (data[dataStart + timezoneEndField] >= 'A' && data[dataStart
+                                                + timezoneEndField] <= 'Z')
+                                        || data[dataStart + timezoneEndField] == '/' || data[dataStart
+                                        + timezoneEndField] == '_')) {
+                            timezoneEndField++;
+                        }
+                        int searchIdx = binaryTimezoneIDSearch(data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, timezoneEndField
+                                - dataStringPointer);
+                        if (searchIdx >= 0) {
+                            timezone = TIMEZONE_OFFSETS[searchIdx];
+                        } else {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected timezone string: "
+                                    + new String(Arrays.copyOfRange(data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, dataStart
+                                            + dataStringPointer)));
+                        }
+                        dataStringPointer = timezoneEndField;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case AMPM:
+                    if (dataStringPointer + 1 < dataLength) {
+                        if (hour > 12 || hour <= 0) {
+                            throw new IllegalStateException("Hour " + hour + " cannot be a time for AM.");
+                        }
+                        if (byteArrayEqualToString(data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, 2, AM_BYTEARRAY)) {
+                            // do nothing
+                        } else if (byteArrayEqualToString(data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, 2, PM_BYTEARRAY)) {
+                            hour += 12;
+                            if (hour == 24) {
+                                hour = 0;
+                            }
+                        } else {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Unexpected string for AM/PM marker "
+                                    + new String(Arrays.copyOfRange(data, dataStart + dataStringPointer, dataStart
+                                            + dataStringPointer + 2)));
+                        }
+                        dataStringPointer += 2;
+                    } else {
+                        throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Cannot find valid AM/PM marker.");
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case SEPARATOR:
+                    if (separatorChar == '\0') {
+                        throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Incorrect separator char in date string as "
+                                + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                    }
+                    for (int i = 0; i < formatCharCopies; i++) {
+                        if (data[dataStart + dataStringPointer] != separatorChar) {
+                            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException("Expecting separator " + separatorChar
+                                    + " but got " + data[dataStart + dataStringPointer]);
+                        }
+                        dataStringPointer++;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                            "Unexpected time format information when parsing a date value");
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (dataStringPointer < dataLength) {
+            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                    "The given data string is not fully parsed by the given format string");
+        }
+
+        if (formatPointer < formatLength) {
+            throw new AsterixTemporalTypeParseException(
+                    "The given format string is not fully used for the given format string");
+        }
+
+        if (parseMode == DateTimeParseMode.TIME_ONLY) {
+            return CAL.getChronon(hour, min, sec, ms, timezone);
+        }
+        return CAL.getChronon(year, month, day, hour, min, sec, ms, timezone);
+    }
+
+    public void printDateTime(long chronon, int timezone, byte[] format, int formatStart, int formatLength,
+            Appendable appender, DateTimeParseMode parseMode) throws HyracksDataException {
+        int year = CAL.getYear(chronon);
+        int month = CAL.getMonthOfYear(chronon, year);
+        int day = CAL.getDayOfMonthYear(chronon, year, month);
+        int hour = CAL.getHourOfDay(chronon);
+        int min = CAL.getMinOfHour(chronon);
+        int sec = CAL.getSecOfMin(chronon);
+        int ms = CAL.getMillisOfSec(chronon);
+
+        int formatCharCopies = 0;
+
+        int formatPointer = 0;
+
+        byte separatorChar = '\0';
+
+        DateTimeProcessState processState = DateTimeProcessState.INIT;
+
+        int pointerMove = 0;
+
+        boolean usePM = false;
+        if (indexOf(format, formatStart, formatLength, 'a') >= 0) {
+            if (hour >= 12) {
+                usePM = true;
+                hour -= 12;
+            }
+            if (hour == 0) {
+                hour = 12;
+            }
+        }
+
+        while (formatPointer < formatLength) {
+
+            formatCharCopies = 0;
+
+            switch (format[formatStart + formatPointer]) {
+                case YEAR_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.YEAR;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, YEAR_CHAR,
+                            MAX_YEAR_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case MONTH_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.MONTH;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, MONTH_CHAR,
+                            MAX_MONTH_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case DAY_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.DAY;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, DAY_CHAR,
+                            MAX_DAY_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case HOUR_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.HOUR;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, HOUR_CHAR,
+                            MAX_HOUR_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case MINUTE_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.MINUTE;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, MINUTE_CHAR,
+                            MAX_MINUTE_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case SECOND_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.SECOND;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, SECOND_CHAR,
+                            MAX_SECOND_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case MILLISECOND_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.MILLISECOND;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, MILLISECOND_CHAR,
+                            MAX_MILLISECOND_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+
+                case AMPM_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.AMPM;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, AMPM_CHAR,
+                            MAX_AMPM_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+
+                case TIMEZONE_CHAR:
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.TIMEZONE;
+                    pointerMove = parseFormatField(format, formatStart, formatLength, formatPointer, TIMEZONE_CHAR,
+                            MAX_TIMEZONE_CHARS);
+                    formatPointer += pointerMove;
+                    formatCharCopies += pointerMove;
+                    break;
+                case ' ':
+                case HYPHEN_CHAR:
+                case COLON_CHAR:
+                case SOLIDUS_CHAR:
+                case PERIOD_CHAR:
+                case COMMA_CHAR:
+                case T_CHAR:
+                    // separator
+                    separatorChar = format[formatStart + formatPointer];
+                    processState = DateTimeProcessState.SEPARATOR;
+                    formatPointer++;
+                    formatCharCopies++;
+                    while (formatPointer < formatLength && format[formatStart + formatPointer] == separatorChar) {
+                        formatPointer++;
+                        formatCharCopies++;
+                    }
+                    break;
+
+                default:
+                    throw new HyracksDataException("Unexpected format string at " + (formatStart + formatPointer)
+                            + ": " + format[formatStart + formatPointer]);
+            }
+
+            // check whether the process state is valid for the parse mode
+
+            switch (processState) {
+                case YEAR:
+                case MONTH:
+                case DAY:
+                    if (parseMode == DateTimeParseMode.TIME_ONLY) {
+                        throw new HyracksDataException("Unexpected date format string when parsing a time value");
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case HOUR:
+                case MINUTE:
+                case SECOND:
+                case MILLISECOND:
+                case AMPM:
+                case TIMEZONE:
+                    if (parseMode == DateTimeParseMode.DATE_ONLY) {
+                        throw new HyracksDataException("Unexpected time format string when parsing a date value");
+                    }
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    // do nothing
+            }
+
+            try {
+                switch (processState) {
+                    case INIT:
+                        break;
+                    case YEAR:
+                        if (year < 0) {
+                            appender.append('-');
+                            year *= -1;
+                        }
+                    case MONTH:
+                        if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.MONTH && formatCharCopies == 3) {
+                            for (byte b : MONTH_NAMES[month - 1]) {
+                                appender.append((char) toUpper(b));
+                            }
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    case DAY:
+                        int val = 0;
+                        if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.YEAR) {
+                            val = year;
+                        } else if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.MONTH) {
+                            val = month;
+                        } else {
+                            val = day;
+                        }
+                        int valFieldCount = (int) Math.ceil(Math.log10(val));
+                        if (val == 1 || val == 0) {
+                            valFieldCount = 1;
+                        }
+                        for (int i = 0; i < formatCharCopies - valFieldCount; i++) {
+                            appender.append('0');
+                        }
+                        appender.append(String.valueOf(val));
+                        break;
+                    case HOUR:
+                    case MINUTE:
+                    case SECOND:
+                        val = 0;
+                        if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.HOUR) {
+                            val = hour;
+                        } else if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.MINUTE) {
+                            val = min;
+                        } else if (processState == DateTimeProcessState.SECOND) {
+                            val = sec;
+                        }
+
+                        if (val < 10) {
+                            for (int i = 0; i < formatCharCopies - 1; i++) {
+                                appender.append('0');
+                            }
+                        }
+                        appender.append(String.valueOf(val));
+                        break;
+                    case MILLISECOND:
+                        int msFieldCount = (int) Math.ceil(Math.log10(ms));
+                        for (int i = 0; i < 3 - msFieldCount; i++) {
+                            appender.append('0');
+                        }
+                        if (formatCharCopies < 3) {
+
+                            if (formatCharCopies == 1) {
+                                if (ms % 100 == 0) {
+                                    // the tailing two zeros can be removed
+                                    ms = ms / 100;
+                                } else if (ms % 10 == 0) {
+                                    // the tailing one zero can be removed
+                                    ms = ms / 10;
+                                }
+                            } else {
+                                if (ms % 10 == 0) {
+                                    // the tailing one zero can be removed
+                                    ms = ms / 10;
+                                }
+                            }
+
+                        }
+                        appender.append(String.valueOf(ms));
+                        break;
+                    case TIMEZONE:
+                        if (timezone == 0) {
+                            appender.append('Z');
+                            break;
+                        }
+                        if (timezone < 0) {
+                            appender.append('-');
+                            timezone *= -1;
+                        }
+                        int timezoneField = timezone / MS_PER_HOUR;
+                        if (timezoneField < 10) {
+                            appender.append('0');
+                        }
+                        appender.append(String.valueOf(timezoneField));
+                        timezoneField = timezone % MS_PER_HOUR / MS_PER_MINUTE;
+                        if (timezoneField < 10) {
+                            appender.append('0');
+                        }
+                        appender.append(String.valueOf(timezoneField));
+                        break;
+                    case AMPM:
+                        if (usePM) {
+                            appender.append("PM");
+                        } else {
+                            appender.append("AM");
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    case SEPARATOR:
+                        if (separatorChar == '\0') {
+                            throw new HyracksDataException(
+                                    "Incorrect separator: separator char is not initialized properly!");
+                        }
+                        for (int i = 0; i < formatCharCopies; i++) {
+                            appender.append((char) separatorChar);
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    default:
+                        throw new HyracksDataException("Unexpected time state when printing a date value");
+                }
+            } catch (IOException ex) {
+                throw new HyracksDataException(ex);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/GregorianCalendarSystem.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/GregorianCalendarSystem.java
index 5d27fb0..3be0858 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/GregorianCalendarSystem.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/base/temporal/GregorianCalendarSystem.java
@@ -164,15 +164,8 @@
      * @return
      */
     public boolean validateTimeZone(int timezone) {
-        short tzMin = (short) ((timezone % 4) * 15);
 
-        if (tzMin < -60 || tzMin >= 60) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        short tzHr = (short) (timezone / 4);
-
-        if (tzHr < -12 && tzHr > 14) {
+        if (timezone < -12 * CHRONON_OF_DAY || timezone > 14 * CHRONON_OF_DAY) {
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -211,8 +204,8 @@
      */
     public long getChronon(int year, int month, int day, int hour, int min, int sec, int millis, int timezone) {
         // Added milliseconds for all fields but month and day
-        long chrononTime = chrononizeBeginningOfYear(year) + (hour - timezone / 4) * CHRONON_OF_HOUR
-                + (min - (timezone % 4) * 15) * CHRONON_OF_MINUTE + sec * CHRONON_OF_SECOND + millis;
+        long chrononTime = chrononizeBeginningOfYear(year) + hour * CHRONON_OF_HOUR + min * CHRONON_OF_MINUTE + sec
+                * CHRONON_OF_SECOND + millis + timezone;
 
         // Added milliseconds for days of the month. 
         chrononTime += (day - 1 + DAYS_SINCE_MONTH_BEGIN_ORDI[month - 1]) * CHRONON_OF_DAY;
@@ -237,13 +230,13 @@
      */
     public int getChronon(int hour, int min, int sec, int millis, int timezone) {
         // Added milliseconds for all fields but month and day
-        long chrononTime = (hour - timezone / 4) * CHRONON_OF_HOUR + (min - (timezone % 4) * 15) * CHRONON_OF_MINUTE
-                + sec * CHRONON_OF_SECOND + millis;
-        return (int)chrononTime;
+        long chrononTime = hour * CHRONON_OF_HOUR + min * CHRONON_OF_MINUTE + sec * CHRONON_OF_SECOND + millis
+                + timezone;
+        return (int) chrononTime;
     }
 
     public long adjustChrononByTimezone(long chronon, int timezone) {
-        return chronon + timezone / 4 * CHRONON_OF_HOUR + (timezone % 4) * 15 * CHRONON_OF_MINUTE;
+        return chronon - timezone;
     }
 
     public static int getChrononInDays(long chronon) {
@@ -330,12 +323,12 @@
             if (timezone == 0) {
                 sbder.append("Z");
             } else {
-                short tzMin = (short) ((timezone % 4) * 15);
+                int tzMin = (int) (timezone % CHRONON_OF_HOUR / CHRONON_OF_MINUTE);
                 if (tzMin < 0) {
                     tzMin = (short) (-1 * tzMin);
                 }
-                short tzHr = (short) (timezone / 4);
-                sbder.append((tzHr >= 0 ? "+" : "-")).append(String.format("%02d", (tzHr < 0 ? -tzHr : tzHr)))
+                int tzHr = (int) (timezone / CHRONON_OF_HOUR);
+                sbder.append((tzHr >= 0 ? "-" : "+")).append(String.format("%02d", (tzHr < 0 ? -tzHr : tzHr)))
                         .append(":").append(String.format("%02d", tzMin));
             }
         }
@@ -391,12 +384,12 @@
             if (timezone == 0) {
                 sbder.append("Z");
             } else {
-                short tzMin = (short) ((timezone % 4) * 15);
+                int tzMin = (int) (timezone % CHRONON_OF_HOUR / CHRONON_OF_MINUTE);
                 if (tzMin < 0) {
                     tzMin = (short) (-1 * tzMin);
                 }
-                short tzHr = (short) (timezone / 4);
-                sbder.append((tzHr >= 0 ? "+" : "-")).append(String.format("%02d", (tzHr < 0 ? -tzHr : tzHr)))
+                int tzHr = (int) (timezone / CHRONON_OF_HOUR);
+                sbder.append((tzHr >= 0 ? "-" : "+")).append(String.format("%02d", (tzHr < 0 ? -tzHr : tzHr)))
                         .append(String.format("%02d", tzMin));
             }
         }
diff --git a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/functions/AsterixBuiltinFunctions.java b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/functions/AsterixBuiltinFunctions.java
index 41cf3c1..3c8a0c4 100644
--- a/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/functions/AsterixBuiltinFunctions.java
+++ b/asterix-om/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/om/functions/AsterixBuiltinFunctions.java
@@ -542,6 +542,18 @@
             FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "adjust-datetime-for-timezone", 2);
     public final static FunctionIdentifier DAY_OF_WEEK = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
             "day-of-week");
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier PARSE_DATE = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "parse-date", 2);
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier PARSE_TIME = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "parse-time", 2);
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier PARSE_DATETIME = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "parse-datetime", 2);
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier PRINT_DATE = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "print-date", 2);
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier PRINT_TIME = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "print-time", 2);
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier PRINT_DATETIME = new FunctionIdentifier(FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS,
+            "print-datetime", 2);
 
     public final static FunctionIdentifier GET_POINT_X_COORDINATE_ACCESSOR = new FunctionIdentifier(
             FunctionConstants.ASTERIX_NS, "get-x", 1);
@@ -858,6 +870,12 @@
         addFunction(GET_YEAR_MONTH_DURATION, OptionalAYearMonthDurationTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
         addFunction(INTERVAL_BIN, OptionalAIntervalTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
         addFunction(DAY_OF_WEEK, OptionalAInt32TypeComputer.INSTANCE);
+        addFunction(PARSE_DATE, OptionalADateTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
+        addFunction(PARSE_TIME, OptionalATimeTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
+        addFunction(PARSE_DATETIME, OptionalADateTimeTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
+        addFunction(PRINT_DATE, OptionalAStringTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
+        addFunction(PRINT_TIME, OptionalAStringTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
+        addFunction(PRINT_DATETIME, OptionalAStringTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
 
         // interval constructors
         addFunction(INTERVAL_CONSTRUCTOR_DATE, OptionalAIntervalTypeComputer.INSTANCE);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java
index 03c4140..5070210 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@
 
                                 int stringLength = (serString[1] & 0xff << 8) + (serString[2] & 0xff << 0);
 
+                                // the string to be parsed should be at least 8 characters: YYYYMMDD
+                                if (stringLength < 8) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage
+                                            + ": the string length should be at least 8 (YYYYMMDD) but it is "
+                                            + stringLength);
+                                }
+
                                 int startOffset = 3;
                                 while (serString[startOffset] == ' ') {
                                     startOffset++;
@@ -111,8 +118,6 @@
                             }
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                        } catch (Exception e2) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
                         }
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
index 986b158..880de44 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ADateTimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -82,7 +82,12 @@
                             if (serString[0] == SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
 
                                 int stringLength = (serString[1] & 0xff << 8) + (serString[2] & 0xff << 0);
-
+                                // the string to be parsed should be at least 14 characters: YYYYMMDDhhmmss
+                                if (stringLength < 14) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage
+                                            + ": the string length should be at least 14 (YYYYMMDDhhmmss) but it is "
+                                            + stringLength);
+                                }
                                 // +1 if it is negative (-)
                                 short timeOffset = (short) ((serString[3] == '-') ? 1 : 0);
 
@@ -109,8 +114,6 @@
                             }
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                        } catch (Exception e2) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
                         }
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java
index 1b3e7f6..d344d1c 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/constructors/ATimeConstructorDescriptor.java
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@
 
                                 int stringLength = (serString[1] & 0xff << 8) + (serString[2] & 0xff << 0);
 
+                                // the string to be parsed should be at least 6 characters: hhmmss
+                                if (stringLength < 6) {
+                                    throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage
+                                            + ": the string length should be at least 6 (hhmmss) but it is "
+                                            + stringLength);
+                                }
+
                                 int chrononTimeInMs = ATimeParserFactory.parseTimePart(serString, 3, stringLength);
 
                                 if (chrononTimeInMs < 0) {
@@ -99,8 +106,6 @@
                             }
                         } catch (IOException e1) {
                             throw new AlgebricksException(errorMessage);
-                        } catch (Exception e2) {
-                            throw new AlgebricksException(e2);
                         }
                     }
                 };
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseDateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseDateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..782d424
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseDateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDate;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.AsterixTemporalTypeParseException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils.DateTimeParseMode;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+/**
+ * <b>|(bar)</b> is a special separator used to separate different formatting options.
+ * Multiple format strings can be used by separating them using <b>|(bar)</b>, and the parsing will be successful only when the format string has the <b>exact</b> match with the given data string. This means that a time string like <it>08:23:12 AM</it> will not be valid for the format string <it>h:m:s</it> as there is no AM/PM format character in the format string.
+ * <p/>
+ */
+public class ParseDateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PARSE_DATE;
+
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static DateTimeFormatUtils DT_UTILS = DateTimeFormatUtils.getInstance();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ParseDateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADate> dateSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATE);
+
+                    private AMutableDate aDate = new AMutableDate(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": expects two strings but got  ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ")");
+                            }
+                            int length0 = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            int length1 = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            long chronon = 0;
+
+                            int formatStart = 3;
+                            int formatLength = 0;
+                            boolean processSuccessfully = false;
+                            while (!processSuccessfully && formatStart < 3 + length1) {
+                                // search for "|"
+                                formatLength = 0;
+                                for (; formatStart + formatLength < 3 + length1; formatLength++) {
+                                    if (argOut1.getByteArray()[formatStart + formatLength] == '|') {
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                }
+                                try {
+                                    chronon = DT_UTILS.parseDateTime(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3, length0,
+                                            argOut1.getByteArray(), formatStart, formatLength,
+                                            DateTimeParseMode.DATE_ONLY);
+                                } catch (AsterixTemporalTypeParseException ex) {
+                                    formatStart += formatLength + 1;
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                                processSuccessfully = true;
+                            }
+
+                            if (!processSuccessfully) {
+                                throw new HyracksDataException(
+                                        "parse-date: Failed to match with any given format string!");
+                            }
+
+                            aDate.setValue((int) (chronon / GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY));
+                            dateSerde.serialize(aDate, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException ex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseDateTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseDateTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89cfbe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseDateTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ADateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableDateTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.AsterixTemporalTypeParseException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils.DateTimeParseMode;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class ParseDateTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PARSE_DATETIME;
+
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static DateTimeFormatUtils DT_UTILS = DateTimeFormatUtils.getInstance();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ParseDateTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ADateTime> datetimeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ADATETIME);
+
+                    private AMutableDateTime aDateTime = new AMutableDateTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": expects two strings but got  ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ")");
+                            }
+                            int length0 = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            int length1 = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            long chronon = 0;
+
+                            int formatStart = 3;
+                            int formatLength = 0;
+                            boolean processSuccessfully = false;
+                            while (!processSuccessfully && formatStart < 3 + length1) {
+                                // search for "|"
+                                formatLength = 0;
+                                for (; formatStart + formatLength < 3 + length1; formatLength++) {
+                                    if (argOut1.getByteArray()[formatStart + formatLength] == '|') {
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                }
+                                try {
+                                    chronon = DT_UTILS.parseDateTime(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3, length0,
+                                            argOut1.getByteArray(), formatStart, formatLength,
+                                            DateTimeParseMode.DATETIME);
+                                } catch (AsterixTemporalTypeParseException ex) {
+                                    formatStart += formatLength + 1;
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                                processSuccessfully = true;
+                            }
+
+                            if (!processSuccessfully) {
+                                throw new HyracksDataException(
+                                        "parse-date: Failed to match with any given format string!");
+                            }
+
+                            aDateTime.setValue(chronon);
+                            datetimeSerde.serialize(aDateTime, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException ex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ee76e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/ParseTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableTime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ATime;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.AsterixTemporalTypeParseException;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils.DateTimeParseMode;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class ParseTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PARSE_TIME;
+
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static DateTimeFormatUtils DT_UTILS = DateTimeFormatUtils.getInstance();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new ParseTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ATime> timeSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ATIME);
+
+                    private AMutableTime aTime = new AMutableTime(0);
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": expects two strings but got  ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ")");
+                            }
+                            int length0 = (argOut0.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut0.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            int length1 = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            long chronon = 0;
+                            
+                            int formatStart = 3;
+                            int formatLength = 0;
+                            boolean processSuccessfully = false;
+                            while (!processSuccessfully && formatStart < 3 + length1) {
+                                // search for "|"
+                                formatLength = 0;
+                                for (; formatStart + formatLength < 3 + length1; formatLength++) {
+                                    if (argOut1.getByteArray()[formatStart + formatLength] == '|') {
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                }
+                                try {
+                                    chronon = DT_UTILS.parseDateTime(argOut0.getByteArray(), 3, length0,
+                                            argOut1.getByteArray(), formatStart, formatLength,
+                                            DateTimeParseMode.TIME_ONLY);
+                                } catch (AsterixTemporalTypeParseException ex) {
+                                    formatStart += formatLength + 1;
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                                processSuccessfully = true;
+                            }
+
+                            if (!processSuccessfully) {
+                                throw new HyracksDataException(
+                                        "parse-date: Failed to match with any given format string!");
+                            }
+
+                            aTime.setValue((int) chronon);
+                            timeSerde.serialize(aTime, out);
+
+                        } catch (HyracksDataException ex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintDateDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintDateDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a48e44c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintDateDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.GregorianCalendarSystem;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils.DateTimeParseMode;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class PrintDateDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PRINT_DATE;
+
+    private final static byte SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATE.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static DateTimeFormatUtils DT_UTILS = DateTimeFormatUtils.getInstance();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new PrintDateDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    private StringBuilder sbder = new StringBuilder();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATE_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": expects (DATE, STRING) but got  ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ")");
+                            }
+
+                            long chronon = ADateSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1)
+                                    * GregorianCalendarSystem.CHRONON_OF_DAY;
+                            int formatLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            sbder.delete(0, sbder.length());
+                            DT_UTILS.printDateTime(chronon, 0, argOut1.getByteArray(), 3, formatLength, sbder,
+                                    DateTimeParseMode.DATE_ONLY);
+
+                            out.writeByte(ATypeTag.STRING.serialize());
+                            out.writeUTF(sbder.toString());
+
+                        } catch (IOException ex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintDateTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintDateTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c507e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintDateTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils.DateTimeParseMode;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class PrintDateTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PRINT_DATETIME;
+
+    private final static byte SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.DATETIME.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static DateTimeFormatUtils DT_UTILS = DateTimeFormatUtils.getInstance();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new PrintDateTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    private StringBuilder sbder = new StringBuilder();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_DATETIME_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": expects (DATETIME, STRING) but got  ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ")");
+                            }
+                            long chronon = ADateTimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1);
+                            int formatLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            sbder.delete(0, sbder.length());
+                            DT_UTILS.printDateTime(chronon, 0, argOut1.getByteArray(), 3, formatLength, sbder,
+                                    DateTimeParseMode.DATETIME);
+
+                            out.writeByte(ATypeTag.STRING.serialize());
+                            out.writeUTF(sbder.toString());
+
+                        } catch (IOException ex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintTimeDescriptor.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintTimeDescriptor.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d589a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/evaluators/functions/temporal/PrintTimeDescriptor.java
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * you may obtain a copy of the License from
+ * 
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * 
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal;
+
+import java.io.DataOutput;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ATimeSerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.formats.nontagged.AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.temporal.DateTimeFormatUtils.DateTimeParseMode;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AsterixBuiltinFunctions;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.IFunctionDescriptorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.BuiltinType;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.EnumDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.base.AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.algebricks.runtime.base.ICopyEvaluatorFactory;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.dataflow.value.ISerializerDeserializer;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.api.IDataOutputProvider;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.IFrameTupleReference;
+
+public class PrintTimeDescriptor extends AbstractScalarFunctionDynamicDescriptor {
+
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    public final static FunctionIdentifier FID = AsterixBuiltinFunctions.PRINT_TIME;
+
+    private final static byte SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.TIME.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.STRING.serialize();
+    private final static byte SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG = ATypeTag.NULL.serialize();
+    private final static DateTimeFormatUtils DT_UTILS = DateTimeFormatUtils.getInstance();
+
+    public final static IFunctionDescriptorFactory FACTORY = new IFunctionDescriptorFactory() {
+
+        @Override
+        public IFunctionDescriptor createFunctionDescriptor() {
+            return new PrintTimeDescriptor();
+        }
+    };
+
+    @Override
+    public ICopyEvaluatorFactory createEvaluatorFactory(final ICopyEvaluatorFactory[] args) throws AlgebricksException {
+        return new ICopyEvaluatorFactory() {
+
+            private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+            @Override
+            public ICopyEvaluator createEvaluator(final IDataOutputProvider output) throws AlgebricksException {
+                return new ICopyEvaluator() {
+
+                    private DataOutput out = output.getDataOutput();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut0 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ArrayBackedValueStorage argOut1 = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval0 = args[0].createEvaluator(argOut0);
+                    private ICopyEvaluator eval1 = args[1].createEvaluator(argOut1);
+
+                    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+                    private ISerializerDeserializer<ANull> nullSerde = AqlSerializerDeserializerProvider.INSTANCE
+                            .getSerializerDeserializer(BuiltinType.ANULL);
+
+                    private StringBuilder sbder = new StringBuilder();
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void evaluate(IFrameTupleReference tuple) throws AlgebricksException {
+                        argOut0.reset();
+                        eval0.evaluate(tuple);
+                        argOut1.reset();
+                        eval1.evaluate(tuple);
+
+                        try {
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] == SER_NULL_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                nullSerde.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            if (argOut0.getByteArray()[0] != SER_TIME_TYPE_TAG
+                                    || argOut1.getByteArray()[0] != SER_STRING_TYPE_TAG) {
+                                throw new AlgebricksException(getIdentifier().getName()
+                                        + ": expects (TIME, STRING) but got  ("
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut0.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ", "
+                                        + EnumDeserializer.ATYPETAGDESERIALIZER.deserialize(argOut1.getByteArray()[0])
+                                        + ")");
+                            }
+
+                            long chronon = ATimeSerializerDeserializer.getChronon(argOut0.getByteArray(), 1);
+                            int formatLength = (argOut1.getByteArray()[1] & 0xff << 8)
+                                    + (argOut1.getByteArray()[2] & 0xff << 0);
+                            sbder.delete(0, sbder.length());
+                            DT_UTILS.printDateTime(chronon, 0, argOut1.getByteArray(), 3, formatLength, sbder,
+                                    DateTimeParseMode.TIME_ONLY);
+
+                            out.writeByte(ATypeTag.STRING.serialize());
+                            out.writeUTF(sbder.toString());
+
+                        } catch (IOException ex) {
+                            throw new AlgebricksException(ex);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+            }
+
+        };
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.functions.AbstractFunctionDescriptor#getIdentifier()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public FunctionIdentifier getIdentifier() {
+        return FID;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java
index a13eed3..566aa98 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/formats/NonTaggedDataFormat.java
@@ -245,6 +245,12 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalOverlapsDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalStartedByDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.IntervalStartsDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.ParseDateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.ParseDateTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.ParseTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.PrintDateDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.PrintDateTimeDescriptor;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.PrintTimeDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.TimeFromDatetimeDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.TimeFromUnixTimeInMsDescriptor;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.temporal.YearMonthDurationComparatorDecriptor;
@@ -541,6 +547,12 @@
         temp.add(GetDayTimeDurationDescriptor.FACTORY);
         temp.add(IntervalBinDescriptor.FACTORY);
         temp.add(DayOfWeekDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ParseDateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ParseTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(ParseDateTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(PrintDateDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(PrintTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
+        temp.add(PrintDateTimeDescriptor.FACTORY);
 
         // Interval constructor
         temp.add(AIntervalFromDateConstructorDescriptor.FACTORY);
diff --git a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataParser.java b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataParser.java
index 921dbf3..5a639dc 100644
--- a/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataParser.java
+++ b/asterix-runtime/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/asterix/runtime/operators/file/DelimitedDataParser.java
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@
 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.dataflow.data.nontagged.serde.ANullSerializerDeserializer;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.AMutableString;
+import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import edu.uci.ics.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@
     private int[] fldIds;
     private ArrayBackedValueStorage[] nameBuffers;
 
+    private boolean areAllNullFields;
+
     public DelimitedDataParser(ARecordType recordType, IValueParserFactory[] valueParserFactories, char fieldDelimter) {
         this.recordType = recordType;
         this.valueParserFactories = valueParserFactories;
@@ -97,29 +101,44 @@
 
     @Override
     public boolean parse(DataOutput out) throws AsterixException, IOException {
-
-        if (cursor.nextRecord()) {
+        while (cursor.nextRecord()) {
             recBuilder.reset(recordType);
             recBuilder.init();
+            areAllNullFields = true;
             for (int i = 0; i < valueParsers.length; ++i) {
                 if (!cursor.nextField()) {
                     break;
                 }
                 fieldValueBuffer.reset();
-                fieldValueBufferOutput.writeByte(fieldTypeTags[i]);
-                valueParsers[i]
-                        .parse(cursor.buffer, cursor.fStart, cursor.fEnd - cursor.fStart, fieldValueBufferOutput);
+
+                if (cursor.fStart == cursor.fEnd && recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.STRING
+                        && recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.NULL) {
+                    // if the field is empty and the type is optional, insert NULL
+                    // note that string type can also process empty field as an empty string
+                    if (recordType.getFieldTypes()[i].getTypeTag() != ATypeTag.UNION) {
+                        throw new AsterixException("Field " + i + " cannot be NULL. ");
+                    }
+                    fieldValueBufferOutput.writeByte(ATypeTag.NULL.serialize());
+                    ANullSerializerDeserializer.INSTANCE.serialize(ANull.NULL, out);
+                } else {
+                    fieldValueBufferOutput.writeByte(fieldTypeTags[i]);
+                    valueParsers[i].parse(cursor.buffer, cursor.fStart, cursor.fEnd - cursor.fStart,
+                            fieldValueBufferOutput);
+                    areAllNullFields = false;
+                }
                 if (fldIds[i] < 0) {
                     recBuilder.addField(nameBuffers[i], fieldValueBuffer);
                 } else {
                     recBuilder.addField(fldIds[i], fieldValueBuffer);
                 }
+
             }
-            recBuilder.write(out, true);
-            return true;
-        } else {
-            return false;
+            if (!areAllNullFields) {
+                recBuilder.write(out, true);
+                return true;
+            }
         }
+        return false;
     }
 
     protected void fieldNameToBytes(String fieldName, AMutableString str, ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer)
@@ -252,11 +271,13 @@
                         if (p >= end) {
                             int s = start;
                             eof = !readMore();
+                            p -= (s - start);
                             if (eof) {
                                 state = State.EOF;
+                                fStart = start;
+                                fEnd = p;
                                 return true;
                             }
-                            p -= (s - start);
                         }
                         char ch = buffer[p];
                         if (ch == fieldDelimiter) {