Automated re-ordering of columns for alignment trap reduction

摘要

An automated method to align column values to proper byte boundaries for rapid scanning in a parallel processing database system. A table definition is received having a logical order of fields. The fields are re-ordered to create a physical order of fields. The physical order of fields has fixed length fields having a same byte alignment requirement positioned adjacent to each other in descending order from largest size to smallest size, and wherein a first fixed length field in the physical order is aligned on a proper byte boundary. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.