US Patent 7496572 Reorganizing database objects using variable length keys

Techniques for sorting data include (1) obtaining records containing variable length key fields, (2) expanding the variable length key fields into fixed length key fields in a temporary structure, (3) sorting the temporary structure based on the fixed length key fields, and (4) reorganizing the data containing the variable length key fields in accordance with the sorted temporary structure. Reorganized data can replace the original data or be saved to temporary storage where it can later be merged with other reorganized data. Temporary storage of reorganized data does not incorporate the expanded fixed length key information used in the temporary structure.