/* Create a new thread */
int sqlite3ThreadCreate(
  SQLiteThread **ppThread,  /* OUT: Write the thread object here */
  void *(*xTask)(void*),    /* Routine to run in a separate thread */
  void *pIn                 /* Argument passed into xTask() */
){
  SQLiteThread *p;
  int rc;

  assert( ppThread!=0 );
  assert( xTask!=0 );
  *ppThread = 0;
  p = sqlite3Malloc(sizeof(*p));
  if( p==0 ) return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  memset(p, 0, sizeof(*p));

/* Create a new thread */
int sqlite3ThreadCreate(
  SQLiteThread **ppThread,  /* OUT: Write the thread object here */
  void *(*xTask)(void*),    /* Routine to run in a separate thread */
  void *pIn                 /* Argument passed into xTask() */
){
  SQLiteThread *p;


  assert( ppThread!=0 );
  assert( xTask!=0 );
  *ppThread = 0;
  p = sqlite3Malloc(sizeof(*p));
  if( p==0 ) return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  memset(p, 0, sizeof(*p));

  assert( pOp->p1>=0 && pOp->p1<p->nCursor );
  pC = p->apCsr[pOp->p1];
  assert( pC!=0 );
  assert( pC->isSorter==(pOp->opcode==OP_SorterSort) );
  res = 1;
  if( isSorter(pC) ){
    rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(db, pC, &res);
  }else{
    pCrsr = pC->pCursor;
    assert( pCrsr );
    rc = sqlite3BtreeFirst(pCrsr, &res);
    pC->atFirst = res==0 ?1:0;
    pC->deferredMoveto = 0;
    pC->cacheStatus = CACHE_STALE;
................................................................................
  pC = p->apCsr[pOp->p1];
  if( pC==0 ){
    break;  /* See ticket #2273 */
  }
  assert( pC->isSorter==(pOp->opcode==OP_SorterNext) );
  if( isSorter(pC) ){
    assert( pOp->opcode==OP_SorterNext );
    rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(db, pC, &res);
  }else{
    res = 1;
    assert( pC->deferredMoveto==0 );
    assert( pC->pCursor );
    assert( pOp->opcode!=OP_Next || pOp->p4.xAdvance==sqlite3BtreeNext );
    assert( pOp->opcode!=OP_Prev || pOp->p4.xAdvance==sqlite3BtreePrevious );
    rc = pOp->p4.xAdvance(pC->pCursor, &res);
................................................................................
  assert( pIn2->flags & MEM_Blob );
  pCrsr = pC->pCursor;
  if( ALWAYS(pCrsr!=0) ){
    assert( pC->isTable==0 );
    rc = ExpandBlob(pIn2);
    if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
      if( isSorter(pC) ){
        rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(db, pC, pIn2);
      }else{
        nKey = pIn2->n;
        zKey = pIn2->z;
        rc = sqlite3BtreeInsert(pCrsr, zKey, nKey, "", 0, 0, pOp->p3, 
            ((pOp->p5 & OPFLAG_USESEEKRESULT) ? pC->seekResult : 0)
            );
        assert( pC->deferredMoveto==0 );

  assert( pOp->p1>=0 && pOp->p1<p->nCursor );
  pC = p->apCsr[pOp->p1];
  assert( pC!=0 );
  assert( pC->isSorter==(pOp->opcode==OP_SorterSort) );
  res = 1;
  if( isSorter(pC) ){
    rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(pC, &res);
  }else{
    pCrsr = pC->pCursor;
    assert( pCrsr );
    rc = sqlite3BtreeFirst(pCrsr, &res);
    pC->atFirst = res==0 ?1:0;
    pC->deferredMoveto = 0;
    pC->cacheStatus = CACHE_STALE;
................................................................................
  pC = p->apCsr[pOp->p1];
  if( pC==0 ){
    break;  /* See ticket #2273 */
  }
  assert( pC->isSorter==(pOp->opcode==OP_SorterNext) );
  if( isSorter(pC) ){
    assert( pOp->opcode==OP_SorterNext );
    rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(pC, &res);
  }else{
    res = 1;
    assert( pC->deferredMoveto==0 );
    assert( pC->pCursor );
    assert( pOp->opcode!=OP_Next || pOp->p4.xAdvance==sqlite3BtreeNext );
    assert( pOp->opcode!=OP_Prev || pOp->p4.xAdvance==sqlite3BtreePrevious );
    rc = pOp->p4.xAdvance(pC->pCursor, &res);
................................................................................
  assert( pIn2->flags & MEM_Blob );
  pCrsr = pC->pCursor;
  if( ALWAYS(pCrsr!=0) ){
    assert( pC->isTable==0 );
    rc = ExpandBlob(pIn2);
    if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
      if( isSorter(pC) ){
        rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(pC, pIn2);
      }else{
        nKey = pIn2->n;
        zKey = pIn2->z;
        rc = sqlite3BtreeInsert(pCrsr, zKey, nKey, "", 0, 0, pOp->p3, 
            ((pOp->p5 & OPFLAG_USESEEKRESULT) ? pC->seekResult : 0)
            );
        assert( pC->deferredMoveto==0 );

void sqlite3VdbeFrameDelete(VdbeFrame*);
int sqlite3VdbeFrameRestore(VdbeFrame *);
void sqlite3VdbeMemStoreType(Mem *pMem);
int sqlite3VdbeTransferError(Vdbe *p);

#ifdef SQLITE_OMIT_MERGE_SORT
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(Y,Z)      SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(X,Y,Z)   SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(Y,Z)
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterRowkey(Y,Z)    SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(X,Y,Z)  SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(X,Y,Z)    SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterCompare(X,Y,Z) SQLITE_OK
#else
int sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(sqlite3 *, VdbeCursor *);
void sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(sqlite3 *, VdbeCursor *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterRowkey(const VdbeCursor *, Mem *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(sqlite3 *, const VdbeCursor *, int *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(sqlite3 *, const VdbeCursor *, int *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(sqlite3 *, const VdbeCursor *, Mem *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterCompare(const VdbeCursor *, Mem *, int *);
#endif

#if !defined(SQLITE_OMIT_SHARED_CACHE) && SQLITE_THREADSAFE>0
  void sqlite3VdbeEnter(Vdbe*);
  void sqlite3VdbeLeave(Vdbe*);
#else

void sqlite3VdbeFrameDelete(VdbeFrame*);
int sqlite3VdbeFrameRestore(VdbeFrame *);
void sqlite3VdbeMemStoreType(Mem *pMem);
int sqlite3VdbeTransferError(Vdbe *p);

#ifdef SQLITE_OMIT_MERGE_SORT
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(Y,Z)      SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(Y,Z)     SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(Z)
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterRowkey(Y,Z)    SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(Y,Z)    SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(Y,Z)      SQLITE_OK
# define sqlite3VdbeSorterCompare(Y,Z)   SQLITE_OK
#else
int sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(sqlite3 *, VdbeCursor *);
void sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(VdbeCursor *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterRowkey(const VdbeCursor *, Mem *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(const VdbeCursor *, int *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(const VdbeCursor *, int *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(const VdbeCursor *, Mem *);
int sqlite3VdbeSorterCompare(const VdbeCursor *, Mem *, int *);
#endif

#if !defined(SQLITE_OMIT_SHARED_CACHE) && SQLITE_THREADSAFE>0
  void sqlite3VdbeEnter(Vdbe*);
  void sqlite3VdbeLeave(Vdbe*);
#else

** Close a VDBE cursor and release all the resources that cursor 
** happens to hold.
*/
void sqlite3VdbeFreeCursor(Vdbe *p, VdbeCursor *pCx){
  if( pCx==0 ){
    return;
  }
  sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(p->db, pCx);
  if( pCx->pBt ){
    sqlite3BtreeClose(pCx->pBt);
    /* The pCx->pCursor will be close automatically, if it exists, by
    ** the call above. */
  }else if( pCx->pCursor ){
    sqlite3BtreeCloseCursor(pCx->pCursor);
  }

** Close a VDBE cursor and release all the resources that cursor 
** happens to hold.
*/
void sqlite3VdbeFreeCursor(Vdbe *p, VdbeCursor *pCx){
  if( pCx==0 ){
    return;
  }
  sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(pCx);
  if( pCx->pBt ){
    sqlite3BtreeClose(pCx->pBt);
    /* The pCx->pCursor will be close automatically, if it exists, by
    ** the call above. */
  }else if( pCx->pCursor ){
    sqlite3BtreeCloseCursor(pCx->pCursor);
  }

  int mxPmaSize;                  /* Maximum PMA size, in bytes.  0==no limit */
  VdbeSorterIter *aIter;          /* Array of iterators to merge */
  int *aTree;                     /* Current state of incremental merge */
  sqlite3_file *pTemp1;           /* PMA file 1 */
  SorterRecord *pRecord;          /* Head of in-memory record list */
  int nRecord;                    /* Number of elements on the pRecord list */
  UnpackedRecord *pUnpacked;      /* Used to unpack keys */


};

/*
** The following type is an iterator for a PMA. It caches the current key in 
** variables nKey/aKey. If the iterator is at EOF, pFile==0.
*/
struct VdbeSorterIter {
  i64 iReadOff;                   /* Current read offset */
  i64 iEof;                       /* 1 byte past EOF for this iterator */

  int nAlloc;                     /* Bytes of space at aAlloc */
  int nKey;                       /* Number of bytes in key */
  sqlite3_file *pFile;            /* File iterator is reading from */
  u8 *aAlloc;                     /* Allocated space */
  u8 *aKey;                       /* Pointer to current key */
  u8 *aBuffer;                    /* Current read buffer */
  int nBuffer;                    /* Size of read buffer in bytes */
................................................................................
** and return SQLITE_OK. Otherwise, if an error occurs, return an SQLite
** error code.
**
** The buffer indicated by *ppOut may only be considered valid until the
** next call to this function.
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterRead(
  sqlite3 *db,                    /* Database handle (for malloc) */
  VdbeSorterIter *p,              /* Iterator */
  int nByte,                      /* Bytes of data to read */
  u8 **ppOut                      /* OUT: Pointer to buffer containing data */
){
  int iBuf;                       /* Offset within buffer to read from */
  int nAvail;                     /* Bytes of data available in buffer */
  assert( p->aBuffer );
................................................................................
    ** range into. Then return a copy of pointer p->aAlloc to the caller.  */
    int nRem;                     /* Bytes remaining to copy */

    /* Extend the p->aAlloc[] allocation if required. */
    if( p->nAlloc<nByte ){
      int nNew = p->nAlloc*2;
      while( nByte>nNew ) nNew = nNew*2;
      p->aAlloc = sqlite3DbReallocOrFree(db, p->aAlloc, nNew);
      if( !p->aAlloc ) return SQLITE_NOMEM;
      p->nAlloc = nNew;
    }

    /* Copy as much data as is available in the buffer into the start of
    ** p->aAlloc[].  */
    memcpy(p->aAlloc, &p->aBuffer[iBuf], nAvail);
................................................................................
    while( nRem>0 ){
      int rc;                     /* vdbeSorterIterRead() return code */
      int nCopy;                  /* Number of bytes to copy */
      u8 *aNext;                  /* Pointer to buffer to copy data from */

      nCopy = nRem;
      if( nRem>p->nBuffer ) nCopy = p->nBuffer;
      rc = vdbeSorterIterRead(db, p, nCopy, &aNext);
      if( rc!=SQLITE_OK ) return rc;
      assert( aNext!=p->aAlloc );
      memcpy(&p->aAlloc[nByte - nRem], aNext, nCopy);
      nRem -= nCopy;
    }

    *ppOut = p->aAlloc;
................................................................................
  return SQLITE_OK;
}

/*
** Read a varint from the stream of data accessed by p. Set *pnOut to
** the value read.
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterVarint(sqlite3 *db, VdbeSorterIter *p, u64 *pnOut){
  int iBuf;

  iBuf = p->iReadOff % p->nBuffer;
  if( iBuf && (p->nBuffer-iBuf)>=9 ){
    p->iReadOff += sqlite3GetVarint(&p->aBuffer[iBuf], pnOut);
  }else{
    u8 aVarint[16], *a;
    int i = 0, rc;
    do{
      rc = vdbeSorterIterRead(db, p, 1, &a);
      if( rc ) return rc;
      aVarint[(i++)&0xf] = a[0];
    }while( (a[0]&0x80)!=0 );
    sqlite3GetVarint(aVarint, pnOut);
  }

  return SQLITE_OK;
................................................................................


/*
** Advance iterator pIter to the next key in its PMA. Return SQLITE_OK if
** no error occurs, or an SQLite error code if one does.
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterNext(
  sqlite3 *db,                    /* Database handle (for sqlite3DbMalloc() ) */
  VdbeSorterIter *pIter           /* Iterator to advance */
){
  int rc;                         /* Return Code */
  u64 nRec = 0;                   /* Size of record in bytes */


  if( pIter->iReadOff>=pIter->iEof ){
    /* This is an EOF condition */
    vdbeSorterIterZero(db, pIter);
    return SQLITE_OK;
  }

  rc = vdbeSorterIterVarint(db, pIter, &nRec);
  if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
    pIter->nKey = (int)nRec;
    rc = vdbeSorterIterRead(db, pIter, (int)nRec, &pIter->aKey);
  }

  return rc;
}

/*
** Initialize iterator pIter to scan through the PMA stored in file pFile
** starting at offset iStart and ending at offset iEof-1. This function 
** leaves the iterator pointing to the first key in the PMA (or EOF if the 
** PMA is empty).
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterInit(
  sqlite3 *db,                    /* Database handle */
  const VdbeSorter *pSorter,      /* Sorter object */
  i64 iStart,                     /* Start offset in pFile */
  VdbeSorterIter *pIter,          /* Iterator to populate */
  i64 *pnByte                     /* IN/OUT: Increment this value by PMA size */
){
  int rc = SQLITE_OK;
  int nBuf;


  nBuf = sqlite3BtreeGetPageSize(db->aDb[0].pBt);

  assert( pSorter->iWriteOff>iStart );
  assert( pIter->aAlloc==0 );
  assert( pIter->aBuffer==0 );
  pIter->pFile = pSorter->pTemp1;
  pIter->iReadOff = iStart;

  pIter->nAlloc = 128;
  pIter->aAlloc = (u8 *)sqlite3DbMallocRaw(db, pIter->nAlloc);
  pIter->nBuffer = nBuf;
  pIter->aBuffer = (u8 *)sqlite3DbMallocRaw(db, nBuf);

  if( !pIter->aBuffer ){
    rc = SQLITE_NOMEM;
................................................................................
      );
      assert( rc!=SQLITE_IOERR_SHORT_READ );
    }

    if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
      u64 nByte;                       /* Size of PMA in bytes */
      pIter->iEof = pSorter->iWriteOff;
      rc = vdbeSorterIterVarint(db, pIter, &nByte);
      pIter->iEof = pIter->iReadOff + nByte;
      *pnByte += nByte;
    }
  }

  if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
    rc = vdbeSorterIterNext(db, pIter);
  }
  return rc;
}


/*
** Compare key1 (buffer pKey1, size nKey1 bytes) with key2 (buffer pKey2, 
................................................................................
** is true and key1 contains even a single NULL value, it is considered to
** be less than key2. Even if key2 also contains NULL values.
**
** If pKey2 is passed a NULL pointer, then it is assumed that the pCsr->aSpace
** has been allocated and contains an unpacked record that is used as key2.
*/
static void vdbeSorterCompare(
  const VdbeCursor *pCsr,         /* Cursor object (for pKeyInfo) */
  int bOmitRowid,                 /* Ignore rowid field at end of keys */
  const void *pKey1, int nKey1,   /* Left side of comparison */
  const void *pKey2, int nKey2,   /* Right side of comparison */
  int *pRes,                      /* OUT: Result of comparison */
  UnpackedRecord *r2              /* Space to hold the unpacked Key2 record */
){
  KeyInfo *pKeyInfo = pCsr->pKeyInfo;
  int i;

  if( pKey2 ){
    assert( r2!=0 );
    sqlite3VdbeRecordUnpack(pKeyInfo, nKey2, pKey2, r2);
  }

................................................................................
}

/*
** This function is called to compare two iterator keys when merging 
** multiple b-tree segments. Parameter iOut is the index of the aTree[] 
** value to recalculate.
*/
static int vdbeSorterDoCompare(const VdbeCursor *pCsr, int iOut){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  int i1;
  int i2;
  int iRes;
  VdbeSorterIter *p1;
  VdbeSorterIter *p2;

  assert( iOut<pSorter->nTree && iOut>0 );
................................................................................
  if( p1->pFile==0 ){
    iRes = i2;
  }else if( p2->pFile==0 ){
    iRes = i1;
  }else{
    int res;
    vdbeSorterCompare(
        pCsr, 0, p1->aKey, p1->nKey, p2->aKey, p2->nKey, &res, 
        pSorter->pUnpacked
    );
    if( res<=0 ){
      iRes = i1;
    }else{
      iRes = i2;
    }
................................................................................
** Initialize the temporary index cursor just opened as a sorter cursor.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(sqlite3 *db, VdbeCursor *pCsr){
  int pgsz;                       /* Page size of main database */
  int mxCache;                    /* Cache size */
  VdbeSorter *pSorter;            /* The new sorter */
  char *d;                        /* Dummy */


  assert( pCsr->pKeyInfo && pCsr->pBt==0 );
  pCsr->pSorter = pSorter = sqlite3DbMallocZero(db, sizeof(VdbeSorter));
  if( pSorter==0 ){
    return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  }

  
  pSorter->pUnpacked = sqlite3VdbeAllocUnpackedRecord(pCsr->pKeyInfo, 0, 0, &d);
  if( pSorter->pUnpacked==0 ) return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  assert( pSorter->pUnpacked==(UnpackedRecord *)d );














  if( !sqlite3TempInMemory(db) ){
    pgsz = sqlite3BtreeGetPageSize(db->aDb[0].pBt);
    pSorter->mnPmaSize = SORTER_MIN_WORKING * pgsz;
    mxCache = db->aDb[0].pSchema->cache_size;
    if( mxCache<SORTER_MIN_WORKING ) mxCache = SORTER_MIN_WORKING;
    pSorter->mxPmaSize = mxCache * pgsz;
................................................................................
    sqlite3DbFree(db, p);
  }
}

/*
** Free any cursor components allocated by sqlite3VdbeSorterXXX routines.
*/
void sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(sqlite3 *db, VdbeCursor *pCsr){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  if( pSorter ){

    if( pSorter->aIter ){
      int i;
      for(i=0; i<pSorter->nTree; i++){
        vdbeSorterIterZero(db, &pSorter->aIter[i]);
      }
      sqlite3DbFree(db, pSorter->aIter);
    }
    if( pSorter->pTemp1 ){
      sqlite3OsCloseFree(pSorter->pTemp1);
    }
    vdbeSorterRecordFree(db, pSorter->pRecord);
    sqlite3DbFree(db, pSorter->pUnpacked);

    sqlite3DbFree(db, pSorter);
    pCsr->pSorter = 0;
  }
}

/*
** Allocate space for a file-handle and open a temporary file. If successful,
................................................................................
}

/*
** Merge the two sorted lists p1 and p2 into a single list.
** Set *ppOut to the head of the new list.
*/
static void vdbeSorterMerge(
  const VdbeCursor *pCsr,         /* For pKeyInfo */
  SorterRecord *p1,               /* First list to merge */
  SorterRecord *p2,               /* Second list to merge */
  SorterRecord **ppOut,           /* OUT: Head of merged list */
  UnpackedRecord *pUnpacked       /* Space to hold an unpacked record */
){
  SorterRecord *pFinal = 0;
  SorterRecord **pp = &pFinal;
  void *pVal2 = p2 ? p2->pVal : 0;

  while( p1 && p2 ){
    int res;
    vdbeSorterCompare(pCsr, 0, p1->pVal, p1->nVal, pVal2, p2->nVal, &res,
                      pUnpacked);
    if( res<=0 ){
      *pp = p1;
      pp = &p1->pNext;
      p1 = p1->pNext;
      pVal2 = 0;
    }else{
................................................................................
  *ppOut = pFinal;
}

/*
** Background sorting task
*/
typedef struct SortTask {
  SorterRecord *pList;          /* List of elements to be sorted */
  const VdbeCursor *pCsr;       /* Cursor.  Needed for pCur->pKeyInfo */
  UnpackedRecord *pUnpacked;    /* Space to hold an unpacked key */

  SorterRecord **apSlot;        /* Temp memory for the merge sort */
} SortTask;

/*
** Do a sort in a background thread
*/
void *vdbeSorterBackgroundSort(SortTask *pTask){
................................................................................
  int i;
  for(i=0; i<64; i++) a[i] = 0;
  while( p ){
    SorterRecord *pNext = p->pNext;
    p->pNext = 0;
    for(i=0; a[i]; i++){
      if( a[i]==0 ) break;
      vdbeSorterMerge(pTask->pCsr, a[i], p, &p, pTask->pUnpacked);
      a[i] = 0;
    }
    a[i] = p;
    p = pNext;
  }
  p = 0;
  for(i=0; i<64; i++){
    vdbeSorterMerge(pTask->pCsr, a[i], p, &p, pTask->pUnpacked);
  }
  pTask->pList = p;
  return p;
}

/*
** Divide a linked list of SorterRecord objects into two separate
................................................................................
}

/*
** Sort the linked list of records headed at pCsr->pRecord. Return SQLITE_OK
** if successful, or an SQLite error code (i.e. SQLITE_NOMEM) if an error
** occurs.
*/
static int vdbeSorterSort(const VdbeCursor *pCsr){
  int rc;
  SorterRecord *p;
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  char *pDummy = 0;
  int nByteA, nByteB;
  SortTask aTask[2];
  SQLiteThread *pThread;

  nByteA = 64*sizeof(SorterRecord*);
  nByteB = ROUND8(sizeof(UnpackedRecord));
  nByteB += sizeof(Mem)*(pCsr->pKeyInfo->nField+1);

  aTask[0].apSlot = (SorterRecord **)sqlite3MallocZero(2*(nByteA + nByteB));
  if( !aTask[0].apSlot ){
    return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  }
  aTask[0].pCsr = pCsr;
  aTask[0].pUnpacked = sqlite3VdbeAllocUnpackedRecord(pCsr->pKeyInfo,
                          (char*)&aTask[0].apSlot[64], nByteB, &pDummy);
  assert( pDummy==0 );
  aTask[1].apSlot = (nByteA+nByteB)+(char*)aTask[0].apSlot;
  aTask[1].pCsr = pCsr;
  aTask[1].pUnpacked = sqlite3VdbeAllocUnpackedRecord(pCsr->pKeyInfo,
                          (char*)&aTask[1].apSlot[64], nByteB, &pDummy);
  assert( pDummy==0 );

  vdbeSorterDivideList(pSorter->pRecord, &aTask[0].pList, &aTask[1].pList);
  rc = sqlite3ThreadCreate(&pThread, 
          (void*(*)(void*))vdbeSorterBackgroundSort, &aTask[0]);
  vdbeSorterBackgroundSort(&aTask[1]);
  if( rc==SQLITE_NOMEM ){
    vdbeSorterBackgroundSort(&aTask[0]);
  }else{
    rc = sqlite3ThreadJoin(pThread, &pDummy);
  }
  vdbeSorterMerge(pCsr, aTask[0].pList, aTask[1].pList, &pSorter->pRecord,
                  aTask[0].pUnpacked);
  sqlite3_free(aTask[0].apSlot);
  return rc;
}

/*
** Initialize a file-writer object.
*/
................................................................................
**     * A varint. This varint contains the total number of bytes of content
**       in the PMA (not including the varint itself).
**
**     * One or more records packed end-to-end in order of ascending keys. 
**       Each record consists of a varint followed by a blob of data (the 
**       key). The varint is the number of bytes in the blob of data.
*/
static int vdbeSorterListToPMA(sqlite3 *db, const VdbeCursor *pCsr){
  int rc = SQLITE_OK;             /* Return code */
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  FileWriter writer;


  memset(&writer, 0, sizeof(FileWriter));

  if( pSorter->nInMemory==0 ){
    assert( pSorter->pRecord==0 );
    assert( pSorter->nRecord==0 );
    return rc;
  }

  rc = vdbeSorterSort(pCsr);

  /* If the first temporary PMA file has not been opened, open it now. */
  if( rc==SQLITE_OK && pSorter->pTemp1==0 ){
    rc = vdbeSorterOpenTempFile(db, &pSorter->pTemp1);
    assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->pTemp1 );
    assert( pSorter->iWriteOff==0 );
    assert( pSorter->nPMA==0 );
................................................................................
  return rc;
}

/*
** Add a record to the sorter.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(
  sqlite3 *db,                    /* Database handle */
  const VdbeCursor *pCsr,               /* Sorter cursor */
  Mem *pVal                       /* Memory cell containing record */
){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;

  int rc = SQLITE_OK;             /* Return Code */
  SorterRecord *pNew;             /* New list element */

  assert( pSorter );
  pSorter->nInMemory += sqlite3VarintLen(pVal->n) + pVal->n;

  pNew = (SorterRecord *)sqlite3DbMallocRaw(db, pVal->n + sizeof(SorterRecord));
................................................................................
     || (pSorter->nInMemory>pSorter->mnPmaSize && sqlite3HeapNearlyFull())
  )){
#ifdef SQLITE_DEBUG
    i64 nExpect = pSorter->iWriteOff
                + sqlite3VarintLen(pSorter->nInMemory)
                + pSorter->nInMemory;
#endif
    rc = vdbeSorterListToPMA(db, pCsr);
    pSorter->nInMemory = 0;
    assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || (nExpect==pSorter->iWriteOff) );
  }

  return rc;
}

/*
** Helper function for sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(). 
*/
static int vdbeSorterInitMerge(
  sqlite3 *db,                    /* Database handle */
  const VdbeCursor *pCsr,         /* Cursor handle for this sorter */
  i64 *pnByte                     /* Sum of bytes in all opened PMAs */
){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  int rc = SQLITE_OK;             /* Return code */
  int i;                          /* Used to iterator through aIter[] */
  i64 nByte = 0;                  /* Total bytes in all opened PMAs */

  /* Initialize the iterators. */
  for(i=0; i<SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT; i++){
    VdbeSorterIter *pIter = &pSorter->aIter[i];
    rc = vdbeSorterIterInit(db, pSorter, pSorter->iReadOff, pIter, &nByte);
    pSorter->iReadOff = pIter->iEof;
    assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->iReadOff<=pSorter->iWriteOff );
    if( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->iReadOff>=pSorter->iWriteOff ) break;
  }

  /* Initialize the aTree[] array. */
  for(i=pSorter->nTree-1; rc==SQLITE_OK && i>0; i--){
    rc = vdbeSorterDoCompare(pCsr, i);
  }

  *pnByte = nByte;
  return rc;
}

/*
** Once the sorter has been populated, this function is called to prepare
** for iterating through its contents in sorted order.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(sqlite3 *db, const VdbeCursor *pCsr, int *pbEof){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;

  int rc;                         /* Return code */
  sqlite3_file *pTemp2 = 0;       /* Second temp file to use */
  i64 iWrite2 = 0;                /* Write offset for pTemp2 */
  int nIter;                      /* Number of iterators used */
  int nByte;                      /* Bytes of space required for aIter/aTree */
  int N = 2;                      /* Power of 2 >= nIter */

................................................................................

  /* If no data has been written to disk, then do not do so now. Instead,
  ** sort the VdbeSorter.pRecord list. The vdbe layer will read data directly
  ** from the in-memory list.  */
  if( pSorter->nPMA==0 ){
    *pbEof = !pSorter->pRecord;
    assert( pSorter->aTree==0 );
    return vdbeSorterSort(pCsr);
  }

  /* Write the current in-memory list to a PMA. */
  rc = vdbeSorterListToPMA(db, pCsr);
  if( rc!=SQLITE_OK ) return rc;

  /* Allocate space for aIter[] and aTree[]. */
  nIter = pSorter->nPMA;
  if( nIter>SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT ) nIter = SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT;
  assert( nIter>0 );
  while( N<nIter ) N += N;
................................................................................
      ** These iterators will be incrementally merged as the VDBE layer calls
      ** sqlite3VdbeSorterNext().
      **
      ** Otherwise, if pTemp1 contains more than SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT PMAs,
      ** initialize interators for SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT of them. These PMAs
      ** are merged into a single PMA that is written to file pTemp2.
      */
      rc = vdbeSorterInitMerge(db, pCsr, &nWrite);
      assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->aIter[ pSorter->aTree[1] ].pFile );
      if( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->nPMA<=SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT ){
        break;
      }

      /* Open the second temp file, if it is not already open. */
      if( pTemp2==0 ){
................................................................................
        fileWriterWriteVarint(&writer, nWrite);
        while( rc==SQLITE_OK && bEof==0 ){
          VdbeSorterIter *pIter = &pSorter->aIter[ pSorter->aTree[1] ];
          assert( pIter->pFile );

          fileWriterWriteVarint(&writer, pIter->nKey);
          fileWriterWrite(&writer, pIter->aKey, pIter->nKey);
          rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(db, pCsr, &bEof);
        }
        rc2 = fileWriterFinish(db, &writer, &iWrite2);
        if( rc==SQLITE_OK ) rc = rc2;
      }
    }

    if( pSorter->nPMA<=SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT ){
................................................................................
  *pbEof = (pSorter->aIter[pSorter->aTree[1]].pFile==0);
  return rc;
}

/*
** Advance to the next element in the sorter.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(sqlite3 *db, const VdbeCursor *pCsr, int *pbEof){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;

  int rc;                         /* Return code */

  if( pSorter->aTree ){
    int iPrev = pSorter->aTree[1];/* Index of iterator to advance */
    int i;                        /* Index of aTree[] to recalculate */

    rc = vdbeSorterIterNext(db, &pSorter->aIter[iPrev]);
    for(i=(pSorter->nTree+iPrev)/2; rc==SQLITE_OK && i>0; i=i/2){
      rc = vdbeSorterDoCompare(pCsr, i);
    }

    *pbEof = (pSorter->aIter[pSorter->aTree[1]].pFile==0);
  }else{
    SorterRecord *pFree = pSorter->pRecord;
    pSorter->pRecord = pFree->pNext;
    pSorter->nRecord--;
................................................................................
  Mem *pVal,                      /* Value to compare to current sorter key */
  int *pRes                       /* OUT: Result of comparison */
){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  void *pKey; int nKey;           /* Sorter key to compare pVal with */

  pKey = vdbeSorterRowkey(pSorter, &nKey);
  vdbeSorterCompare(pCsr, 1, pVal->z, pVal->n, pKey, nKey, pRes,
                    pSorter->pUnpacked);
  return SQLITE_OK;
}

#endif /* #ifndef SQLITE_OMIT_MERGE_SORT */

  int mxPmaSize;                  /* Maximum PMA size, in bytes.  0==no limit */
  VdbeSorterIter *aIter;          /* Array of iterators to merge */
  int *aTree;                     /* Current state of incremental merge */
  sqlite3_file *pTemp1;           /* PMA file 1 */
  SorterRecord *pRecord;          /* Head of in-memory record list */
  int nRecord;                    /* Number of elements on the pRecord list */
  UnpackedRecord *pUnpacked;      /* Used to unpack keys */
  KeyInfo *pKeyInfo;              /* Copy of cursor KeyInfo without db ptr */
  sqlite3 *db;                    /* Database connection */
};

/*
** The following type is an iterator for a PMA. It caches the current key in 
** variables nKey/aKey. If the iterator is at EOF, pFile==0.
*/
struct VdbeSorterIter {
  i64 iReadOff;                   /* Current read offset */
  i64 iEof;                       /* 1 byte past EOF for this iterator */
  sqlite3 *db;                    /* Corresponding database connection */
  int nAlloc;                     /* Bytes of space at aAlloc */
  int nKey;                       /* Number of bytes in key */
  sqlite3_file *pFile;            /* File iterator is reading from */
  u8 *aAlloc;                     /* Allocated space */
  u8 *aKey;                       /* Pointer to current key */
  u8 *aBuffer;                    /* Current read buffer */
  int nBuffer;                    /* Size of read buffer in bytes */
................................................................................
** and return SQLITE_OK. Otherwise, if an error occurs, return an SQLite
** error code.
**
** The buffer indicated by *ppOut may only be considered valid until the
** next call to this function.
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterRead(

  VdbeSorterIter *p,              /* Iterator */
  int nByte,                      /* Bytes of data to read */
  u8 **ppOut                      /* OUT: Pointer to buffer containing data */
){
  int iBuf;                       /* Offset within buffer to read from */
  int nAvail;                     /* Bytes of data available in buffer */
  assert( p->aBuffer );
................................................................................
    ** range into. Then return a copy of pointer p->aAlloc to the caller.  */
    int nRem;                     /* Bytes remaining to copy */

    /* Extend the p->aAlloc[] allocation if required. */
    if( p->nAlloc<nByte ){
      int nNew = p->nAlloc*2;
      while( nByte>nNew ) nNew = nNew*2;
      p->aAlloc = sqlite3DbReallocOrFree(p->db, p->aAlloc, nNew);
      if( !p->aAlloc ) return SQLITE_NOMEM;
      p->nAlloc = nNew;
    }

    /* Copy as much data as is available in the buffer into the start of
    ** p->aAlloc[].  */
    memcpy(p->aAlloc, &p->aBuffer[iBuf], nAvail);
................................................................................
    while( nRem>0 ){
      int rc;                     /* vdbeSorterIterRead() return code */
      int nCopy;                  /* Number of bytes to copy */
      u8 *aNext;                  /* Pointer to buffer to copy data from */

      nCopy = nRem;
      if( nRem>p->nBuffer ) nCopy = p->nBuffer;
      rc = vdbeSorterIterRead(p, nCopy, &aNext);
      if( rc!=SQLITE_OK ) return rc;
      assert( aNext!=p->aAlloc );
      memcpy(&p->aAlloc[nByte - nRem], aNext, nCopy);
      nRem -= nCopy;
    }

    *ppOut = p->aAlloc;
................................................................................
  return SQLITE_OK;
}

/*
** Read a varint from the stream of data accessed by p. Set *pnOut to
** the value read.
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterVarint(VdbeSorterIter *p, u64 *pnOut){
  int iBuf;

  iBuf = p->iReadOff % p->nBuffer;
  if( iBuf && (p->nBuffer-iBuf)>=9 ){
    p->iReadOff += sqlite3GetVarint(&p->aBuffer[iBuf], pnOut);
  }else{
    u8 aVarint[16], *a;
    int i = 0, rc;
    do{
      rc = vdbeSorterIterRead(p, 1, &a);
      if( rc ) return rc;
      aVarint[(i++)&0xf] = a[0];
    }while( (a[0]&0x80)!=0 );
    sqlite3GetVarint(aVarint, pnOut);
  }

  return SQLITE_OK;
................................................................................


/*
** Advance iterator pIter to the next key in its PMA. Return SQLITE_OK if
** no error occurs, or an SQLite error code if one does.
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterNext(

  VdbeSorterIter *pIter           /* Iterator to advance */
){
  int rc;                         /* Return Code */
  u64 nRec = 0;                   /* Size of record in bytes */
  sqlite3 *db = pIter->db;        /* Database connection */

  if( pIter->iReadOff>=pIter->iEof ){
    /* This is an EOF condition */
    vdbeSorterIterZero(db, pIter);
    return SQLITE_OK;
  }

  rc = vdbeSorterIterVarint(pIter, &nRec);
  if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
    pIter->nKey = (int)nRec;
    rc = vdbeSorterIterRead(pIter, (int)nRec, &pIter->aKey);
  }

  return rc;
}

/*
** Initialize iterator pIter to scan through the PMA stored in file pFile
** starting at offset iStart and ending at offset iEof-1. This function 
** leaves the iterator pointing to the first key in the PMA (or EOF if the 
** PMA is empty).
*/
static int vdbeSorterIterInit(

  const VdbeSorter *pSorter,      /* Sorter object */
  i64 iStart,                     /* Start offset in pFile */
  VdbeSorterIter *pIter,          /* Iterator to populate */
  i64 *pnByte                     /* IN/OUT: Increment this value by PMA size */
){
  int rc = SQLITE_OK;
  int nBuf;
  sqlite3 *db = pSorter->db;

  nBuf = sqlite3BtreeGetPageSize(db->aDb[0].pBt);

  assert( pSorter->iWriteOff>iStart );
  assert( pIter->aAlloc==0 );
  assert( pIter->aBuffer==0 );
  pIter->pFile = pSorter->pTemp1;
  pIter->iReadOff = iStart;
  pIter->db = db;
  pIter->nAlloc = 128;
  pIter->aAlloc = (u8 *)sqlite3DbMallocRaw(db, pIter->nAlloc);
  pIter->nBuffer = nBuf;
  pIter->aBuffer = (u8 *)sqlite3DbMallocRaw(db, nBuf);

  if( !pIter->aBuffer ){
    rc = SQLITE_NOMEM;
................................................................................
      );
      assert( rc!=SQLITE_IOERR_SHORT_READ );
    }

    if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
      u64 nByte;                       /* Size of PMA in bytes */
      pIter->iEof = pSorter->iWriteOff;
      rc = vdbeSorterIterVarint(pIter, &nByte);
      pIter->iEof = pIter->iReadOff + nByte;
      *pnByte += nByte;
    }
  }

  if( rc==SQLITE_OK ){
    rc = vdbeSorterIterNext(pIter);
  }
  return rc;
}


/*
** Compare key1 (buffer pKey1, size nKey1 bytes) with key2 (buffer pKey2, 
................................................................................
** is true and key1 contains even a single NULL value, it is considered to
** be less than key2. Even if key2 also contains NULL values.
**
** If pKey2 is passed a NULL pointer, then it is assumed that the pCsr->aSpace
** has been allocated and contains an unpacked record that is used as key2.
*/
static void vdbeSorterCompare(
  VdbeSorter *pSorter,            /* The sorter */
  int bOmitRowid,                 /* Ignore rowid field at end of keys */
  const void *pKey1, int nKey1,   /* Left side of comparison */
  const void *pKey2, int nKey2,   /* Right side of comparison */
  int *pRes,                      /* OUT: Result of comparison */
  UnpackedRecord *r2              /* Space to hold the unpacked Key2 record */
){
  KeyInfo *pKeyInfo = pSorter->pKeyInfo;
  int i;

  if( pKey2 ){
    assert( r2!=0 );
    sqlite3VdbeRecordUnpack(pKeyInfo, nKey2, pKey2, r2);
  }

................................................................................
}

/*
** This function is called to compare two iterator keys when merging 
** multiple b-tree segments. Parameter iOut is the index of the aTree[] 
** value to recalculate.
*/
static int vdbeSorterDoCompare(VdbeSorter *pSorter, int iOut){

  int i1;
  int i2;
  int iRes;
  VdbeSorterIter *p1;
  VdbeSorterIter *p2;

  assert( iOut<pSorter->nTree && iOut>0 );
................................................................................
  if( p1->pFile==0 ){
    iRes = i2;
  }else if( p2->pFile==0 ){
    iRes = i1;
  }else{
    int res;
    vdbeSorterCompare(
        pSorter, 0, p1->aKey, p1->nKey, p2->aKey, p2->nKey, &res,
        pSorter->pUnpacked
    );
    if( res<=0 ){
      iRes = i1;
    }else{
      iRes = i2;
    }
................................................................................
** Initialize the temporary index cursor just opened as a sorter cursor.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(sqlite3 *db, VdbeCursor *pCsr){
  int pgsz;                       /* Page size of main database */
  int mxCache;                    /* Cache size */
  VdbeSorter *pSorter;            /* The new sorter */
  char *d;                        /* Dummy */
  int nByte;                      /* Bytes in pKeyInfo */

  assert( pCsr->pKeyInfo && pCsr->pBt==0 );
  pCsr->pSorter = pSorter = sqlite3DbMallocZero(db, sizeof(VdbeSorter));
  if( pSorter==0 ){
    return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  }
  pSorter->db = db;
  
  pSorter->pUnpacked = sqlite3VdbeAllocUnpackedRecord(pCsr->pKeyInfo, 0, 0, &d);
  if( pSorter->pUnpacked==0 ) return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  assert( pSorter->pUnpacked==(UnpackedRecord *)d );

  /* pSorter->pKeyInfo is a copy of pCsr->pKeyInfo with the db field set to
  ** zero.  We use this modified pKeyInfo for sorting so that no lookaside
  ** memory will be used, so that sorting can proceed in parallel in multiple
  ** threads.
  */
  nByte = sizeof(KeyInfo) + (pCsr->pKeyInfo->nField - 1)*sizeof(CollSeq*);
  pSorter->pKeyInfo = sqlite3DbMallocRaw(db, nByte);
  if( pSorter->pKeyInfo==0 ){
    return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  }
  memcpy(pSorter->pKeyInfo, pCsr->pKeyInfo, nByte);
  pSorter->pKeyInfo->db = 0;  

  if( !sqlite3TempInMemory(db) ){
    pgsz = sqlite3BtreeGetPageSize(db->aDb[0].pBt);
    pSorter->mnPmaSize = SORTER_MIN_WORKING * pgsz;
    mxCache = db->aDb[0].pSchema->cache_size;
    if( mxCache<SORTER_MIN_WORKING ) mxCache = SORTER_MIN_WORKING;
    pSorter->mxPmaSize = mxCache * pgsz;
................................................................................
    sqlite3DbFree(db, p);
  }
}

/*
** Free any cursor components allocated by sqlite3VdbeSorterXXX routines.
*/
void sqlite3VdbeSorterClose(VdbeCursor *pCsr){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  if( pSorter ){
    sqlite3 *db = pSorter->db;
    if( pSorter->aIter ){
      int i;
      for(i=0; i<pSorter->nTree; i++){
        vdbeSorterIterZero(db, &pSorter->aIter[i]);
      }
      sqlite3DbFree(db, pSorter->aIter);
    }
    if( pSorter->pTemp1 ){
      sqlite3OsCloseFree(pSorter->pTemp1);
    }
    vdbeSorterRecordFree(db, pSorter->pRecord);
    sqlite3DbFree(db, pSorter->pUnpacked);
    sqlite3DbFree(db, pSorter->pKeyInfo);
    sqlite3DbFree(db, pSorter);
    pCsr->pSorter = 0;
  }
}

/*
** Allocate space for a file-handle and open a temporary file. If successful,
................................................................................
}

/*
** Merge the two sorted lists p1 and p2 into a single list.
** Set *ppOut to the head of the new list.
*/
static void vdbeSorterMerge(
  VdbeSorter *pSorter,            /* The sorter object */
  SorterRecord *p1,               /* First list to merge */
  SorterRecord *p2,               /* Second list to merge */
  SorterRecord **ppOut,           /* OUT: Head of merged list */
  UnpackedRecord *pUnpacked       /* Space to hold an unpacked record */
){
  SorterRecord *pFinal = 0;
  SorterRecord **pp = &pFinal;
  void *pVal2 = p2 ? p2->pVal : 0;

  while( p1 && p2 ){
    int res;
    vdbeSorterCompare(pSorter, 0, p1->pVal, p1->nVal, pVal2, p2->nVal, &res,
                      pUnpacked);
    if( res<=0 ){
      *pp = p1;
      pp = &p1->pNext;
      p1 = p1->pNext;
      pVal2 = 0;
    }else{
................................................................................
  *ppOut = pFinal;
}

/*
** Background sorting task
*/
typedef struct SortTask {
  VdbeSorter *pSorter;          /* The sorter for which this task works */

  UnpackedRecord *pUnpacked;    /* Space to hold an unpacked key */
  SorterRecord *pList;          /* List of elements to be sorted */
  SorterRecord **apSlot;        /* Temp memory for the merge sort */
} SortTask;

/*
** Do a sort in a background thread
*/
void *vdbeSorterBackgroundSort(SortTask *pTask){
................................................................................
  int i;
  for(i=0; i<64; i++) a[i] = 0;
  while( p ){
    SorterRecord *pNext = p->pNext;
    p->pNext = 0;
    for(i=0; a[i]; i++){
      if( a[i]==0 ) break;
      vdbeSorterMerge(pTask->pSorter, a[i], p, &p, pTask->pUnpacked);
      a[i] = 0;
    }
    a[i] = p;
    p = pNext;
  }
  p = 0;
  for(i=0; i<64; i++){
    vdbeSorterMerge(pTask->pSorter, a[i], p, &p, pTask->pUnpacked);
  }
  pTask->pList = p;
  return p;
}

/*
** Divide a linked list of SorterRecord objects into two separate
................................................................................
}

/*
** Sort the linked list of records headed at pCsr->pRecord. Return SQLITE_OK
** if successful, or an SQLite error code (i.e. SQLITE_NOMEM) if an error
** occurs.
*/
static int vdbeSorterSort(VdbeSorter *pSorter){
  int rc;


  char *pDummy = 0;
  int nByteA, nByteB;
  SortTask aTask[2];
  SQLiteThread *pThread;

  nByteA = 64*sizeof(SorterRecord*);
  nByteB = ROUND8(sizeof(UnpackedRecord));
  nByteB += sizeof(Mem)*(pSorter->pKeyInfo->nField+1);

  aTask[0].apSlot = (SorterRecord **)sqlite3MallocZero(2*(nByteA + nByteB));
  if( !aTask[0].apSlot ){
    return SQLITE_NOMEM;
  }
  aTask[0].pSorter = pSorter;
  aTask[0].pUnpacked = sqlite3VdbeAllocUnpackedRecord(pSorter->pKeyInfo,
                          (char*)&aTask[0].apSlot[64], nByteB, &pDummy);
  assert( pDummy==0 );
  aTask[1].apSlot = (SorterRecord**)((nByteA+nByteB)+(char*)aTask[0].apSlot);
  aTask[1].pSorter = pSorter;
  aTask[1].pUnpacked = sqlite3VdbeAllocUnpackedRecord(pSorter->pKeyInfo,
                          (char*)&aTask[1].apSlot[64], nByteB, &pDummy);
  assert( pDummy==0 );

  vdbeSorterDivideList(pSorter->pRecord, &aTask[0].pList, &aTask[1].pList);
  rc = sqlite3ThreadCreate(&pThread, 
          (void*(*)(void*))vdbeSorterBackgroundSort, &aTask[0]);
  vdbeSorterBackgroundSort(&aTask[1]);
  if( rc==SQLITE_NOMEM ){
    vdbeSorterBackgroundSort(&aTask[0]);
  }else{
    rc = sqlite3ThreadJoin(pThread, (void**)&pDummy);
  }
  vdbeSorterMerge(pSorter, aTask[0].pList, aTask[1].pList, &pSorter->pRecord,
                  pSorter->pUnpacked);
  sqlite3_free(aTask[0].apSlot);
  return rc;
}

/*
** Initialize a file-writer object.
*/
................................................................................
**     * A varint. This varint contains the total number of bytes of content
**       in the PMA (not including the varint itself).
**
**     * One or more records packed end-to-end in order of ascending keys. 
**       Each record consists of a varint followed by a blob of data (the 
**       key). The varint is the number of bytes in the blob of data.
*/
static int vdbeSorterListToPMA(VdbeSorter *pSorter){
  int rc = SQLITE_OK;             /* Return code */

  FileWriter writer;
  sqlite3 *db = pSorter->db;

  memset(&writer, 0, sizeof(FileWriter));

  if( pSorter->nInMemory==0 ){
    assert( pSorter->pRecord==0 );
    assert( pSorter->nRecord==0 );
    return rc;
  }

  rc = vdbeSorterSort(pSorter);

  /* If the first temporary PMA file has not been opened, open it now. */
  if( rc==SQLITE_OK && pSorter->pTemp1==0 ){
    rc = vdbeSorterOpenTempFile(db, &pSorter->pTemp1);
    assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->pTemp1 );
    assert( pSorter->iWriteOff==0 );
    assert( pSorter->nPMA==0 );
................................................................................
  return rc;
}

/*
** Add a record to the sorter.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(

  const VdbeCursor *pCsr,         /* Sorter cursor */
  Mem *pVal                       /* Memory cell containing record */
){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  sqlite3 *db = pSorter->db;
  int rc = SQLITE_OK;             /* Return Code */
  SorterRecord *pNew;             /* New list element */

  assert( pSorter );
  pSorter->nInMemory += sqlite3VarintLen(pVal->n) + pVal->n;

  pNew = (SorterRecord *)sqlite3DbMallocRaw(db, pVal->n + sizeof(SorterRecord));
................................................................................
     || (pSorter->nInMemory>pSorter->mnPmaSize && sqlite3HeapNearlyFull())
  )){
#ifdef SQLITE_DEBUG
    i64 nExpect = pSorter->iWriteOff
                + sqlite3VarintLen(pSorter->nInMemory)
                + pSorter->nInMemory;
#endif
    rc = vdbeSorterListToPMA(pSorter);
    pSorter->nInMemory = 0;
    assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || (nExpect==pSorter->iWriteOff) );
  }

  return rc;
}

/*
** Helper function for sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(). 
*/
static int vdbeSorterInitMerge(
  VdbeSorter *pSorter,            /* The sorter */

  i64 *pnByte                     /* Sum of bytes in all opened PMAs */
){

  int rc = SQLITE_OK;             /* Return code */
  int i;                          /* Used to iterator through aIter[] */
  i64 nByte = 0;                  /* Total bytes in all opened PMAs */

  /* Initialize the iterators. */
  for(i=0; i<SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT; i++){
    VdbeSorterIter *pIter = &pSorter->aIter[i];
    rc = vdbeSorterIterInit(pSorter, pSorter->iReadOff, pIter, &nByte);
    pSorter->iReadOff = pIter->iEof;
    assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->iReadOff<=pSorter->iWriteOff );
    if( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->iReadOff>=pSorter->iWriteOff ) break;
  }

  /* Initialize the aTree[] array. */
  for(i=pSorter->nTree-1; rc==SQLITE_OK && i>0; i--){
    rc = vdbeSorterDoCompare(pSorter, i);
  }

  *pnByte = nByte;
  return rc;
}

/*
** Once the sorter has been populated, this function is called to prepare
** for iterating through its contents in sorted order.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterRewind(const VdbeCursor *pCsr, int *pbEof){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  sqlite3 *db = pSorter->db;
  int rc;                         /* Return code */
  sqlite3_file *pTemp2 = 0;       /* Second temp file to use */
  i64 iWrite2 = 0;                /* Write offset for pTemp2 */
  int nIter;                      /* Number of iterators used */
  int nByte;                      /* Bytes of space required for aIter/aTree */
  int N = 2;                      /* Power of 2 >= nIter */

................................................................................

  /* If no data has been written to disk, then do not do so now. Instead,
  ** sort the VdbeSorter.pRecord list. The vdbe layer will read data directly
  ** from the in-memory list.  */
  if( pSorter->nPMA==0 ){
    *pbEof = !pSorter->pRecord;
    assert( pSorter->aTree==0 );
    return vdbeSorterSort(pSorter);
  }

  /* Write the current in-memory list to a PMA. */
  rc = vdbeSorterListToPMA(pSorter);
  if( rc!=SQLITE_OK ) return rc;

  /* Allocate space for aIter[] and aTree[]. */
  nIter = pSorter->nPMA;
  if( nIter>SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT ) nIter = SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT;
  assert( nIter>0 );
  while( N<nIter ) N += N;
................................................................................
      ** These iterators will be incrementally merged as the VDBE layer calls
      ** sqlite3VdbeSorterNext().
      **
      ** Otherwise, if pTemp1 contains more than SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT PMAs,
      ** initialize interators for SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT of them. These PMAs
      ** are merged into a single PMA that is written to file pTemp2.
      */
      rc = vdbeSorterInitMerge(pSorter, &nWrite);
      assert( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->aIter[ pSorter->aTree[1] ].pFile );
      if( rc!=SQLITE_OK || pSorter->nPMA<=SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT ){
        break;
      }

      /* Open the second temp file, if it is not already open. */
      if( pTemp2==0 ){
................................................................................
        fileWriterWriteVarint(&writer, nWrite);
        while( rc==SQLITE_OK && bEof==0 ){
          VdbeSorterIter *pIter = &pSorter->aIter[ pSorter->aTree[1] ];
          assert( pIter->pFile );

          fileWriterWriteVarint(&writer, pIter->nKey);
          fileWriterWrite(&writer, pIter->aKey, pIter->nKey);
          rc = sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(pCsr, &bEof);
        }
        rc2 = fileWriterFinish(db, &writer, &iWrite2);
        if( rc==SQLITE_OK ) rc = rc2;
      }
    }

    if( pSorter->nPMA<=SORTER_MAX_MERGE_COUNT ){
................................................................................
  *pbEof = (pSorter->aIter[pSorter->aTree[1]].pFile==0);
  return rc;
}

/*
** Advance to the next element in the sorter.
*/
int sqlite3VdbeSorterNext(const VdbeCursor *pCsr, int *pbEof){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  sqlite3 *db = pSorter->db;
  int rc;                         /* Return code */

  if( pSorter->aTree ){
    int iPrev = pSorter->aTree[1];/* Index of iterator to advance */
    int i;                        /* Index of aTree[] to recalculate */

    rc = vdbeSorterIterNext(&pSorter->aIter[iPrev]);
    for(i=(pSorter->nTree+iPrev)/2; rc==SQLITE_OK && i>0; i=i/2){
      rc = vdbeSorterDoCompare(pSorter, i);
    }

    *pbEof = (pSorter->aIter[pSorter->aTree[1]].pFile==0);
  }else{
    SorterRecord *pFree = pSorter->pRecord;
    pSorter->pRecord = pFree->pNext;
    pSorter->nRecord--;
................................................................................
  Mem *pVal,                      /* Value to compare to current sorter key */
  int *pRes                       /* OUT: Result of comparison */
){
  VdbeSorter *pSorter = pCsr->pSorter;
  void *pKey; int nKey;           /* Sorter key to compare pVal with */

  pKey = vdbeSorterRowkey(pSorter, &nKey);
  vdbeSorterCompare(pSorter, 1, pVal->z, pVal->n, pKey, nKey, pRes,
                    pSorter->pUnpacked);
  return SQLITE_OK;
}

#endif /* #ifndef SQLITE_OMIT_MERGE_SORT */