diff --git a/manifest b/manifest
index e73c590925..17f4391705 100644
--- a/manifest
+++ b/manifest
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-C Fix\sa\sproblem\swith\ssorting\slarge\samounts\sof\spartially\sordered\sdata.
-D 2015-04-11T20:20:29.810
+C Optimizations\sfor\sVACUUM,\sCREATE\sINDEX\sand\ssome\scases\sof\sORDER\sBY.
+D 2015-04-11T20:44:28.726
 F Makefile.arm-wince-mingw32ce-gcc d6df77f1f48d690bd73162294bbba7f59507c72f
 F Makefile.in 5f78b1ab81b64e7c57a75d170832443e66c0880a
 F Makefile.linux-gcc 91d710bdc4998cb015f39edf3cb314ec4f4d7e23
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ F src/btmutex.c 45a968cc85afed9b5e6cf55bf1f42f8d18107f79
 F src/btree.c 2caf598165f3608fde8abac2b243826616ce54b7
 F src/btree.h 969adc948e89e449220ff0ff724c94bb2a52e9f1
 F src/btreeInt.h 973a22a6fd61350b454ad614832b1f0a5e25a1e4
-F src/build.c 4a6d573cd5f77812f32d343134b429046946d560
+F src/build.c fa4795bc795077388aa4e746e1b25ef97bc10489
 F src/callback.c 7b44ce59674338ad48b0e84e7b72f935ea4f68b0
 F src/complete.c a5cf5b4b56390cfb7b8636e8f7ddef90258dd575
 F src/ctime.c 98f89724adc891a1a4c655bee04e33e716e05887
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ F src/global.c 4f77cadbc5427d00139ba43d0f3979804cbb700e
 F src/hash.c 4263fbc955f26c2e8cdc0cf214bc42435aa4e4f5
 F src/hash.h c8f3c31722cf3277d03713909761e152a5b81094
 F src/hwtime.h d32741c8f4df852c7d959236615444e2b1063b08
-F src/insert.c 5b9243a33726008cc4132897d2be371db12a13be
+F src/insert.c 1cc9dc4e939b5dd4a74ac4a3222b89e66b074210
 F src/journal.c b4124532212b6952f42eb2c12fa3c25701d8ba8d
 F src/legacy.c ba1863ea58c4c840335a84ec276fc2b25e22bc4e
 F src/lempar.c 7274c97d24bb46631e504332ccd3bd1b37841770
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ F src/shell.c 84a1593bd86aaa14f4da8a8f9b16fbc239d262aa
 F src/sqlite.h.in 278602140d49575e8708e643161f4263e428a02a
 F src/sqlite3.rc 992c9f5fb8285ae285d6be28240a7e8d3a7f2bad
 F src/sqlite3ext.h 17d487c3c91b0b8c584a32fbeb393f6f795eea7d
-F src/sqliteInt.h 107b02ed6c64162b653acc2368e982de529e14f6
+F src/sqliteInt.h 90b7bfd89d7307cd0750663da419ba4bb81e7379
 F src/sqliteLimit.h 216557999cb45f2e3578ed53ebefe228d779cb46
 F src/status.c f266ad8a2892d659b74f0f50cb6a88b6e7c12179
 F src/table.c e7a09215315a978057fb42c640f890160dbcc45e
@@ -292,15 +292,15 @@ F src/trigger.c 69a91bed7c94e46223e37ffccfeeb35e34b999ac
 F src/update.c 3c4ecc282accf12d39edb8d524cf089645e55a13
 F src/utf.c fc6b889ba0779b7722634cdeaa25f1930d93820c
 F src/util.c 98a7627ca48ad3265b6940915a1d08355eb3fc7e
-F src/vacuum.c 9460b9de7b2d4e34b0d374894aa6c8a0632be8ec
-F src/vdbe.c 06cc2cf42daf8b0c397f69a6fb1818124f3cd93a
-F src/vdbe.h 6fc69d9c5e146302c56e163cb4b31d1ee64a18c3
+F src/vacuum.c 2ddd5cad2a7b9cef7f9e431b8c7771634c6b1701
+F src/vdbe.c c4bd96912f8837777bfe5762d310767ed628b442
+F src/vdbe.h 7e538ecf47dccb307ea2d087c3ddc2dd8d70e79d
 F src/vdbeInt.h 9cbaa84f53ddd2d09a0cf61a94337a3a035d08a0
 F src/vdbeapi.c 583d56b129dd27f12bed518270de9ebe521e6a75
-F src/vdbeaux.c 413dc496248ac18eb0c19e35e86bb1ffd47b8907
+F src/vdbeaux.c a20504ae52392459fa08402fda3f195f19d7c79d
 F src/vdbeblob.c 4f2e8e075d238392df98c5e03a64342465b03f90
 F src/vdbemem.c c0dc81285b7571b0a31c40f17846fe2397ec1cd9
-F src/vdbesort.c a9d39d99969462908f50d09918791883c5b067ab
+F src/vdbesort.c 5a729a15fb46b1759e13be49a10441172628e593
 F src/vdbetrace.c 7e4222955e07dd707a2f360c0eb73452be1cb010
 F src/vtab.c 9ca557215e8591ceb66e0b7c0a579c6df1e54b2d
 F src/vxworks.h c18586c8edc1bddbc15c004fa16aeb1e1342b4fb
@@ -1250,7 +1250,7 @@ F tool/vdbe_profile.tcl 67746953071a9f8f2f668b73fe899074e2c6d8c1
 F tool/warnings-clang.sh f6aa929dc20ef1f856af04a730772f59283631d4
 F tool/warnings.sh 0abfd78ceb09b7f7c27c688c8e3fe93268a13b32
 F tool/win/sqlite.vsix deb315d026cc8400325c5863eef847784a219a2f
-P f9a3a8391c28cf13d76ec54f471735d35059acea
-R 20d1ab6a886883435eefbe113ce65f82
+P acca97efda86a0c020854d2dd9da16f5879986b1 cf7590f607d94a120385576b538484ca738349e2
+R 4a3267783e1ce12038a61c7c4ca15ba8
 U dan
-Z 26f0ad0889bc54d15cfec6237366d6c5
+Z 05508ac040af16f75cf3f23dcdb1072a
diff --git a/manifest.uuid b/manifest.uuid
index 89b4e6fdf1..695e755462 100644
--- a/manifest.uuid
+++ b/manifest.uuid
@@ -1 +1 @@
-acca97efda86a0c020854d2dd9da16f5879986b1
\ No newline at end of file
+79326d6eece926fd1c148b29f0b726208d8b44c0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/build.c b/src/build.c
index e01e2427f1..9d8465561f 100644
--- a/src/build.c
+++ b/src/build.c
@@ -2763,7 +2763,8 @@ static void sqlite3RefillIndex(Parse *pParse, Index *pIndex, int memRootPage){
     addr2 = sqlite3VdbeCurrentAddr(v);
   }
   sqlite3VdbeAddOp3(v, OP_SorterData, iSorter, regRecord, iIdx);
-  sqlite3VdbeAddOp3(v, OP_IdxInsert, iIdx, regRecord, 1);
+  sqlite3VdbeAddOp3(v, OP_Last, iIdx, 0, -1);
+  sqlite3VdbeAddOp3(v, OP_IdxInsert, iIdx, regRecord, 0);
   sqlite3VdbeChangeP5(v, OPFLAG_USESEEKRESULT);
   sqlite3ReleaseTempReg(pParse, regRecord);
   sqlite3VdbeAddOp2(v, OP_SorterNext, iSorter, addr2); VdbeCoverage(v);
diff --git a/src/insert.c b/src/insert.c
index a5c3f3e92d..f8ae4d7d3c 100644
--- a/src/insert.c
+++ b/src/insert.c
@@ -1765,6 +1765,7 @@ static int xferOptimization(
   int onError,          /* How to handle constraint errors */
   int iDbDest           /* The database of pDest */
 ){
+  sqlite3 *db = pParse->db;
   ExprList *pEList;                /* The result set of the SELECT */
   Table *pSrc;                     /* The table in the FROM clause of SELECT */
   Index *pSrcIdx, *pDestIdx;       /* Source and destination indices */
@@ -1912,11 +1913,11 @@ static int xferOptimization(
   ** the extra complication to make this rule less restrictive is probably
   ** not worth the effort.  Ticket [6284df89debdfa61db8073e062908af0c9b6118e]
   */
-  if( (pParse->db->flags & SQLITE_ForeignKeys)!=0 && pDest->pFKey!=0 ){
+  if( (db->flags & SQLITE_ForeignKeys)!=0 && pDest->pFKey!=0 ){
     return 0;
   }
 #endif
-  if( (pParse->db->flags & SQLITE_CountRows)!=0 ){
+  if( (db->flags & SQLITE_CountRows)!=0 ){
     return 0;  /* xfer opt does not play well with PRAGMA count_changes */
   }
 
@@ -1927,7 +1928,7 @@ static int xferOptimization(
 #ifdef SQLITE_TEST
   sqlite3_xferopt_count++;
 #endif
-  iDbSrc = sqlite3SchemaToIndex(pParse->db, pSrc->pSchema);
+  iDbSrc = sqlite3SchemaToIndex(db, pSrc->pSchema);
   v = sqlite3GetVdbe(pParse);
   sqlite3CodeVerifySchema(pParse, iDbSrc);
   iSrc = pParse->nTab++;
@@ -1937,14 +1938,18 @@ static int xferOptimization(
   regRowid = sqlite3GetTempReg(pParse);
   sqlite3OpenTable(pParse, iDest, iDbDest, pDest, OP_OpenWrite);
   assert( HasRowid(pDest) || destHasUniqueIdx );
-  if( (pDest->iPKey<0 && pDest->pIndex!=0)          /* (1) */
+  if( (db->flags & SQLITE_Vacuum)==0 && (
+      (pDest->iPKey<0 && pDest->pIndex!=0)          /* (1) */
    || destHasUniqueIdx                              /* (2) */
    || (onError!=OE_Abort && onError!=OE_Rollback)   /* (3) */
-  ){
+  )){
     /* In some circumstances, we are able to run the xfer optimization
-    ** only if the destination table is initially empty.  This code makes
-    ** that determination.  Conditions under which the destination must
-    ** be empty:
+    ** only if the destination table is initially empty. Unless the
+    ** SQLITE_Vacuum flag is set, this block generates code to make
+    ** that determination. If SQLITE_Vacuum is set, then the destination
+    ** table is always empty.
+    **
+    ** Conditions under which the destination must be empty:
     **
     ** (1) There is no INTEGER PRIMARY KEY but there are indices.
     **     (If the destination is not initially empty, the rowid fields
@@ -1987,6 +1992,7 @@ static int xferOptimization(
     sqlite3TableLock(pParse, iDbSrc, pSrc->tnum, 0, pSrc->zName);
   }
   for(pDestIdx=pDest->pIndex; pDestIdx; pDestIdx=pDestIdx->pNext){
+    u8 useSeekResult = 0;
     for(pSrcIdx=pSrc->pIndex; ALWAYS(pSrcIdx); pSrcIdx=pSrcIdx->pNext){
       if( xferCompatibleIndex(pDestIdx, pSrcIdx) ) break;
     }
@@ -2000,7 +2006,33 @@ static int xferOptimization(
     VdbeComment((v, "%s", pDestIdx->zName));
     addr1 = sqlite3VdbeAddOp2(v, OP_Rewind, iSrc, 0); VdbeCoverage(v);
     sqlite3VdbeAddOp2(v, OP_RowKey, iSrc, regData);
+    if( db->flags & SQLITE_Vacuum ){
+      /* This INSERT command is part of a VACUUM operation, which guarantees
+      ** that the destination table is empty. If all indexed columns use
+      ** collation sequence BINARY, then it can also be assumed that the
+      ** index will be populated by inserting keys in strictly sorted 
+      ** order. In this case, instead of seeking within the b-tree as part
+      ** of every OP_IdxInsert opcode, an OP_Last is added before the
+      ** OP_IdxInsert to seek to the point within the b-tree where each key 
+      ** should be inserted. This is faster.
+      **
+      ** If any of the indexed columns use a collation sequence other than
+      ** BINARY, this optimization is disabled. This is because the user 
+      ** might change the definition of a collation sequence and then run
+      ** a VACUUM command. In that case keys may not be written in strictly
+      ** sorted order.  */
+      int i;
+      for(i=0; i<pSrcIdx->nColumn; i++){
+        char *zColl = pSrcIdx->azColl[i];
+        if( zColl && sqlite3_stricmp("BINARY", zColl) ) break;
+      }
+      if( i==pSrcIdx->nColumn ){
+        useSeekResult = OPFLAG_USESEEKRESULT;
+        sqlite3VdbeAddOp3(v, OP_Last, iDest, 0, -1);
+      }
+    }
     sqlite3VdbeAddOp3(v, OP_IdxInsert, iDest, regData, 1);
+    sqlite3VdbeChangeP5(v, useSeekResult);
     sqlite3VdbeAddOp2(v, OP_Next, iSrc, addr1+1); VdbeCoverage(v);
     sqlite3VdbeJumpHere(v, addr1);
     sqlite3VdbeAddOp2(v, OP_Close, iSrc, 0);
diff --git a/src/sqliteInt.h b/src/sqliteInt.h
index 1c0ad44e3a..ee24342919 100644
--- a/src/sqliteInt.h
+++ b/src/sqliteInt.h
@@ -1226,6 +1226,7 @@ struct sqlite3 {
 #define SQLITE_DeferFKs       0x01000000  /* Defer all FK constraints */
 #define SQLITE_QueryOnly      0x02000000  /* Disable database changes */
 #define SQLITE_VdbeEQP        0x04000000  /* Debug EXPLAIN QUERY PLAN */
+#define SQLITE_Vacuum         0x08000000  /* Currently in a VACUUM */
 
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/vacuum.c b/src/vacuum.c
index dca43e217e..adc802e60b 100644
--- a/src/vacuum.c
+++ b/src/vacuum.c
@@ -250,6 +250,8 @@ int sqlite3RunVacuum(char **pzErrMsg, sqlite3 *db){
   ** an "INSERT INTO vacuum_db.xxx SELECT * FROM main.xxx;" to copy
   ** the contents to the temporary database.
   */
+  assert( (db->flags & SQLITE_Vacuum)==0 );
+  db->flags |= SQLITE_Vacuum;
   rc = execExecSql(db, pzErrMsg,
       "SELECT 'INSERT INTO vacuum_db.' || quote(name) "
       "|| ' SELECT * FROM main.' || quote(name) || ';'"
@@ -257,6 +259,8 @@ int sqlite3RunVacuum(char **pzErrMsg, sqlite3 *db){
       "WHERE type = 'table' AND name!='sqlite_sequence' "
       "  AND coalesce(rootpage,1)>0"
   );
+  assert( (db->flags & SQLITE_Vacuum)!=0 );
+  db->flags &= ~SQLITE_Vacuum;
   if( rc!=SQLITE_OK ) goto end_of_vacuum;
 
   /* Copy over the sequence table
diff --git a/src/vdbe.c b/src/vdbe.c
index 8e7247a1e8..22b313756c 100644
--- a/src/vdbe.c
+++ b/src/vdbe.c
@@ -4486,7 +4486,7 @@ case OP_NullRow: {
   break;
 }
 
-/* Opcode: Last P1 P2 * * *
+/* Opcode: Last P1 P2 P3 * *
 **
 ** The next use of the Rowid or Column or Prev instruction for P1 
 ** will refer to the last entry in the database table or index.
@@ -4513,6 +4513,7 @@ case OP_Last: {        /* jump */
   pC->nullRow = (u8)res;
   pC->deferredMoveto = 0;
   pC->cacheStatus = CACHE_STALE;
+  pC->seekResult = pOp->p3;
 #ifdef SQLITE_DEBUG
   pC->seekOp = OP_Last;
 #endif
diff --git a/src/vdbe.h b/src/vdbe.h
index b715241b41..bb597b68d7 100644
--- a/src/vdbe.h
+++ b/src/vdbe.h
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ int sqlite3MemCompare(const Mem*, const Mem*, const CollSeq*);
 
 void sqlite3VdbeRecordUnpack(KeyInfo*,int,const void*,UnpackedRecord*);
 int sqlite3VdbeRecordCompare(int,const void*,UnpackedRecord*);
+int sqlite3VdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(int, const void *, UnpackedRecord *, int);
 UnpackedRecord *sqlite3VdbeAllocUnpackedRecord(KeyInfo *, char *, int, char **);
 
 typedef int (*RecordCompare)(int,const void*,UnpackedRecord*);
diff --git a/src/vdbeaux.c b/src/vdbeaux.c
index 9c5d9acca9..1c10bab0b8 100644
--- a/src/vdbeaux.c
+++ b/src/vdbeaux.c
@@ -3585,7 +3585,7 @@ static i64 vdbeRecordDecodeInt(u32 serial_type, const u8 *aKey){
 ** pPKey2->errCode is set to SQLITE_NOMEM and, if it is not NULL, the
 ** malloc-failed flag set on database handle (pPKey2->pKeyInfo->db).
 */
-static int vdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(
+int sqlite3VdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(
   int nKey1, const void *pKey1,   /* Left key */
   UnpackedRecord *pPKey2,         /* Right key */
   int bSkip                       /* If true, skip the first field */
@@ -3771,7 +3771,7 @@ int sqlite3VdbeRecordCompare(
   int nKey1, const void *pKey1,   /* Left key */
   UnpackedRecord *pPKey2          /* Right key */
 ){
-  return vdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(nKey1, pKey1, pPKey2, 0);
+  return sqlite3VdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(nKey1, pKey1, pPKey2, 0);
 }
 
 
@@ -3859,7 +3859,7 @@ static int vdbeRecordCompareInt(
   }else if( pPKey2->nField>1 ){
     /* The first fields of the two keys are equal. Compare the trailing 
     ** fields.  */
-    res = vdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(nKey1, pKey1, pPKey2, 1);
+    res = sqlite3VdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(nKey1, pKey1, pPKey2, 1);
   }else{
     /* The first fields of the two keys are equal and there are no trailing
     ** fields. Return pPKey2->default_rc in this case. */
@@ -3907,7 +3907,7 @@ static int vdbeRecordCompareString(
       res = nStr - pPKey2->aMem[0].n;
       if( res==0 ){
         if( pPKey2->nField>1 ){
-          res = vdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(nKey1, pKey1, pPKey2, 1);
+          res = sqlite3VdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(nKey1, pKey1, pPKey2, 1);
         }else{
           res = pPKey2->default_rc;
         }
diff --git a/src/vdbesort.c b/src/vdbesort.c
index 869ff4f2a3..14803c0b3e 100644
--- a/src/vdbesort.c
+++ b/src/vdbesort.c
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ struct MergeEngine {
 ** after the thread has finished are not dire. So we don't worry about
 ** memory barriers and such here.
 */
+typedef int (*SorterCompare)(SortSubtask*,int*,const void*,int,const void*,int);
 struct SortSubtask {
   SQLiteThread *pThread;          /* Background thread, if any */
   int bDone;                      /* Set if thread is finished but not joined */
@@ -298,10 +299,12 @@ struct SortSubtask {
   UnpackedRecord *pUnpacked;      /* Space to unpack a record */
   SorterList list;                /* List for thread to write to a PMA */
   int nPMA;                       /* Number of PMAs currently in file */
+  SorterCompare xCompare;         /* Compare function to use */
   SorterFile file;                /* Temp file for level-0 PMAs */
   SorterFile file2;               /* Space for other PMAs */
 };
 
+
 /*
 ** Main sorter structure. A single instance of this is allocated for each 
 ** sorter cursor created by the VDBE.
@@ -328,9 +331,13 @@ struct VdbeSorter {
   u8 bUseThreads;                 /* True to use background threads */
   u8 iPrev;                       /* Previous thread used to flush PMA */
   u8 nTask;                       /* Size of aTask[] array */
+  u8 typeMask;
   SortSubtask aTask[1];           /* One or more subtasks */
 };
 
+#define SORTER_TYPE_INTEGER 0x01
+#define SORTER_TYPE_TEXT    0x02
+
 /*
 ** An instance of the following object is used to read records out of a
 ** PMA, in sorted order.  The next key to be read is cached in nKey/aKey.
@@ -742,32 +749,161 @@ static int vdbePmaReaderInit(
   return rc;
 }
 
+/*
+** A version of vdbeSorterCompare() that assumes that it has already been
+** determined that the first field of key1 is equal to the first field of 
+** key2.
+*/
+static int vdbeSorterCompareTail(
+  SortSubtask *pTask,             /* Subtask context (for pKeyInfo) */
+  int *pbKey2Cached,              /* True if pTask->pUnpacked is pKey2 */
+  const void *pKey1, int nKey1,   /* Left side of comparison */
+  const void *pKey2, int nKey2    /* Right side of comparison */
+){
+  UnpackedRecord *r2 = pTask->pUnpacked;
+  if( *pbKey2Cached==0 ){
+    sqlite3VdbeRecordUnpack(pTask->pSorter->pKeyInfo, nKey2, pKey2, r2);
+    *pbKey2Cached = 1;
+  }
+  return sqlite3VdbeRecordCompareWithSkip(nKey1, pKey1, r2, 1);
+}
 
 /*
 ** Compare key1 (buffer pKey1, size nKey1 bytes) with key2 (buffer pKey2, 
 ** size nKey2 bytes). Use (pTask->pKeyInfo) for the collation sequences
 ** used by the comparison. Return the result of the comparison.
 **
-** Before returning, object (pTask->pUnpacked) is populated with the
-** unpacked version of key2. Or, if pKey2 is passed a NULL pointer, then it 
-** is assumed that the (pTask->pUnpacked) structure already contains the 
-** unpacked key to use as key2.
+** If IN/OUT parameter *pbKey2Cached is true when this function is called,
+** it is assumed that (pTask->pUnpacked) contains the unpacked version
+** of key2. If it is false, (pTask->pUnpacked) is populated with the unpacked
+** version of key2 and *pbKey2Cached set to true before returning.
 **
 ** If an OOM error is encountered, (pTask->pUnpacked->error_rc) is set
 ** to SQLITE_NOMEM.
 */
 static int vdbeSorterCompare(
   SortSubtask *pTask,             /* Subtask context (for pKeyInfo) */
+  int *pbKey2Cached,              /* True if pTask->pUnpacked is pKey2 */
   const void *pKey1, int nKey1,   /* Left side of comparison */
   const void *pKey2, int nKey2    /* Right side of comparison */
 ){
   UnpackedRecord *r2 = pTask->pUnpacked;
-  if( pKey2 ){
+  if( !*pbKey2Cached ){
     sqlite3VdbeRecordUnpack(pTask->pSorter->pKeyInfo, nKey2, pKey2, r2);
+    *pbKey2Cached = 1;
   }
   return sqlite3VdbeRecordCompare(nKey1, pKey1, r2);
 }
 
+/*
+** A specially optimized version of vdbeSorterCompare() that assumes that
+** the first field of each key is a TEXT value and that the collation
+** sequence to compare them with is BINARY.
+*/
+static int vdbeSorterCompareText(
+  SortSubtask *pTask,             /* Subtask context (for pKeyInfo) */
+  int *pbKey2Cached,              /* True if pTask->pUnpacked is pKey2 */
+  const void *pKey1, int nKey1,   /* Left side of comparison */
+  const void *pKey2, int nKey2    /* Right side of comparison */
+){
+  const u8 * const p1 = (const u8 * const)pKey1;
+  const u8 * const p2 = (const u8 * const)pKey2;
+  const u8 * const v1 = &p1[ p1[0] ];   /* Pointer to value 1 */
+  const u8 * const v2 = &p2[ p2[0] ];   /* Pointer to value 2 */
+
+  int n1;
+  int n2;
+  int res;
+
+  getVarint32(&p1[1], n1); n1 = (n1 - 13) / 2;
+  getVarint32(&p2[1], n2); n2 = (n2 - 13) / 2;
+  res = memcmp(v1, v2, MIN(n1, n2));
+  if( res==0 ){
+    res = n1 - n2;
+  }
+
+  if( res==0 ){
+    if( pTask->pSorter->pKeyInfo->nField>1 ){
+      res = vdbeSorterCompareTail(
+          pTask, pbKey2Cached, pKey1, nKey1, pKey2, nKey2
+      );
+    }
+  }else{
+    if( pTask->pSorter->pKeyInfo->aSortOrder[0] ){
+      res = res * -1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return res;
+}
+
+/*
+** A specially optimized version of vdbeSorterCompare() that assumes that
+** the first field of each key is an INTEGER value.
+*/
+static int vdbeSorterCompareInt(
+  SortSubtask *pTask,             /* Subtask context (for pKeyInfo) */
+  int *pbKey2Cached,              /* True if pTask->pUnpacked is pKey2 */
+  const void *pKey1, int nKey1,   /* Left side of comparison */
+  const void *pKey2, int nKey2    /* Right side of comparison */
+){
+  const u8 * const p1 = (const u8 * const)pKey1;
+  const u8 * const p2 = (const u8 * const)pKey2;
+  const int s1 = p1[1];                 /* Left hand serial type */
+  const int s2 = p2[1];                 /* Right hand serial type */
+  const u8 * const v1 = &p1[ p1[0] ];   /* Pointer to value 1 */
+  const u8 * const v2 = &p2[ p2[0] ];   /* Pointer to value 2 */
+  int res;                              /* Return value */
+
+  assert( (s1>0 && s1<7) || s1==8 || s1==9 );
+  assert( (s2>0 && s2<7) || s2==8 || s2==9 );
+
+  if( s1>7 && s2>7 ){
+    res = s1 - s2;
+  }else{
+    if( s1==s2 ){
+      if( (*v1 ^ *v2) & 0x80 ){
+        /* The two values have different signs */
+        res = (*v1 & 0x80) ? -1 : +1;
+      }else{
+        /* The two values have the same sign. Compare using memcmp(). */
+        static const u8 aLen[] = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 };
+        int i;
+        res = 0;
+        for(i=0; i<aLen[s1]; i++){
+          if( (res = v1[i] - v2[i]) ) break;
+        }
+      }
+    }else{
+      if( s2>7 ){
+        res = +1;
+      }else if( s1>7 ){
+        res = -1;
+      }else{
+        res = s1 - s2;
+      }
+
+      if( res>0 ){
+        if( *v1 & 0x80 ) res = -1;
+      }else if( res<0 ){
+        if( *v2 & 0x80 ) res = +1;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  if( res==0 ){
+    if( pTask->pSorter->pKeyInfo->nField>1 ){
+      res = vdbeSorterCompareTail(
+          pTask, pbKey2Cached, pKey1, nKey1, pKey2, nKey2
+      );
+    }
+  }else if( pTask->pSorter->pKeyInfo->aSortOrder[0] ){
+    res = res * -1;
+  }
+
+  return res;
+}
+
 /*
 ** Initialize the temporary index cursor just opened as a sorter cursor.
 **
@@ -835,9 +971,13 @@ int sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(
     pSorter->pKeyInfo = pKeyInfo = (KeyInfo*)((u8*)pSorter + sz);
     memcpy(pKeyInfo, pCsr->pKeyInfo, szKeyInfo);
     pKeyInfo->db = 0;
-    if( nField && nWorker==0 ) pKeyInfo->nField = nField;
+    if( nField && nWorker==0 ){
+      pKeyInfo->nXField += (pKeyInfo->nField - nField);
+      pKeyInfo->nField = nField;
+    }
     pSorter->pgsz = pgsz = sqlite3BtreeGetPageSize(db->aDb[0].pBt);
     pSorter->nTask = nWorker + 1;
+    pSorter->iPrev = nWorker-1;
     pSorter->bUseThreads = (pSorter->nTask>1);
     pSorter->db = db;
     for(i=0; i<pSorter->nTask; i++){
@@ -863,6 +1003,12 @@ int sqlite3VdbeSorterInit(
         if( !pSorter->list.aMemory ) rc = SQLITE_NOMEM;
       }
     }
+
+    if( (pKeyInfo->nField+pKeyInfo->nXField)<13 
+     && (pKeyInfo->aColl[0]==0 || pKeyInfo->aColl[0]==db->pDfltColl)
+    ){
+      pSorter->typeMask = SORTER_TYPE_INTEGER | SORTER_TYPE_TEXT;
+    }
   }
 
   return rc;
@@ -1194,28 +1340,42 @@ static void vdbeSorterMerge(
 ){
   SorterRecord *pFinal = 0;
   SorterRecord **pp = &pFinal;
-  void *pVal2 = p2 ? SRVAL(p2) : 0;
+  int bCached = 0;
 
   while( p1 && p2 ){
     int res;
-    res = vdbeSorterCompare(pTask, SRVAL(p1), p1->nVal, pVal2, p2->nVal);
+    res = pTask->xCompare(
+        pTask, &bCached, SRVAL(p1), p1->nVal, SRVAL(p2), p2->nVal
+    );
+
     if( res<=0 ){
       *pp = p1;
       pp = &p1->u.pNext;
       p1 = p1->u.pNext;
-      pVal2 = 0;
     }else{
       *pp = p2;
-       pp = &p2->u.pNext;
+      pp = &p2->u.pNext;
       p2 = p2->u.pNext;
-      if( p2==0 ) break;
-      pVal2 = SRVAL(p2);
+      bCached = 0;
     }
   }
   *pp = p1 ? p1 : p2;
   *ppOut = pFinal;
 }
 
+/*
+** Return the SorterCompare function to compare values collected by the
+** sorter object passed as the only argument.
+*/
+static SorterCompare vdbeSorterGetCompare(VdbeSorter *p){
+  if( p->typeMask==SORTER_TYPE_INTEGER ){
+    return vdbeSorterCompareInt;
+  }else if( p->typeMask==SORTER_TYPE_TEXT ){
+    return vdbeSorterCompareText; 
+  }
+  return vdbeSorterCompare;
+}
+
 /*
 ** Sort the linked list of records headed at pTask->pList. Return 
 ** SQLITE_OK if successful, or an SQLite error code (i.e. SQLITE_NOMEM) if 
@@ -1230,12 +1390,14 @@ static int vdbeSorterSort(SortSubtask *pTask, SorterList *pList){
   rc = vdbeSortAllocUnpacked(pTask);
   if( rc!=SQLITE_OK ) return rc;
 
+  p = pList->pList;
+  pTask->xCompare = vdbeSorterGetCompare(pTask->pSorter);
+
   aSlot = (SorterRecord **)sqlite3MallocZero(64 * sizeof(SorterRecord *));
   if( !aSlot ){
     return SQLITE_NOMEM;
   }
 
-  p = pList->pList;
   while( p ){
     SorterRecord *pNext;
     if( pList->aMemory ){
@@ -1449,13 +1611,12 @@ static int vdbeMergeEngineStep(
     int i;                      /* Index of aTree[] to recalculate */
     PmaReader *pReadr1;         /* First PmaReader to compare */
     PmaReader *pReadr2;         /* Second PmaReader to compare */
-    u8 *pKey2;                  /* To pReadr2->aKey, or 0 if record cached */
+    int bCached = 0;
 
     /* Find the first two PmaReaders to compare. The one that was just
     ** advanced (iPrev) and the one next to it in the array.  */
     pReadr1 = &pMerger->aReadr[(iPrev & 0xFFFE)];
     pReadr2 = &pMerger->aReadr[(iPrev | 0x0001)];
-    pKey2 = pReadr2->aKey;
 
     for(i=(pMerger->nTree+iPrev)/2; i>0; i=i/2){
       /* Compare pReadr1 and pReadr2. Store the result in variable iRes. */
@@ -1465,8 +1626,8 @@ static int vdbeMergeEngineStep(
       }else if( pReadr2->pFd==0 ){
         iRes = -1;
       }else{
-        iRes = vdbeSorterCompare(pTask, 
-            pReadr1->aKey, pReadr1->nKey, pKey2, pReadr2->nKey
+        iRes = pTask->xCompare(pTask, &bCached,
+            pReadr1->aKey, pReadr1->nKey, pReadr2->aKey, pReadr2->nKey
         );
       }
 
@@ -1488,9 +1649,9 @@ static int vdbeMergeEngineStep(
       if( iRes<0 || (iRes==0 && pReadr1<pReadr2) ){
         pMerger->aTree[i] = (int)(pReadr1 - pMerger->aReadr);
         pReadr2 = &pMerger->aReadr[ pMerger->aTree[i ^ 0x0001] ];
-        pKey2 = pReadr2->aKey;
+        bCached = 0;
       }else{
-        if( pReadr1->pFd ) pKey2 = 0;
+        if( pReadr1->pFd ) bCached = 0;
         pMerger->aTree[i] = (int)(pReadr2 - pMerger->aReadr);
         pReadr1 = &pMerger->aReadr[ pMerger->aTree[i ^ 0x0001] ];
       }
@@ -1597,6 +1758,16 @@ int sqlite3VdbeSorterWrite(
   int bFlush;                     /* True to flush contents of memory to PMA */
   int nReq;                       /* Bytes of memory required */
   int nPMA;                       /* Bytes of PMA space required */
+  int t;                          /* serial type of first record field */
+
+  getVarint32((const u8*)&pVal->z[1], t);
+  if( t>0 && t<10 && t!=7 ){
+    pSorter->typeMask &= SORTER_TYPE_INTEGER;
+  }else if( t>10 && (t & 0x01) ){
+    pSorter->typeMask &= SORTER_TYPE_TEXT;
+  }else{
+    pSorter->typeMask = 0;
+  }
 
   assert( pSorter );
 
@@ -1862,10 +2033,12 @@ static void vdbeMergeEngineCompare(
   }else if( p2->pFd==0 ){
     iRes = i1;
   }else{
+    SortSubtask *pTask = pMerger->pTask;
+    int bCached = 0;
     int res;
-    assert( pMerger->pTask->pUnpacked!=0 );  /* from vdbeSortSubtaskMain() */
-    res = vdbeSorterCompare(
-        pMerger->pTask, p1->aKey, p1->nKey, p2->aKey, p2->nKey
+    assert( pTask->pUnpacked!=0 );  /* from vdbeSortSubtaskMain() */
+    res = pTask->xCompare(
+        pTask, &bCached, p1->aKey, p1->nKey, p2->aKey, p2->nKey
     );
     if( res<=0 ){
       iRes = i1;
@@ -2283,6 +2456,11 @@ static int vdbeSorterSetupMerge(VdbeSorter *pSorter){
   MergeEngine *pMain = 0;
 #if SQLITE_MAX_WORKER_THREADS
   sqlite3 *db = pTask0->pSorter->db;
+  int i;
+  SorterCompare xCompare = vdbeSorterGetCompare(pSorter);
+  for(i=0; i<pSorter->nTask; i++){
+    pSorter->aTask[i].xCompare = xCompare;
+  }
 #endif
 
   rc = vdbeSorterMergeTreeBuild(pSorter, &pMain);