A method for optimizing the construction of a KStore includes providing a data set having a plurality of records with a plurality of fields, providing an optimization structure from a sample of the data set and analyzing the optimization structure to determine a field order for the records contained in the data set. A KStore is provided from the data set in accordance with the field order. The sample of the data set can include the entire data set, a random sample of the data set or a predetermined number of records from the data set. The data set has an initial order having earlier records and later records and the sample can include a plurality of the earlier records. The sample of the data set includes a user determined number of records from the data set. The optimization structure can be a KStore.