#---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # Scanner-related methods

    def self.open_scanner(table, params)
      scanner = nil
      scanner = client(table).scannerOpenWithPrefix(table, params[:prefix], params[:columns]) if params[:prefix]
      scanner = client(table).scannerOpenWithStop(table, params[:start_id], params[:stop_id], params[:columns]) if params[:stop_id]
      scanner ||= client(table).scannerOpen(table, params[:start_id], params[:columns])
      return scanner
    end

    # Scans a set of rows emitting one row at a time
    def self.scan_rows(table, params = {})
      raise ArgumentError, "No block given" unless block_given?
      return {} unless enable_reads?(table)
      hbase = client(table)

      # Default params
      params = {
        :start_id => '',        # start from the beginning
        :columns => [],         # retrieve all the columns
        :rows_per_batch => 1,   # retrieve rows one by one
        :limit => 0             # retrieve all rows
      }.merge(params)

      # Open a scanner
      scanner = retryable(:times => 5, :on => Thrift::Exception) do
        open_scanner(table, params)
      end
      limit   = params[:limit]

      loop do
        # Get rows from the scanner
        rows = retryable(:times => 5, :on => Thrift::Exception) do
          hbase.scannerGetList(scanner, params[:rows_per_batch])
        end
        # ... until it is empty
        break if rows.empty?
        # ... and feed them to the caller one at a time
        rows.each do |row|
          columns = columns_to_hash(row.columns)
          yield(row.row, columns)
          # If 0 was passed as limit, it will never be 0 again, so it means "no limit"
          limit -= 1
          break if limit == 0
        end
        # Stop retrieving rows if limit reached.
        break if limit == 0
      end
    ensure
      # Close the scanner
      if hbase && scanner
        hbase.scannerClose(scanner) rescue nil
      end
    end

    def self.columns_to_hash(columns)
      return {} unless columns
      result = {}
      columns.each do |column, cell|
        result[column] = cell.value
      end
      return result
    end