diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/.settings/com.springsource.sts.config.flow.prefs b/spring-batch-samples/.settings/com.springsource.sts.config.flow.prefs
index f6f1e6031..1d74baa0d 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/.settings/com.springsource.sts.config.flow.prefs
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/.settings/com.springsource.sts.config.flow.prefs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
-#Mon May 17 10:38:33 BST 2010
+#Mon Nov 22 08:44:57 GMT 2010
 //com.springsource.sts.config.flow.coordinates\:http\://www.springframework.org/schema/batch\:/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/ioSampleJob.xml=<?xml version\="1.0" encoding\="UTF-8"?>\n<graph>\n<element type\="job">\n<structure end\="638" endstart\="632" start\="394" startend\="468"/>\n<bounds height\="118" width\="130" x\="15" y\="17"/>\n</element>\n</graph>
+//com.springsource.sts.config.flow.coordinates\:http\://www.springframework.org/schema/batch\:/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/partitionJdbcJob.xml=<?xml version\="1.0" encoding\="UTF-8"?>\n<graph>\n<element clazz\="JobModelElement" type\="job">\n<structure end\="818" endstart\="812" start\="557" startend\="636"/>\n<bounds height\="128" width\="147" x\="100" y\="19"/>\n</element>\n<element clazz\="StepModelElement" type\="step">\n<structure end\="1427" endstart\="1420" start\="1154" startend\="1223"/>\n<bounds height\="34" width\="65" x\="17" y\="19"/>\n</element>\n</graph>
 eclipse.preferences.version=1
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-derby.properties b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-derby.properties
index ba9091b3e..7d6798854 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-derby.properties
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-derby.properties
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ batch.jdbc.user=app
 batch.jdbc.password=
 batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle=false
 batch.jdbc.validationQuery=
+batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition=false
 batch.drop.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-drop-derby.sql
 batch.schema.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-derby.sql
 batch.business.schema.script=business-schema-derby.sql
@@ -14,4 +15,5 @@ batch.database.incrementer.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.incrementer.De
 batch.database.incrementer.parent=columnIncrementerParent
 batch.lob.handler.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.DefaultLobHandler
 batch.grid.size=2
+batch.jdbc.pool.size=6
 batch.verify.cursor.position=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-h2.properties b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-h2.properties
index c22653b2e..56737c533 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-h2.properties
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-h2.properties
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ batch.jdbc.user=sa
 batch.jdbc.password=
 batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle=false
 batch.jdbc.validationQuery=
+batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition=true
 batch.drop.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-drop-h2.sql
 batch.schema.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-h2.sql
 batch.business.schema.script=classpath:/business-schema-h2.sql
@@ -14,4 +15,5 @@ batch.database.incrementer.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.incrementer.H2
 batch.database.incrementer.parent=sequenceIncrementerParent
 batch.lob.handler.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.DefaultLobHandler
 batch.grid.size=2
+batch.jdbc.pool.size=6
 batch.verify.cursor.position=true
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-hsql.properties b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-hsql.properties
index 523673a86..6ffc76fa5 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-hsql.properties
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-hsql.properties
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ batch.jdbc.user=sa
 batch.jdbc.password=
 batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle=false
 batch.jdbc.validationQuery=
+batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition=true
 batch.drop.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-drop-hsqldb.sql
 batch.schema.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-hsqldb.sql
 batch.business.schema.script=classpath:/business-schema-hsqldb.sql
@@ -16,5 +17,6 @@ batch.data.source.init=true
 batch.database.incrementer.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.incrementer.HsqlMaxValueIncrementer
 batch.database.incrementer.parent=columnIncrementerParent
 batch.lob.handler.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.DefaultLobHandler
-batch.grid.size=2
+batch.jdbc.pool.size=6
+batch.grid.size=6
 batch.verify.cursor.position=true
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-mysql.properties b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-mysql.properties
index 3e6eef0b5..9e92c2efc 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-mysql.properties
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-mysql.properties
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ batch.jdbc.user=test
 batch.jdbc.password=test
 batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle=true
 batch.jdbc.validationQuery=SELECT 1
+batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition=true
 batch.drop.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-drop-mysql.sql
 batch.schema.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-mysql.sql
 batch.business.schema.script=classpath:business-schema-mysql.sql
@@ -13,5 +14,6 @@ batch.data.source.init=true
 batch.database.incrementer.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.incrementer.MySQLMaxValueIncrementer
 batch.database.incrementer.parent=columnIncrementerParent
 batch.lob.handler.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.DefaultLobHandler
+batch.jdbc.pool.size=6
 batch.grid.size=50
 batch.verify.cursor.position=true
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-oracle.properties b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-oracle.properties
index facd8a650..69785e621 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-oracle.properties
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-oracle.properties
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ batch.jdbc.user=spring
 batch.jdbc.password=spring
 batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle=false
 batch.jdbc.validationQuery=
+batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition=true
 batch.drop.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-drop-oracle10g.sql
 batch.schema.script=classpath:/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-oracle10g.sql
 batch.business.schema.script=business-schema-oracle10g.sql
@@ -14,4 +15,5 @@ batch.database.incrementer.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.incrementer.Or
 batch.database.incrementer.parent=sequenceIncrementerParent
 batch.lob.handler.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.OracleLobHandler
 batch.grid.size=2
+batch.jdbc.pool.size=6
 batch.verify.cursor.position=true
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sqlserver.properties b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sqlserver.properties
index 8c20d2511..0694ae002 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sqlserver.properties
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sqlserver.properties
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ batch.jdbc.user=sa
 batch.jdbc.password=sa
 batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle=false
 batch.jdbc.validationQuery=
+batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition=true
 batch.drop.script=/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-drop-sqlserver.sql
 batch.schema.script=/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-sqlserver.sql
 batch.business.schema.script=business-schema-sqlserver.sql
@@ -14,4 +15,5 @@ batch.database.incrementer.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.incrementer.Sq
 batch.lob.handler.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.DefaultLobHandler
 batch.database.incrementer.parent=columnIncrementerParent
 batch.grid.size=2
+batch.jdbc.pool.size=6
 batch.verify.cursor.position=true
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sybase.properties b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sybase.properties
index 226c44df9..7d8419d66 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sybase.properties
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/batch-sybase.properties
@@ -4,15 +4,17 @@ batch.jdbc.driver=net.sourceforge.jtds.jdbc.Driver
 batch.jdbc.url=jdbc:jtds:sybase://dbhost:5000;databaseName=test
 batch.jdbc.user=spring
 batch.jdbc.password=spring
-batch.schema=
-batch.jndi.name=
-batch.naming.factory.initial=
-batch.naming.provider.url=
+batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle=false
+batch.jdbc.validationQuery=
+batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition=true
+batch.drop.script=/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-drop-sybase.sql
 batch.schema.script=/org/springframework/batch/core/schema-sybase.sql
 batch.business.schema.script=business-schema-sybase.sql
+batch.data.source.init=true
 batch.database.incrementer.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.incrementer.SybaseMaxValueIncrementer
 batch.lob.handler.class=org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.DefaultLobHandler
+batch.database.incrementer.parent=columnIncrementerParent
+batch.jdbc.pool.size=6
+batch.grid.size=6
+batch.verify.cursor.position=true
 
-# Bean Properties for override
-#   when not using sequences:
-incrementerParent.columnName=ID
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/data-source-context.xml b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/data-source-context.xml
index 8dde8d3c8..9d1a1bc97 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/data-source-context.xml
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/data-source-context.xml
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@
 		<property name="url" value="${batch.jdbc.url}" />
 		<property name="username" value="${batch.jdbc.user}" />
 		<property name="password" value="${batch.jdbc.password}" />
+		<property name="maxActive" value="${batch.jdbc.pool.size}"/>
+		<property name="validationQuery" value="${batch.jdbc.validationQuery}"/>
+		<property name="testWhileIdle" value="${batch.jdbc.testWhileIdle}"/>
 	</bean>
 
 	<bean id="transactionManager" class="org.springframework.jdbc.datasource.DataSourceTransactionManager" lazy-init="true">
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/iosample/jdbcCursor.xml b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/iosample/jdbcCursor.xml
index 45620edef..d81c9ff30 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/iosample/jdbcCursor.xml
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/iosample/jdbcCursor.xml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 	<bean id="itemReader" class="org.springframework.batch.item.database.JdbcCursorItemReader">
 		<property name="dataSource" ref="dataSource"/>
 		<property name="sql" value="select ID, NAME, CREDIT from CUSTOMER"/>
+		<property name="verifyCursorPosition" value="${batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition}"/>
 		<property name="rowMapper">
 			<bean class="org.springframework.batch.sample.domain.trade.internal.CustomerCreditRowMapper"/>
 		</property>
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/partitionJdbcJob.xml b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/partitionJdbcJob.xml
index 6b6a6a83a..45331fef1 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/partitionJdbcJob.xml
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/main/resources/jobs/partitionJdbcJob.xml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 	<job id="partitionJdbcJob" xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/batch">
 		<step id="step">
 			<partition step="step1" partitioner="partitioner">
-				<handler grid-size="2" task-executor="taskExecutor"/>
+				<handler grid-size="${batch.grid.size}" task-executor="taskExecutor"/>
 			</partition>
 		</step>
 	</job>
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 		<property name="column" value="ID" />
 	</bean>
 
-	<bean id="taskExecutor" class="org.springframework.core.task.SyncTaskExecutor" />
+	<bean id="taskExecutor" class="org.springframework.core.task.SimpleAsyncTaskExecutor" />
 	
 	<step id="step1" xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/batch">
 		<tasklet>
@@ -34,24 +34,25 @@
 		<property name="path" value="file:./target/output/jdbc/" />
 	</bean>
 
-	<bean id="itemReader" scope="step" autowire-candidate="false" parent="itemReaderParent">
-		<property name="sql">
-			<value>
-                <![CDATA[
-                    select ID,NAME,CREDIT from CUSTOMER where ID >= ? and ID <= ?
-                ]]>
-			</value>
+	<bean id="itemReader" scope="step" autowire-candidate="false" class="org.springframework.batch.item.database.JdbcPagingItemReader">
+		<property name="dataSource" ref="dataSource" />
+		<property name="rowMapper">
+			<bean class="org.springframework.batch.sample.domain.trade.internal.CustomerCreditRowMapper" />
 		</property>
-		<property name="preparedStatementSetter">
-			<bean class="org.springframework.batch.core.resource.ListPreparedStatementSetter">
-				<property name="parameters">
-					<list>
-						<value>#{stepExecutionContext[minValue]}</value>
-						<value>#{stepExecutionContext[maxValue]}</value>
-					</list>
-				</property>
+		<property name="queryProvider">
+			<bean class="org.springframework.batch.item.database.support.SqlPagingQueryProviderFactoryBean">
+				<property name="dataSource" ref="dataSource"/>
+				<property name="fromClause" value="CUSTOMER"/>
+				<property name="selectClause" value="ID,NAME,CREDIT"/>
+				<property name="sortKey" value="ID"/>
+				<property name="whereClause" value="ID &gt;= :minId and ID &lt;= :maxId"/>
 			</bean>
-
+		</property>
+		<property name="parameterValues">
+			<map>
+				<entry key="minId" value="#{stepExecutionContext[minValue]}"/>
+				<entry key="maxId" value="#{stepExecutionContext[maxValue]}"/>
+			</map>
 		</property>
 	</bean>
 
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@
 		</property>
 	</bean>
 
-	<bean id="inputTestReader" parent="itemReaderParent">
+	<bean id="inputTestReader" class="org.springframework.batch.item.database.JdbcCursorItemReader">
 		<property name="sql">
 			<value>
                 <![CDATA[
@@ -86,10 +87,8 @@
                 ]]>
 			</value>
 		</property>
-	</bean>
-
-	<bean id="itemReaderParent" class="org.springframework.batch.item.database.JdbcCursorItemReader" abstract="true">
 		<property name="dataSource" ref="dataSource" />
+		<property name="verifyCursorPosition" value="${batch.jdbc.verifyCursorPosition}"/>
 		<property name="rowMapper">
 			<bean class="org.springframework.batch.sample.domain.trade.internal.CustomerCreditRowMapper" />
 		</property>
diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/sample/PartitionJdbcJobFunctionalTests.java b/spring-batch-samples/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/sample/PartitionJdbcJobFunctionalTests.java
index 705e30ae0..0bfb8a7e8 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/sample/PartitionJdbcJobFunctionalTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/sample/PartitionJdbcJobFunctionalTests.java
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
 import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner;
 
 @RunWith(SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.class)
-@ContextConfiguration(locations = { "/simple-job-launcher-context.xml", "/jobs/partitionFileJob.xml",
+@ContextConfiguration(locations = { "/simple-job-launcher-context.xml", "/jobs/partitionJdbcJob.xml",
 		"/job-runner-context.xml" })
 public class PartitionJdbcJobFunctionalTests implements ApplicationContextAware {