// find all tuples in each input pertaining to the group of interest, and combine the
// data into a single tuple
Tuple output;
ExampleTuple tOut = new ExampleTuple();
if (outputType == LogicalOperator.AMENDABLE) output = new AmendableTuple(1 + inputs.length, smallestGroup);
else output = new Tuple(1 + inputs.length);
// set first field to the group tuple
output.setField(0, smallestGroup);
tOut.copyFrom(output);