diff --git a/framework/base/Dictionary.php b/framework/base/Dictionary.php
index 80fd168..cd5a5fb 100644
--- a/framework/base/Dictionary.php
+++ b/framework/base/Dictionary.php
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class Dictionary extends Object implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Co
 	 * @param mixed $data the data to be copied from, must be an array or an object implementing `Traversable`
 	 * @throws Exception if data is neither an array nor an iterator.
 	 */
-	public function copyFrom($data)
+	public function fromArray($data)
 	{
 		if (is_array($data) || $data instanceof \Traversable) {
 			if ($this->_d !== array()) {
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ class Dictionary extends Object implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Co
 	 * @param mixed $data the data to be merged with, must be an array or object implementing Traversable
 	 * @param boolean $recursive whether the merging should be recursive.
 	 *
-	 * @throws CException If data is neither an array nor an iterator.
+	 * @throws Exception If data is neither an array nor an iterator.
 	 */
 	public function mergeWith($data, $recursive = true)
 	{
diff --git a/framework/base/Object.php b/framework/base/Object.php
index af49553..dd52410 100644
--- a/framework/base/Object.php
+++ b/framework/base/Object.php
@@ -342,4 +342,27 @@ class Object
 
 		return $object;
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Configures the object properties with the specified array.
+	 * @param array $array name-value pairs to be used to initialize the properties of this object.
+	 * @return Object the object itself
+	 */
+	public function fromArray($array)
+	{
+		foreach ($array as $name => $value) {
+			$this->$name = $value;
+		}
+		return $this;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns the object in terms of an array.
+	 * The default implementation will return the result of PHP function `get_object_vars()`.
+	 * @return array the array representation of this object.
+	 */
+	public function toArray()
+	{
+		return get_object_vars($this);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/framework/base/Vector.php b/framework/base/Vector.php
index 7c6dadd..7541c63 100644
--- a/framework/base/Vector.php
+++ b/framework/base/Vector.php
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ class Vector extends Object implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Counta
 	 * @param mixed $data the data to be copied from, must be an array or an object implementing `Traversable`
 	 * @throws Exception if data is neither an array nor an object implementing `Traversable`.
 	 */
-	public function copyFrom($data)
+	public function fromArray($data)
 	{
 		if (is_array($data) || $data instanceof \Traversable) {
 			if ($this->_c > 0) {
diff --git a/framework/db/dao/Query.php b/framework/db/dao/Query.php
index 3d330be..24858bb 100644
--- a/framework/db/dao/Query.php
+++ b/framework/db/dao/Query.php
@@ -220,7 +220,9 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * the `NOT LIKE` predicates.
 	 *
 	 * @param string|array $condition the conditions that should be put in the WHERE part.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * For anonymous parameters, they can alternatively be specified as separate parameters to this method.
+	 * For example, `where('type=? AND status=?', 100, 1)`.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see andWhere()
 	 * @see orWhere()
@@ -228,6 +230,10 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	public function where($condition, $params = array())
 	{
 		$this->where = $condition;
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->addParams($params);
 		return $this;
 	}
@@ -237,7 +243,8 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * The new condition and the existing one will be joined using the 'AND' operator.
 	 * @param string|array $condition the new WHERE condition. Please refer to [[where()]]
 	 * on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see where()
 	 * @see orWhere()
@@ -249,6 +256,10 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 		} else {
 			$this->where = array('and', $this->where, $condition);
 		}
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->addParams($params);
 		return $this;
 	}
@@ -258,7 +269,8 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * The new condition and the existing one will be joined using the 'OR' operator.
 	 * @param string|array $condition the new WHERE condition. Please refer to [[where()]]
 	 * on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see where()
 	 * @see andWhere()
@@ -270,6 +282,10 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 		} else {
 			$this->where = array('or', $this->where, $condition);
 		}
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->addParams($params);
 		return $this;
 	}
@@ -282,12 +298,18 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * (which means the table is given as a sub-query or DB expression).
 	 * @param string|array $condition the join condition that should appear in the ON part.
 	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 */
 	public function join($table, $condition, $params = array())
 	{
 		$this->join[] = array('JOIN', $table, $condition);
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		return $this->addParams($params);
 	}
 
@@ -305,6 +327,11 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	public function leftJoin($table, $condition, $params = array())
 	{
 		$this->join[] = array('LEFT JOIN', $table, $condition);
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		return $this->addParams($params);
 	}
 
@@ -322,6 +349,11 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	public function rightJoin($table, $condition, $params = array())
 	{
 		$this->join[] = array('RIGHT JOIN', $table, $condition);
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		return $this->addParams($params);
 	}
 
@@ -399,7 +431,8 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * Sets the HAVING part of the query.
 	 * @param string|array $condition the conditions to be put after HAVING.
 	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see andHaving()
 	 * @see orHaving()
@@ -407,6 +440,10 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	public function having($condition, $params = array())
 	{
 		$this->having = $condition;
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->addParams($params);
 		return $this;
 	}
@@ -416,7 +453,8 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * The new condition and the existing one will be joined using the 'AND' operator.
 	 * @param string|array $condition the new HAVING condition. Please refer to [[where()]]
 	 * on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see having()
 	 * @see orHaving()
@@ -428,6 +466,10 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 		} else {
 			$this->having = array('and', $this->having, $condition);
 		}
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->addParams($params);
 		return $this;
 	}
@@ -437,7 +479,8 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * The new condition and the existing one will be joined using the 'OR' operator.
 	 * @param string|array $condition the new HAVING condition. Please refer to [[where()]]
 	 * on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see having()
 	 * @see andHaving()
@@ -449,6 +492,10 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 		} else {
 			$this->having = array('or', $this->having, $condition);
 		}
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->addParams($params);
 		return $this;
 	}
@@ -530,11 +577,15 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * Sets the parameters to be bound to the query.
 	 * @param array list of query parameter values indexed by parameter placeholders.
 	 * For example, `array(':name'=>'Dan', ':age'=>31)`.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see addParams()
 	 */
 	public function params($params)
 	{
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+		}
 		$this->params = $params;
 		return $this;
 	}
@@ -543,11 +594,15 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * Adds additional parameters to be bound to the query.
 	 * @param array list of query parameter values indexed by parameter placeholders.
 	 * For example, `array(':name'=>'Dan', ':age'=>31)`.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 * @see params()
 	 */
 	public function addParams($params)
 	{
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+		}
 		foreach ($params as $name => $value) {
 			if (is_integer($name)) {
 				$this->params[] = $value;
@@ -578,11 +633,18 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * @param array $columns the column data (name=>value) to be updated.
 	 * @param string|array $condition the conditions that will be put in the WHERE part.
 	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters to be bound to the query.
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 */
 	public function update($table, $columns, $condition = '', $params = array())
 	{
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+			array_shift($params);
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->addParams($params);
 		$this->operation = array(__FUNCTION__, $table, $columns, $condition, array());
 		return $this;
@@ -593,11 +655,17 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	 * @param string $table the table where the data will be deleted from.
 	 * @param string|array $condition the conditions that will be put in the WHERE part.
 	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on how to specify this parameter.
-	 * @param array $params the parameters to be bound to the query.
+	 * @param array $params the parameters (name=>value) to be bound to the query.
+	 * Please refer to [[where()]] on alternative syntax of specifying anonymous parameters.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 */
 	public function delete($table, $condition = '', $params = array())
 	{
+		if (!is_array($params)) {
+			$params = func_get_args();
+			array_shift($params);
+			array_shift($params);
+		}
 		$this->operation = array(__FUNCTION__, $table, $condition);
 		return $this->addParams($params);
 	}
@@ -690,13 +758,13 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	/**
 	 * Builds and executes a SQL statement for renaming a column.
 	 * @param string $table the table whose column is to be renamed. The name will be properly quoted by the method.
-	 * @param string $name the old name of the column. The name will be properly quoted by the method.
+	 * @param string $oldName the old name of the column. The name will be properly quoted by the method.
 	 * @param string $newName the new name of the column. The name will be properly quoted by the method.
 	 * @return Query the query object itself
 	 */
-	public function renameColumn($table, $name, $newName)
+	public function renameColumn($table, $oldName, $newName)
 	{
-		$this->operation = array(__FUNCTION__, $table, $name, $newName);
+		$this->operation = array(__FUNCTION__, $table, $oldName, $newName);
 		return $this;
 	}
 
@@ -813,18 +881,6 @@ class Query extends \yii\base\Object
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Returns the query in terms of an array.
-	 * The array keys are the query property names, and the array values
-	 * the corresponding property values.
-	 * @param boolean $includeEmptyValues whether to include empty property values in the result.
-	 * @return array the array representation of the criteria
-	 */
-	public function toArray($includeEmptyValues = false)
-	{
-		return $includeEmptyValues ? get_object_vars($this) : array_filter(get_object_vars($this));
-	}
-
-	/**
 	 * Merges this query with another one.
 	 *
 	 * The merging is done according to the following rules:
diff --git a/tests/unit/framework/base/DictionaryTest.php b/tests/unit/framework/base/DictionaryTest.php
index 10df70c..8494917 100644
--- a/tests/unit/framework/base/DictionaryTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/framework/base/DictionaryTest.php
@@ -83,17 +83,17 @@ class DictionaryTest extends \yiiunit\TestCase
 		$this->assertFalse($this->dictionary->contains('key3'));
 	}
 
-	public function testCopyFrom()
+	public function testFromArray()
 	{
 		$array=array('key3'=>$this->item3,'key4'=>$this->item1);
-		$this->dictionary->copyFrom($array);
+		$this->dictionary->fromArray($array);
 
 		$this->assertEquals(2, $this->dictionary->getCount());
 		$this->assertEquals($this->item3, $this->dictionary['key3']);
 		$this->assertEquals($this->item1, $this->dictionary['key4']);
 
 		$this->setExpectedException('yii\base\Exception');
-		$this->dictionary->copyFrom($this);
+		$this->dictionary->fromArray($this);
 	}
 
 	public function testMergeWith()
diff --git a/tests/unit/framework/base/VectorTest.php b/tests/unit/framework/base/VectorTest.php
index 6dbbcfa..7eeba33 100644
--- a/tests/unit/framework/base/VectorTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/framework/base/VectorTest.php
@@ -110,13 +110,13 @@ class VectorTest extends \yiiunit\TestCase
 		$this->assertEquals(-1,$this->vector->indexOf($this->item3));
 	}
 
-	public function testCopyFrom()
+	public function testFromArray()
 	{
 		$array=array($this->item3,$this->item1);
-		$this->vector->copyFrom($array);
+		$this->vector->fromArray($array);
 		$this->assertTrue(count($array)==2 && $this->vector[0]===$this->item3 && $this->vector[1]===$this->item1);
 		$this->setExpectedException('yii\base\Exception');
-		$this->vector->copyFrom($this);
+		$this->vector->fromArray($this);
 	}
 
 	public function testMergeWith()