code: public static Index getSharedIndex() {
  		if (ddb == null) {
  			getClient();
  		}
  		try {
  			Table t = ddb.getTable(getTableNameForAppid(SHARED_TABLE));
  			if (t != null) {
  				return t.getIndex(getSharedIndexName());
  			}
  		} catch (Exception e) {
  			logger.info("Could not get shared index: {}.", e.getMessage());
  		}
  		return null;
  	}
docs: Returns the Index object for the shared table.
  @return the Index object or null