Replacing database table join keys with index keys

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing computer program instructions capable of being executed by a computer processor, the computer program instructions defining the steps of:

• receiving, by a processor, annotation data, the annotation data comprising a set of rows;
• retrieving, by the processor, a root dataset, the root dataset stored in one or more files;
• generating, by the processor, a row identifier for each row in the set of rows, the row identifier storing a plurality of fields enabling alignment of a respective row in the annotation data to a corresponding row in the root dataset;
• generating, by the processor, an annotation dataset, the annotation dataset comprising the set of rows and corresponding row identifiers;
• and
• writing, by the processor, the annotation dataset to at least one file, the at least one file separate from the one or more files.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the stored program logic causing the processor to perform the operations of:
• receiving annotation data, the annotation data comprising a set of rows;
• retrieving a root dataset, the root dataset stored in one or more files;
• generating a row identifier for each row in the set of rows, the row identifier storing a plurality of fields enabling alignment of a respective row in the annotation data to a corresponding row in the root dataset;
• generating an annotation dataset, the annotation dataset comprising the set of rows and corresponding row identifiers;
• and
• writing the annotation dataset to at least one file, the at least one file separate from the one or more files.