Partial updates in data collections in a data storage system

A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

• (a) providing incoming data arranged as an incoming table corresponding to the master file, the incoming table having one or more incoming rows where each incoming row has one or more incoming columns, at least one of the one or more incoming columns in at least one or the one or more incoming rows has new data;
• (b) providing the master file arranged as a master table having one or more master rows where each master row has one or more master columns, at least one of the one or more master columns in at least one of the one or more master rows has old data;
• (c) determining, in a first incoming row of the one or more incoming rows of the incoming table, whether a first incoming column of the one or more incoming columns of the first incoming row contains new data, and in response to the first incoming column of the first incoming row containing new data, using the new data in a first updated column of a first updated row in an updated master file;
• (d) determining, in response to the first incoming column of the first incoming row not containing new data, whether a first master column in a first master row of the master table corresponding to the first incoming column of the first incoming row of the incoming table contains data;
• and
• (e) using, in response to the first master column in the first master row of the master table corresponding to the first incoming column of the first incoming row of the incoming table containing old data, the old data in the first updated column of the first updated row in the updated master file.

A system comprising:

• at least one programmable processor;
• a database comprising a plurality of master files, each master file arranged and formatted as a master table having one or more master rows, wherein each master row has one or more master columns, at least one of the one or more master columns in one or more master rows containing old data;
• at least one user device for creating an update file, the update file arranged and formatted as a incoming table having one or more incoming rows, wherein each incoming row has one or more incoming columns, at least one of the one or more incoming columns in one or more incoming rows configured to contain new data input by a user using the at least one user device;
• a machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:
• (a) determining, in a first incoming row of the one or more incoming rows of the incoming table, whether a first incoming column of the one or more incoming columns of the first incoming row contains new data, and in response to the first incoming column of the first incoming row containing new data, using the new data in a first updated column of a first updated row in an updated master file;
• (b) determining, in response to the first incoming column of the first incoming row not containing new data, whether a first master column in a first master row of the master table corresponding to the first incoming column of the first incoming row of the incoming table contains data;
• (c) using, in response to the first master column in the first master row of the master table corresponding to the first incoming column of the first incoming row of the incoming table containing old data, the old data in the first updated column of the first updated row in the updated master file;
• and
• (d) not using, in response to the first master column in the first master row of the master table corresponding to the first incoming column of the first incoming row of the incoming table not containing old data, any data in the first updated column of the first updated row in the updated master file.