Balancing data across partitions of a table space during load processing

A method comprising

• receiving a request to load data into a plurality of partitions of a table of a relational database of a computer system;
• reading a plurality of data records, each data record having a key value;
• loading the plurality of data records evenly across the plurality of partitions by:
• sorting the plurality of data records by key value,
• after the sorting, determining a quantity of records of the plurality of data records to be loaded into each partition of the plurality of partitions, and
• writing the plurality of data records into the plurality of partitions, without regard to currently defined key value limits for the plurality of partitions, so that each partition includes the quantity of data records;
• and
• in response to loading the plurality of data records, modifying the currently defined key value limits for the plurality of partitions by:
• selecting a partition of the plurality of partitions,
• setting the key value limit of the selected partition using a lowest key value stored in an adjacent partition to the selected partition,
• selecting a previously unselected partition of the plurality of partitions, and
• repeating the act of setting the key value limit of the selected partition and the act of selecting an unselected partition of the plurality of partitions for all remaining partitions of the plurality of partitions so that a pre-existing order of the key value limits is preserved.

A computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a first datastore;
• a database, stored in the first datastore, comprising:
• a tablespace, comprising:
• a plurality of partitions configured to store data records, each data record having a key value;
• and
• a plurality of key value limits, each associated with a partition of the plurality of partitions, wherein the key values of the data records stored in each partition of the plurality of partitions are no greater than the associated key value limit;
• a data record source, operatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• a program datastore, operatively coupled to the processor, configured to hold programs that when executed, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
• receiving a request to load data into the plurality of partitions;
• reading a plurality of data records from the data record source, each data record having a key value;
• sorting the plurality of data records by key value,
• after the sorting, determining a quantity of records of the plurality of data records to be loaded into each partition of the plurality of partitions by dividing a count of the plurality of data records by a count of the plurality of partitions, and
• writing the data records into the plurality of partitions, without regard to currently defined key value limits for the plurality of partitions, so that each partition includes the quantity of data records;
• and
• in response to writing the plurality of data records into the plurality of partitions, modifying the currently defined key value limits by:
• selecting a partition of the plurality of partitions,
• setting the key value limit for the selected partition, preserving a pre-existing order of the key value limits of the plurality of partitions,
• selecting a previously unselected partition of the plurality of partitions, and
• repeating the act of setting the key value limit for the selected partition and selecting another previously unselected partition for all remaining partitions of the plurality of partitions.