A method for performing a bulk load into a database, wherein during the bulk load new data are to be loaded into a data partition of the database, wherein the data partition contains old data and a corresponding index for the old data; and wherein the database is stored in a storage device; wherein the database contains a file control block for each data partition which includes the storage location of the index and the data of the partition in the storage device; comprising the steps of: a. allocating a new data area on the storage device for the new data, wherein the new data area is locked for reading for other processes than the bulk load process; b. locking the data partition for writing for all other processes than the bulk load process but allowing read accesses, so that it is assured that no changes occur to the partition while the bulk load is performed and so that the data partition remains readable for the other processes; c. transforming the new data into a format of the data partition; d. storing the transformed new data in the new data area; e. building a new index for the data partition, wherein the new index covers the old data and the new data; f. building a new file control block which includes the storage location of the new index and the old and new data in the storage device; g. making the new data visible and accessible for all database processes by replacing the file control block by the new file control block in a way that does not affect read accesses on the data partition; and h. unlocking the data partition. wherein during the bulk load new data are to be loaded into a data partition of the database, wherein the data partition contains old data and a corresponding index for the old data; and wherein the database is stored in a storage device; wherein the database contains a file control block for each data partition which includes the storage location of the index and the data of the partition in the storage device; comprising the steps of: a. allocating a new data area on the storage device for the new data, wherein the new data area is locked for reading for other processes than the bulk load process; b. locking the data partition for writing for all other processes than the bulk load process but allowing read accesses, so that it is assured that no changes occur to the partition while the bulk load is performed and so that the data partition remains readable for the other processes; c. transforming the new data into a format of the data partition; d. storing the transformed new data in the new data area; e. building a new index for the data partition, wherein the new index covers the old data and the new data; f. building a new file control block which includes the storage location of the new index and the old and new data in the storage device; g. making the new data visible and accessible for all database processes by replacing the file control block by the new file control block in a way that does not affect read accesses on the data partition; and h. unlocking the data partition. a. allocating a new data area on the storage device for the new data, wherein the new data area is locked for reading for other processes than the bulk load process; b. locking the data partition for writing for all other processes than the bulk load process but allowing read accesses, so that it is assured that no changes occur to the partition while the bulk load is performed and so that the data partition remains readable for the other processes; c. transforming the new data into a format of the data partition; d. storing the transformed new data in the new data area; e. building a new index for the data partition, wherein the new index covers the old data and the new data; f. building a new file control block which includes the storage location of the new index and the old and new data in the storage device; g. making the new data visible and accessible for all database processes by replacing the file control block by the new file control block in a way that does not affect read accesses on the data partition; and h. unlocking the data partition.