Data transfer in a computer-implemented database

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a data server associated with an in-memory column store database, a command for data transfer between a client machine and the data server over a communications network, the data being stored in at least a data table comprising a first column and a second column, wherein the first column is associated with a first metadata and the second column is associated with a second metadata, wherein the first metadata designates that first data associated with the first column should not be transferred in response to the command and the second metadata designates that second data associated with the second column should be transferred in response to the command;

in response to receiving the command for the data transfer, determining, using the first metadata associated with the first column and the second metadata associated with the second column, whether columns of the database including the first column and the second column have been designated;

identifying the first column and the second column as columns that have been designated via the first metadata and the second metadata, such that the first data associated with the first column is not considered for purpose of the data transfer while the second data of the second column is considered for purposes of the data transfer; and

executing the command to transfer the data in the in-memory column store database according to the designated columns.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data table has a first data structure including a plurality of columns and metadata including the first metadata and the second metadata.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein data designated for transfer is transferred with the data table, such that the data table is copied to a destination storage device, the copied data table maintaining the first data structure after the transfer is completed, wherein the first data structure maintains a corresponding structure associated with the first column without providing the first data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client machine comprises a computing system used by a user issuing the command for the data transfer.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the command is an import command and further includes a first indication providing, for the first column, the first metadata that designates that the first data should not be imported in response to the command.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the command is an export command and further includes a first indication providing, for the first column, the first metadata that designates that the first data should not be exported in response to the command.

7. A system comprising:

at least one programmable processor; and

a non-transitory 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:

receiving, at a data server associated with an in-memory column store database, a command for data transfer between a client machine and the data server over a communications network, the data being stored in at least a data table comprising a first column and a second column, wherein the first column is associated with a first metadata and the second column is associated with a second metadata, wherein the first metadata designates that first data associated with the first column should not be transferred in response to the command and the second metadata designates that second data associated with the second column should be transferred in response to the command;

in response to receiving the command for the data transfer, determining, using the first metadata associated with the first column and the second metadata associated with the second column, whether columns of the database including the first column and the second column have been designated;

identifying the first column and the second column as columns that have been designated via the first metadata and the second metadata, such that the first data associated with the first column is not considered for purpose of the data transfer while the second data of the second column is considered for purposes of the data transfer; and

executing the command to transfer the data in the in-memory column store database according to the designated columns.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the data table has a first data structure including a plurality of columns and metadata including the first metadata and the second metadata.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein data designated for transfer is transferred with the data table, such that the data table is copied to a destination storage device, the copied data table maintaining the first data structure after the transfer is completed, wherein the first data structure maintains a corresponding structure associated with the first column without providing the first data.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the command is an import command and further includes a first indication providing, for the first column, the first metadata that designates that the first data should not be imported in response to the command.

11. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory 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:

receiving, at a data server associated with an in-memory column store database, a command for data transfer between a client machine and the data server over a communications network, the data being stored in at least a data table comprising a first column and a second column, wherein the first column is associated with a first metadata and the second column is associated with a second metadata, wherein the first metadata designates that first data associated with the first column should not be transferred in response to the command and the second metadata designates that second data associated with the second column should be transferred in response to the command;

in response to receiving the command for the data transfer, determining, using the first metadata associated with the first column and the second metadata associated with the second column, whether columns of the database including the first column and the second column have been designated;

identifying the first column and the second column as columns that have been designated via the first metadata and the second metadata, such that the first data associated with the first column is not considered for purpose of the data transfer while the second data of the second column is considered for purposes of the data transfer; and

executing the command to transfer the data in the in-memory column store database according to the designated columns.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the data table has a first data structure including a plurality of columns and metadata including the first metadata and the second metadata.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein data designated for transfer is transferred with the data table, such that the data table is copied to a destination storage device, the copied data table maintaining the first data structure after the transfer is completed, wherein the first data structure maintains a corresponding structure associated with the first column without providing the first data.