In an approach to storing data elements in a database, a database management unit provides a table-mapping file for enabling access to a table of a plurality of tables in a storage medium, the table-mapping file comprising a plurality of map records of a single table, a map record comprising information indicative of the table, a column of the table, a data section of the table, and a range of values of data elements included in the data section of the column. The unit receives a data element at the database via a communication interface, determines the table, column, and data section the data element is to be stored in, and stores the data element in the section file corresponding to the determined table, column and data section. The unit then updates the table-mapping file corresponding to the table, columns and data section the data element has been stored in.