1. A computer implemented method of archiving data from a source database to a target database, the method comprising the following steps: a) specifying the data being subject to the archiving operation in the source database to define specified data; b) extracting a data genealogy of the specified data, thereby revealing physical relations among tables of information selected from the group consisting of the specified data and arbitrary rules defined by an administrator in order to create a data tree of the specified data; c) executing an export or import operation of the specified data from the source database to the target database, thereby starting in a direction from a root of the data tree to leaves of the data tree; d) after the successful execution of the export or import operation, executing a delete operation in the source database for the specified data, thereby starting in a direction of the leaves of the data tree to the root of the data tree; and e) scheduling the export or import operation stepwise and thereby only locking records that are currently subject in a respective step of the export or import operation.