A method and apparatus are described to perform cascading search methodologies
on one or more data sets from one or more databases. A graphical user interface
for setting up the searching is also described. In one embodiment, the invention
can include designating a first strategy comprising a search string applied to
operate upon data records in a first database, designating a second search strategy
comprising the search string applied to operate upon data records in a second database,
and forming a search hierarchy comprised of the first search strategy followed
by the second search strategy. In another embodiment, the invention can include
a graphical user interface comprising a first area to select a database, a second
area to select a search type, and a third area to select an attribute from the
selected database upon which to execute the selected search type.
