An improved method for creating and searching data files in a database is described.
The system and method uses a memory in which is stored a main data file having
a plurality of data records each having a data field containing data representative
of an alpha-numeric product descriptor. A bitmask generator generates a bitmask
value representative of the data in the data field of each data record and appends
to each data record stored in the memory a bitmask data field containing the bitmask
value representative of the data in the data field of the corresponding data record.
A prefix generator generates a plurality of prefix files that are stored in the
memory, the prefix files including a copy of selected data records of the main
data file, the data records being selected as a function of the prefix of the alpha-numeric
product descriptors corresponding to the data in the data fields of the data records.
In performing a search to obtain information, both the appended main data file
and the prefix files are available to the searching procedure.
