A method of and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to
a searchable database formatted in a directory tree structure. The
directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of
related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. Each
specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each
related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by
initializing the value of each parameter for each related data. The
method accesses a particular node within the directory tree structure and
performs a parametric search using one or more set search parameters
corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching
discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related
data of the particular node. The parameters can be customizable and
specific to the specific node. The method can also include accessing a
particular node utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies
including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key
search.