Displaying hierarchical relationship of data accessed via subject index

A memory medium on which are stored a plurality of machine instructions for enabling a user to efficiently search for information associated with a desired data element in a database, said machine instructions, when executed by a computing device, causing a plurality of functions to be performed, including:

• (a) organizing data within the database in a dual structure, including a hierarchical-based structure and an indexed-based structure;
• (b) enabling a user to selectively search said database for information by carrying out one of a hierarchical-based search and an index-based search;
• and
• (c) indicating a hierarchical relationship of a selected data element to other data elements in the database, even though the user has selectively searched the database by carrying out the index-based search, the hierarchical relationship of the selected data element referencing related levels in the hierarchical relationship from which the user can selectively choose to locate the desired data element.

A system for enabling a user to efficiently search for information associated with a desired data element in a database, comprising:

• (a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;
• (b) a display;
• (c) an input device comprising a plurality of user actuatable inputs;
• and
• (d) a processor that is coupled to the display and to the memory to access the machine instructions, said processor executing said machine instructions and implementing a plurality of functions, including:
• (i) organizing data within the database in a dual structure, including a hierarchical-based structure and an indexed-based structure;
• (ii) selectively searching said database for information by carrying out one of a hierarchical-based search and an index-based search in response to a user election;
• and
• (iii) indicating a hierarchical relationship of a selected data element to other data elements in the database, even though the index-based search was elected, the hierarchical relationship of the selected data element referencing related levels in the hierarchical relationship from which a level is selectively chosen to locate the desired data element.

A method for enabling a user to search for a data element in a database, using one of a hierarchical-based and an index-based searching, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a portable device adapted to both accept input from a user and to display data to a user, and a database that can be accessed by said portable device, said database comprising a plurality of data elements;
• (b) enabling a user to selectively search said database for said desired data element by initiating one of a hierarchical-based search and an index-based search;
• and
• (c) displaying said desired data element to a user, such that a hierarchical relationship of said desired data element to other data elements in the database is also displayed to a user regardless of whether the user selectively initiated the hierarchical-based search or the index-based search.