Apparatus and method for locating data

A computer network comprising at least one local terminal, at least one database terminal remote from the or each local terminal and a server database associated with the or each server database terminal, wherein the server database comprises a “scheme” table that includes a plurality of schemes from disparate original sources, each scheme record including one or more images of the scheme showing a plurality of products from disparate original sources and one or more further metadata fields representative of the characteristics of the scheme, a “product” table that includes data relating to the plurality of products from disparate original sources, each product record including one or more images of the product and one or more further metadata fields representative of the characteristics of the product, a “grouping” table that includes relational data that links product records with scheme records whose images show those products and where any individual product may appear in any number of schemes, and a “stock” table that includes details of a plurality of suppliers that stock the products.

A computer network as claimed in claim 22, wherein the user may upload scheme or product entries to the database and edit or delete scheme or product entries previously uploaded by the user.

A database, populated with a plurality of schemes, each including data representative of a plurality of products brought together to form a scheme having desired characteristics, the database includes one or more further fields representative of individual items forming part of the scheme and of characteristics of the scheme.