Patent ID: 7031977

Claim:
A computer implemented method for retrieving a record in a hierarchical set of records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the method comprising: identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of records; selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record that comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both; modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records, thereby producing a key corresponding to the second record that is related to the identified record by the relational characteristic; indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of records only once comprises applying the key to the hierarchical set of records; and retrieving the selected records, and wherein the key comprises a second tag uniquely identifying the second record, wherein applying comprises selecting those of the records in the hierarchical set of the records having a tag that matches the key, and wherein: each tag is a number having a plurality of digits; the position of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical depths; the value of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical levels; and modifying the tag comprises; selecting at least one of the digits according to the command from the user; and changing the value of the selected digits according to the command from the user.