# Go through the database.
    open (DB, "<$db_file_name") or &cgierr("error in search. unable to open database: $db_file_name. Reason: $!");
    flock (DB, 1) if ($db_use_flock);
    LINE: while (<DB>) {
        /^#/      and next LINE;        # Skip comment Lines.
        /^\s*$/   and next LINE;        # Skip blank lines.
        chomp;                          # Remove trailing new line.
        @values = &split_decode($_);
        $grand_total++;