<quote>Since you're just storing records in a flat table (I'm assuming you don't want a lot of tables - Database guys love them, but unless you're comfortable with DB normalization, I'd stick with a flat table.</quote>

Well.. hmm... Perl is so great at text searching that this advice is less barmy than it might be elsewhere - but I still say learn normalisation and enjoy a happier life! It's not hard and one day, when you want to search on a combination you never thought of before, you'll be glad you did.

Later... nuts! My markup's wrong but it makes the point!