DBD::CSV has always worked when I just want to create a simplistic database format conducive for cross platform portability and the file format is relatively small since it contains only comma separated variables. As for the searching and updating I would recommend PERL DBD::CSV or you could use an abundance of products with a wide range of functionality like M$ Excel, M$ Access, Notepad, Edit Plus, even VI, etc. to view the data and search+update the data.

-3DBC