Abstract: Methods and Systems for searching a database for objects, comprising: assigning a plurality of attributes to each of a plurality of objects in a collection; assigning each of the attributes to a kind; receiving a search query including at least one attribute specified by user; displaying a list of kinds associated with attributes specified by the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for searching for objects. A plurality of Attributes can be assigned to each of a plurality of objects in a collection. Each of the Attributes can be assigned to a Kind. A search query can be received including at least one Attribute specified by a user. A list of Kinds can be displayed. The Attributes can be grouped into Kinds such that searching the objects to determine if the objects have a particular Attribute is not performed if the objects do not have Attributes of that Kind associated with an object to be searched. Grouped Attributes can be subdivided into smaller groupings and resulting subdivisions can be given a numerical score indicating how far a subdivision is from all or none.

Abstract: Methods and Systems for searching a database for objects, comprising: assigning a plurality of attributes to each of a plurality of objects in a collection; assigning each of the attributes to a kind; receiving a search query including at least one attribute specified by user; displaying a list of kinds associated with attributes specified by the user.

Abstract: Methods and Systems for searching a database of Objects. Each Object is associated with a plurality of Attributes, each Attribute is associated with a Kind, and each Kind is associated with a plurality of Attributes. Search criteria comprising an Attribute is received. A Nonceattribute is created using the search criteria. A search utilizing the Nonceattribute is inputted. All Objects having the Nonceattribute are identified. All Attributes associated with the Objects are identified. All Kinds associated with the Attributes are identified. A ranking criterion is applied to identified Kinds and Attributes. The highest-ranked portion of the Kinds and the highest-ranked portion of the Attributes that can readably be shown in a search result display are displayed.