1. A network device, comprising: a database for managing mixed numeric and non-numeric data; a storage device for storing the database, or other data; and a processor that is operative to perform actions, including: reading data within the database having mixed numeric and non-numeric data; generating one or more global dictionaries for read data having one or more common data types in the database, wherein each read data value for a common data type is copied to a global dictionary; when it is determined that the read data value for the common data type is non-numeric, performing further actions, including: creating a universal primitive (UNIP) having a first field indicating that the read data value is non-numeric, and at least a second field that identifies a storage location within the storage device for storing the read data value, wherein the UNIP is assigned to the read non-numeric data value, and replacing the read non-numeric data value within the database with the created UNIP, such that subsequent queries within the database manages queries using the UNIPs that replaced the read non-numeric data values having the common data types; and when it is determined that the read value for the common data type's values is numeric, replacing the common data type's values with one or more keys for the global dictionary.