1. A data acquisition and perusal method, comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of files, including HTML type format, for inclusion into at least one selectable database; generating a searchable index of the plurality of selected files included in the selectable database; creating custom links to be defined between selected terms of selected files of the selectable database including the custom links so that the searchable index includes only valid links; wherein the searchable index stores the word locations of words in the database, including starting positions of words in the HTML files that can be used to identify and highlight words in HTML files when those files are displayed in HTML format; and searching the searchable index according to search criteria; said data selection, database index generator and search steps allowing users to view and acquire single or multiple data sources locally and remotely, and allowing users to compile, index, modify, and append the data sources locally and remotely according to default or user defined criteria.