1. A method for performing a search of data records comprising the steps of: specifying values of a skip length, key length and data length and providing a search argument corresponding in length to said key length; providing a serial stream of data from a file having data records to be searched commencing from a predetermined location in said file; and for each data record received from said file, performing a comparison operation by skipping an initial length of said data of said record from the beginning of said record with said initial length being determined by said skip length, and subsequently repetitively and alternatingly comparing said search argument with a key field of said data having a length specified by said key length and skipping a next succeeding data field of said data having a length specified by said data length.