1. A system for processing operations that use data vectors each comprising a plurality of data elements comprising: a vector data file comprising a plurality of storage elements for storing data elements of the data vectors; a pointer array coupled by a bus to the vector data file, the pointer array including a plurality of entries wherein each entry identifies at least one storage element in the vector data file; and the at least one storage element for storing at least one data element of the data vectors, wherein for at least one particular entry in the pointer array, the at least one storage element identified by the particular entry has an arbitrary starting address in the vector data file.