49. A database structure comprising: a plurality of compacted data values; a plurality of compacted records each having a record length and comprising a plurality of fields, the fields containing the compacted data values; a plurality of subpartitions comprising the compacted records, all of the compacted records associated with a particular one of the subpartitions having an identical record type designation specifying a plurality of pack methods dependent on the fields; a plurality of storage partitions comprising the subpartitions, all of the compacted records associated with a particular one of the partitions such that the compacted records of each partition are of identical record length; a database image comprising the partitions; and a record information table equating the subpartitions to the record type designations.
53. A database structure according to claim 49, further comprising: a mass storage medium capable of being accessed by a computer system, the database image and record information table being stored on the mass storage medium.