31. A method for generating in an information processing machine at least one abstract that is useful during information searching and retrieval procedures, comprising: 1. sensing by said machine information signals representative of information comprising individual words in a selected language, each word comprising one of more individual character; 2. developing in said machine, signals representative of characters in said system; 3. categorizing in said machine, selected ones only of the individual character signals into predefined character groups that are based on a probability distribution of the characters represented by said signals in the language selected; 4. maintaining an abstract count by said machine of the number of character signals categorized into each of said predefined character groups; and 5. storing said abstract count in said machine as an abstract of said information.
34. The method of claim 31 further comprising: 6. generating and recording in said machine an abstract control indication to signify the storage of one or more abstracts for use in determining whether an abstract search or a detailed search of the information is necessary.