3. A method for indexing documents in a data processing system, said documents including a reference to at least one material, comprising: inputting a document into said data processing system; extracting at least one alphanumeric string from said document; determining relevant alphanumeric strings from said extracted alphanumeric strings by processing said extracted alphanumeric strings utilizing at least one algorithm by comparing, in sequence and in combination, said extracted alphanumeric strings with material terms in at least a dictionary database of common material terms; matching said relevant alphanumeric strings with material alphanumeric strings stored in said data processing system; and storing said matched alphanumeric strings in respective matched records in said data processing system, the method further comprising cross-referencing said matched alphanumeric strings with matching master materials alphanumeric strings in said data processing system.
3. A method for indexing documents in a data processing system, said documents including a reference to at least one material, comprising: inputting a document into said data processing system; extracting at least one alphanumeric string from said document; determining relevant alphanumeric strings from said extracted alphanumeric strings by processing said extracted alphanumeric strings utilizing at least one algorithm by comparing, in sequence and in combination, said extracted alphanumeric strings with material terms in at least a dictionary database of common material terms; matching said relevant alphanumeric strings with material alphanumeric strings stored in said data processing system; and storing said matched alphanumeric strings in respective matched records in said data processing system, the method further comprising cross-referencing said matched alphanumeric strings with matching master materials alphanumeric strings in said data processing system. 5. The method of claim 3 wherein said material terms include at least one of a proper name, an identifier, a synonym, a translation, class membership, a product, or combinations thereof.