System and method for determining numerical representations for categorical data fields and data processing system

A system and method execute search and retrieval techniques relative to previously stored documents. The present method conducts a first search based on key words or phrases, receives the selection of a given document relative to a result of the first search, and then conducts a second search based on the selected given document. If in the second search the given document was extracted in a previous retrieval process made by a user, a document having a history of being selected concurrently with the given document is extracted. Any document concurrently selected by the user with respect to the document extracted in the second search is automatically stored and noted as being associated with the search request.