🚀 go-pugleaf

I'm writing a relatively large (38K) data base system for my home computer,  
which I hope to market (I hope so anywway, after all, I'm an ameteur) to intr-
ested users. I have written most of the inputting routines, and have constructedthe file which contains 16 fields, including 1 keyfield, and a record number  
which DOS needs anyway (so its a bonus I guess). What I have come across now is
a mystery which nobody I know can help me with (maybe, they are just not intrested). My problem is: the user must be able to key in up to 16 entries into those
field (ie 16 of them) plus provide any logic associated with finding any/all
entries which have been entered. For example, the person might enter Alex into  name field, Perth into city field, and Male or Female into sex field.
I'm programming the whole thing in BASIC which provide nice text formatting 
fascilities, which will later be compiled. How should the logic behind the 
searching for those field be done. I'm able to search for all fields, but the   user might only want to use certain fields, like the example above. I mean- how would the program know whether 1 or all 16 fields have been entered into, in
other words the code which remains constant must check for something in all 
there are 16! combinations so obviously I can make a routine which will take 
care of all combinations.
So how should it be done?
I realise that my question might seem amateur, but even amateurs deserve some
questions answered.
	I would be grateful for any form of reply.
					dokas1.swanee.oz (or just look above)