A new search feature has been developed and implemented to enhance online information retrieval from the ABI/INFORM database, which includes abstracts from more than 500 journals covering all aspects of business and management. Published by Data Courier Inc., it includes material dating back to 1971. Because of the diverse nature of the database and the imprecision of management terminology, it was determined that online searchers would be well-served by a hierarchical classification system. Such a system has been developed and implemented over the past two years. Because of the costs involved, it is common in the online industry for such enhancements to be searchable only from the date of implementation. The management of Data Courier Inc., however, believed this feature should operate throughout the database. Classification codes were assigned manually to the 1971 to 1977 segment of the file and computer assigned to the 1978 to mid-1982 segment. The paper is divided into three parts: section one provides background information; section two considers the method used to develop the system and its design; and section three discusses the application of the codes to existing ABI/INFORM citations. (Author/DMC)