=> Quoting James Opicka (1:110/775) to All on 19 Dec 94  13:29 <=

 JO> Is there a program which will attach to a file and search and
 JO> retrieve a word or phrase.  An example is the Bible search programs
 JO> which will find a text or texts where the word or phrase is found. 
 JO> I have a very limited knowledge of `C'.  Is my request more
 JO> complicated than what I imagine?

Ever heard of GREP?  It can search multiple files for various patterns of
data defined as "regular expressions".  It doesn't statically attach itself
to the file; GREP just reads the external file.  The output of GREP can be
redirected via the operating system.  GREP is a utility program included with
Borland compiler products.  There are freeware GREP programs too.  I've also
seen a GREP-like dynamic link library (DLL) from Borland Pascal v7.0 which
allows other programs to use its search function.

Your request is more complicated if you need the program to actually attach
itself to the data files.  In that case, write a "loader" program which
contains the GREP code.  And link the loader onto the beginning of the data
files.  The program informs the operating system that the data file is really
an internal portion of an executable.  The program also controls user-
interaction by the search (input) and display (output) capabilities.  In
effect, you are treating the text file as a "resource" which the attached
program accesses.

... "I think Not!" said Descartes, and promptly disappeared.