Search structure suggestions

[Richard Miller]

Looking for suggestions on the best way to present a search query to  
the user.

I've got approximately 70 possible search items for be used in a  
search. These 70 search items can be broadly organized within 6  
different categories. Each search item offers from 3-8 predefined  
values, which the user can select one value from. Selecting any one  
value from any one item immediately causes the search to begin.

Of course, I can do it like this:

Category 1
(Button) Search Item 1 - This button could be a Cascade Menu type  
with x number of predefined values
(Button) Search Item 2 - This button could be a Cascade Menu type  
with x number of predefined values

Category 2
(Button) Search Item 7 - This button could be a Cascade Menu type  
with x number of predefined values
(Button) Search Item 8 - This button could be a Cascade Menu type  
with x number of predefined values

etc. etc.

Obviously, this method involves placing some 70 odd buttons on the  
screen. I'd like to avoid that.

Would it make any sense to organize all of this under one button,  
using several hierarchical levels? .... or perhaps 6 buttons (one for  
each category)? Suggestions?

Thanks.
Richard Miller
Imprinter Technologies

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