A method performs a database query in a relational database, the query being carried out by a database engine and being based on user-defined search criteria. The method includes retrieving a number N of properties of a record within a main database table, the number N being higher than zero, creating a search criteria option for each of the N properties, creating a search criteria table for every search criteria option, creating an index for every search criteria table, and performing the database query based on a user-defined combination of a plurality of the search criteria options.