What is an indirect access filing system?

• A. A direct index to files.
• B. A system that requires an index to be consulted before retrieval.
• C. A system that stores files alphabetically by first name.
• D. A system that stores folders by color.

Answer: (B)

An indirect access filing system relies on a separate index to locate files. The file’s name or identifier isn’t enough to find it directly, because the index maps each file to the exact physical location where its folder is stored (drawer, cabinet, shelf, etc.). To retrieve the file, you first consult the index to learn where it lives, then go to that location and pull it. This contrasts with systems where you can reach the file directly from its label without consulting an index. The defining feature is that retrieval depends on using the index to pinpoint the storage location before you can access the file.