It is likely that future operating information retrieval systems may be based on automatic information analysis methods instead of manual indexing, and on search procedures which allow the user to interact with the system during the search process. The effectiveness of the required analysis and search operations depends to some extent on the availability in machine readable form of standardized information concerning the make-up and content of each stored document. An author-prepared standard manuscript documentation unit, furnished with each manuscript, may simplify the information retrieval and dissemination operations, and improve their effectiveness. The design of such a documentation unit is covered and its use is explained for indexing, classification, vocabulary normalization, searching, and retrieval.