The techniques for data collection and storage using files and punch cards which are described are used by the computerized community skills exchange, A Person To Person Living Exchange (APPLE), in Portland, Oregon. Clients complete questionnaires that register up to seven skill-areas in which they seek help, or where they could provide service to others. To effectively match skills and needs from this data, an item file and an inverted file are manually constructed. The item file is organized by client name and gives address, skills, needs, and other necessary information. An inverted file uses keywords to describe each skill and additional keywords to indicate levels of competence, kinds of compensation needed, and other details. Persons possessing these skills are listed below the keyword as numbers. Overlaps in skills and needs can be detected through this file. A description of the APPLE system, together with the skills and resources list and the membership questionnaire, provides background information to the step-by-step instructions on data preparation. Explanations are given for the construction of item and inverted files and the use of the numbering system and keywords with punch cards. Manual manipulation of punch cards for matching needs and skills prior to programming of the computer using these cards is also described. (CWM)