A system for generating database query results includes a database suitable for access by a software query, a data storage component which serializes and stores information queried from the database, a storage view component which accesses the data storage component to perform sequential de-serialization of column data, a sort view component which maintains a pointer to the storage view component enabling subsequent physical row access to the data storage component, a grid storage component which acquires the de-serialized query results and provides application-specific formatting, and a grid control component which supplies output data to the a display. The sort view component provides column and row level sorting upon request. The formatted results are viewable simultaneous with the streaming of data from the database and simultaneous with a sorting of the query results.