An information retrieval system converts unstructured ad-hoc search queries into structured search instructions that retrieve data in a structured relational database or an unstructured database. Data from the database is uploaded into a distributed in-memory database system. Tokens are automatically generated based on attributes, measures, and other metadata extracted from the relational database. The tokens are then compared with the non-structured ad-hoc user search queries. The information retrieval system uses the tokens to identify or predict what structured data is associated with user search queries. The tokens guide the user through a set of search terms that the system then uses to generate the structured query instructions. The structured query instructions retrieve specific data and answers from in the database system.