OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING MODEL FOR ACCESSING HIERARCHICAL DATABASES

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for accessing a hierarchical database using an object-oriented programming model. The database is modeled into an objects framework, wherein the objects framework corresponds to application views, data structures, and data defined and stored in the database. The database is then accessed through the objects framework. A class definition tool generates class definitions for objects that encapsulate or wrapper the data retrieved from the database.