repository u2122 dbms 30 then database interface 35 queries a meta data services function of dbms 30 using the name of the selected object class or instance in response the meta data services function returns a list of variables methods and or subclasses associated with the selected object class or instance this information is received by database interface 35 at step 108 at step 109 object definition generator 33 writes certain object definition information to object definition file 37 in response to the object information received at step 108 the information written to object definition file 37 depends on the type of object class or instance that was the subject of the query in step 106 the information written to object definition file 37 also depends on the object oriented language in which server application 32 is written preferably the information written to object definition file 37 at step 109 includes a declaration of the object in question and the variables received by database interface 35 at step 108 this object declaration is written in the language of server application 32 if the language of server application 32 is different from the language of client application 26 code translator 36 is operable to translate the object definition information received by database interface 34 at step 108 into an object declaration appropriate to the language of server application 32 this translated object declaration is written to object definition file 37 an exemplary object definition file 37 written in c is reproduced below in example b this exemplary object definition file is produced by object definition generator 33 when the 34 account 34 object created by the smalltalk code set forth in example a is selected by.