Abstract: The invention enables multiple users to simultaneously access and change the contents of a database in a flexible manner. Each user interacts with a working copy of a master copy of the database. The contents of each of the working copies of the database can be accessed and manipulated so that the contents of the working copy of the database can be revised. Each user has control over whether to the "publish" revisions made to the contents of that user's working copy of the database, i.e., write the revisions to the master copy and present other users with the option of including the revisions in the working copies of those other users. Each user has the option to reject revisions published by other users so that the contents of each user's working copy of the database may or may not be maintained consistent with other working copies of the database operated on by other users.