Abstract: A method and system for integrating user-defined objects into a business management application. A mode is selected with which to add a user-defined object in the application having a base class of objects with a base class of services. Information is received to define the user-defined object. A selection is received of at least one service from the base class of services to be associated with the user-defined object. At least one field associated with the user-defined object is received for display. Additional information may be received to define a son object of the user-defined object. Business logic may be received to be added to the application. The user-defined object and related information are registered with the application. The integrated user-defined object thereby automatically inherits the selected at least one service from the base class of services of the business management application.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a user interface application programming interface (API) for providing extended access to the database by third-party and user software products. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for accessing a business database includes instantiating a company object as an instance of a company class conforming to a component object model standard, setting a server property of the company object to a database server name, setting a company database name property of the company object to the name of a company, setting a user name property of the company object to the name of a user, setting a password property of the company object to a password of the user, setting a language property of the company object to a desired language of the user; and invoking a connect method within the company object, the connect method opening a software connection to a database identified by the company database name property.

Abstract: A method and system for integrating user-defined objects into a business management application. A mode is selected with which to add a user-defined object in the application having a base class of objects with a base class of services. Information is received to define the user-defined object. A selection is received of at least one service from the base class of services to be associated with the user-defined object. At least one field associated with the user-defined object is received for display. Additional information may be received to define a son object of the user-defined object. Business logic may be received to be added to the application. The user-defined object and related information are registered with the application. The integrated user-defined object thereby automatically inherits the selected at least one service from the base class of services of the business management application.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a data interface application programming interface (API) to enable external data access to proprietary database systems. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for accessing data in a business database includes instantiating a company object as an instance of a company class conforming to a component object model standard, and setting a server property of the company object to a server name. The method also includes setting a company name property of the company object to the name of the business database, setting a user name property of the company object to the name of a user, setting a password property of the company object to a password of the user, and setting a language property of the company object to a desired language of the user. The method further includes invoking a connect method within the company object to open a software connection to the business database.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a user interface application programming interface (API) for providing extended access to the database by third-party and user software products. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for accessing a business database includes instantiating a company object as an instance of a company class conforming to a component object model standard, setting a server property of the company object to a database server name, setting a company database name property of the company object to the name of a company, setting a user name property of the company object to the name of a user, setting a password property of the company object to a password of the user, setting a language property of the company object to a desired language of the user; and invoking a connect method within the company object, the connect method opening a software connection to a database identified by the company database name property.