Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for managing objects in a networked computer system. The networked computer system includes a client and a server. Data is persistently stored in the server in the form of an object. Each object includes attributes and methods and is accessible to a plurality of clients. An object is instantiated and materialized in a client when the client accesses the object. When a client desires to take an action in connection with an object, the server sends an updated object to the client. After receiving the updated object from the server, the client determines whether an existing object has been previously received from the server and stored in the client. If an existing object has not been previously received from the server and stored in the client, the client stores a pointer to the updated object in the client. In either case, the client then merges the existing object and the updated object and notifies windows in the client of changes to the existing object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing improved controls in a graphical user interface. One feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to assign multiple values to the control. This multi-value field control includes an extension to known controls that allows the user to enter more than one value into the control. After a value has been entered into the multi-value field control, the user can modify or delete the value. Another feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to efficiently specify multiple sort criteria for the control. This sort order control lists all of the possible sort criteria together with a selection indicator next to each sort criteria. When the user selects a sort criteria, the sort order control indicates the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator and places a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria.