Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for modeling an object-oriented system. Within the object model, a reference attribute is specified for a class and a first object is instantiated from the class. Thereafter, a reference-based association can be added to the first object using the reference attribute, wherein the reference-based association identifies a relationship between the first object and a second object.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for mapping objects defined in a design model, such as an object oriented design model defined using a design language such as the Universal Modeling Language (UML), to a data model accessible to an application development tool. A design model is provided that includes at least two models. A first model includes a first class and a second model includes a second class. The first class and second class have the same name, and the first class and second class have at least one different attribute and method. The first model, the first class, and attributes and methods therein are mapped to a first data structure that indicates that the first class is included with the first model. The second model, the second class, and attributes and methods therein are mapped to a second data structure that indicates that the second class is included with the second model. In this way, the first class and the second class are distinguished according to their model in the data structures.