Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus in a computer system of processing data generated by a first application program in a second application program during runtime. During runtime, the first application program generates a record including a plurality of fields, wherein at least one of the plurality of fields contains data generated by the first application program. Other of the plurality of fields containing descriptive information regarding the data. The record also includes a reference (e.g. a pointer, relative or absolute) to a tag record. The tag record describes the plurality of fields contained in the record. The tag record further recursively references a plurality of tag records each referencing an associated tag record identifying fields in a referred-to tag record. This continues, recursively, until ultimately, a root record is referenced including a self-referential tag identifying the fields in the root record.