Abstract: An apparatus creates a user-defined .NET class within an operational control environment of distributed computing systems. The apparatus includes a define module that allows a user to create a new class and define properties for the new class in a specification. After the user creates the new class, the define module creates a .NET class based on the specification. In addition, a method for creating a user-defined .NET class within an operational control environment of distributed computing systems includes receiving a user-defined class; receiving user-defined properties for the user-defined class; and creating a .NET class based on the user-defined class and properties.

Abstract: An apparatus creates a user-defined .NET class within an operational control environment of distributed computing systems. The apparatus includes a define module that allows a user to create a new class and define properties for the new class in a specification. After the user creates the new class, the define module creates a .NET class based on the specification. In addition, a method for creating a user-defined .NET class within an operational control environment of distributed computing systems includes receiving a user-defined class; receiving user-defined properties for the user-defined class; and creating a .NET class based on the user-defined class and properties.

Abstract: Various approaches for managing a plurality of instances of an object model are disclosed. At least a first and a second instance of the object model are established in first and second data processing systems. Each instance includes a plurality of objects, and each object includes a first attribute that is a globally unique identifier (GUID). Objects are associated other objects of the plurality of objects, and for each association between a first and a second one of the plurality of objects, the first object includes a second attribute that is the GUID of the second object. Established in each system are first and second versions of a data set that includes the GUIDs of the plurality of objects and associated pointers to memory locations of the objects in the first and second memory arrangements.