Abstract: An information processing system includes a plurality of data processing tools, an atomic information repository, and a plurality of generated translation engines. Each data processing tool processes data in accordance with an associated data model, and in the process generates access requests for accessing data in accordance with its associated data model. The atomic information repository stores data items using an organization in an atomic data model which corresponds to the combination of the data models associated with all of the tools. Each translation engine is associated with one of the tools. Each translation engine receives an access request from its associated tool in the associated tool's data model and performs a translation operation to translate the request to the repository's atomic data model, and initiates an access operation with the repository in connection with the translated access request.