1. A method for translating the contents of a binary data record existing in a programming language to a component in an object-oriented programming system comprising the steps of: (a) determining a data record layout of a binary data record in an architecture-specific program, said data record layout comprising a name component and a contents component, (b) associating a first reference to said name component and a second reference to said contents component of said data record layout, said first and said second references operating as address parameters to allow a programming interface to select said name component and said contents component from said data record layout in response to a data request, (c) modifying said architecture-specific program to include said first and said second references for use by said programming interface, and (d) generating source code for a software component of an object-oriented programming system, said software component being adapted to send to said programming interface said data request for the content of said binary data record associated with said reference, and said software component being adapted to receive from said programming interface a response to said data request.