1. A method of providing a logical framework for defining abstract modification operations for modifying physical data comprising a plurality of physical entities, comprising: providing an abstract model for defining abstract modification specifications logically describing operations to modify the data, the abstract model comprising: a plurality of logical fields; and a mapping rule for each of the plurality of logical fields, which map each of the plurality of logical fields to at least one of the physical entities of the data; a physical entity relationships specification defining interrelationships between physical entities of the data; and providing a run-time component to transform, according to the abstract model, a single abstract modification specification into at least two separate physical modification specifications consistent with the physical data, wherein each physical modification specification modifies a different physical entity of the data.