1. A method of parameter passing of data structures where an API and corresponding stored procedures are at different version/release levels, the method comprising: receiving, from a calling program, a data structure having at least one data structure element; parsing the data structure for a first version identifier of the data structure; comparing the first version identifier to a second version identifier of the stored procedures; when said comparing of the first version identifier with the second version identifier is indicative of a data structure compatibility between said calling program and said stored procedures, parsing all of the data structure elements of the data structure; and when said comparing of the first version identifier with the second version identifier is indicative of a data structure incompatibility between said calling program and said stored procedures, parsing only the data structure elements of the data structure that are known to both of said calling program and said stored procedures.