1. In a computer system, a method of storing objects in a relational database, comprising the steps of: creating a relational database table configured to store the objects of a class, wherein the objects of the class have at least one data member; instantiating a container object to store the data member; transiently storing the data member in the container object; generating a hierarchical tree that represents a definition of the data member; and storing a default value for the data member in the hierarchical tree.