1. A computerized method for generating an application for accessing a hierarchical database, comprising the steps of: (a) capturing a database description associated with the hierarchical database; (b) capturing a record layout associated with the hierarchical database; (c) associating the database description with the record layout to define a specification for the database; (d) generating one or more class definitions from the database specification, wherein the class definitions are instantiated as objects in an objects framework that encapsulate data retrieved from the database, wherein the objects framework provides a layered processing model that corresponds to application views, database definitions, and data defined and stored in the hierarchical database; and (e) generating one or more display forms from the database specification, wherein the display forms are used to display the data encapsulated by the instantiated objects in the objects framework.