1. In a system for integrating a plurality of host computer systems having separate and local data bases having different organization and record formats with at least some items of data being included in more than one of the local data bases, said data items being designated "shared data items", and integrating system for ensuring that the values of the shared data items in the different local data bases are maintained consistent with each other, the integrating system comprising: data translator means for translating data items received from any one of the local data bases for use in any other of the local data bases; a communications network connecting the computer systems and the data translator means; a plurality of update managers, each update manager being in communication with one of the host computer systems having a local data base, and each update manager including update capture means for transmitting to the data translator means over the communications network the values of any changes made by the update manager associated with the host computer to shared data in that computer's local data base, and update receiver means for receiving translated data base changes from the data translator over the communications network; wherein the data translator means translates data base changes from the data base organizaiton and record format in which they are received into one or more other data base organizations and record formats, and transmits the translated changes over the communications network to each of the host computer local data bases, thereby ensuring consistency of the separate local data bases without imposing on any of them a particular data base organization or record format.