1. A method for sharing data between a relational database and a hierarchical database, comprising: defining a hierarchical data entity including a plurality of elements; mapping each of the plurality of elements in the hierarchical data entity to information in a relational dataset contained in a relational database; transforming the relational dataset information into corresponding mapped elements in the hierarchical data entity to form a hierarchical data structure; and accessing data from the hierarchical data structure corresponding to the relational dataset information in the relational database.