1. A computer-based method which enables a client to maintain reference codes on multiple transaction processing systems in a transaction processing environment, the method comprising the steps of: (1) receiving from the client a code maintenance request to carry out a code maintenance operation; (2) if said request is a request to create a record, then receiving a field value of said record from said request, creating said record with said field value on a global code database of a global code system, and distributing a create message to a distribution target, wherein said create message instructs said distribution target to create a copy of said record with said field value on an associated target database; (3) if said request is a request to read said record, then receiving a query, retrieving, from said global code database, said record identified by said query, and presenting values of said record to the client; (4) if said request is a request to update said field value of said record, then receiving an updated field value of said record, updating said field value in said global code database with said updated field value, and distributing an update message to said distribution target, wherein said update message instructs said distribution target to update said copy of said record on said associated target database; and (5) if said request is a request to delete said record, then deleting said recoil from said global code database, and distributing a delete message to said distribution target, wherein said delete message instructs said associated target database to delete said copy of said record on said target database, wherein said code maintenance operation is carried out on said record in said global code database before being carried out on said copy of said record in any of said target databases of the multiple transaction processing systems.