1. A computer-implemented method of providing a logical framework for defining abstract modification operations for modifying data in a physical database, comprising: retrieving a modification operation specification specifying at least one logical field used as part of one of physical entity identification criteria or selection criteria in performing an abstract modification operation, wherein the modification operation comprises one of an insert operation and an update operation and wherein generating the abstract query, comprises: (i) when the modification operation comprises an insert operation: specifying a logical seed field; upon determining that one or more additional logical fields are required for performing the insert operation based on the logical seed field, receiving values for each of the required logical fields; (ii) when the modification operation is an update operation: specifying a logical field to update and a corresponding update value, creating an abstract update expression using the specified logical field to update and the corresponding update value, specifying a selection condition for selecting data in the database to update, and adding the selection condition to the abstract update expression; providing an abstract model for defining an abstract query describing an instance of the abstract modification operation performed to modify the data in the physical database, the abstract model comprising: a plurality of logical fields, each comprising a logical field name; and a mapping rule for each of the plurality of logical fields, which map the plurality of logical fields to data in the physical database, wherein each mapping rule is selected from at least two different mapping rule types; and providing a run-time component to transform the abstract query into a executable query consistent with the physical database.