1. A method of forming a data server for serving data from a data source to a client application, said data source comprising native data types and data arranged in a data structure, said method comprising providing an application program executable to perform the steps of: (a) identifying said data source; (b) traversing and examining at least one of the data structures and data of said identified data source, said application program being operable to generate a representative schema comprising mapping data for converting said native data types to predetermined data types of a common data model; and (c) creating a server application adapted to use said representative schema to convert said data from said native data types to said predetermined data types and to serve said data to said client application according to said common data model; said representative schema and said server application thereby forming said data server.