1. A method of updating a database, the method comprising: providing a database comprising a first table having stored therein data in a first format, the of data comprising a plurality of records including a first record that comprises a plurality of fields; determining that an application that uses the database to be updated, wherein the updated application is configured to be operable in either a pre-update version or an updated version, wherein the pre-update version of the application requires data to be stored in the database in the first format, and wherein the updated version of the application requires data to be stored in the database in a second format; providing for a system constant to be assigned a first value, indicating that the application should continue to be operate in the pre-update version; selecting a first data interface to provide access to the database, based on the first value of the system constant, wherein the first data interface provides access to data in the first format; storing one or more additional records from the application in the first table, wherein the additional records are stored in the first format and are received via the first data interface; providing for the system constant to be assigned a second value, indicating that the application should operate in the updated version; selecting a second data interface to provide access to the database, based on the second value of the system constant, wherein the second data interface provides access to data in the second format; receiving a request from the application, operating in the updated version, to access the first record in the first table; based on the request, converting the first record to the second format for access by the application, wherein converting the first record comprises augmenting the first record with one or more additional fields and storing at least some of the one or more additional fields in a second table; and providing the application with access with access to least some of the one or more additional fields via the second data interface, when the application is operating in the second version.