1. A computerized apparatus for accessing a hierarchical database, comprising: (a) a computer; (b) one or more data objects that: (i) provide a direct mapping of data within the hierarchical database; and (ii) encapsulate data retrieved from the hierarchical database; (c) an objects framework, executed by the computer, for modeling the hierarchical database as the one or more data objects; and (d) an Internet-enabled generic application program, executed by the computer, for accessing the hierarchical database via the objects framework.