1. In an object oriented programming environment, a method for associating a controlling object managing one or more data bearing objects with a plurality of user interface object types comprising the steps of: defining a first type of association object for a first type of user interface object, said first type of association object being capable of receiving standard messages from said controlling object and converting said received standard messages to messages specific to said first type of user interface object and sending said resulting messages specific to said first type of user interface object to said first type of user interface object, said first type of association object further being capable of receiving messages specific to said first type of user interface object from said first type of user interface object and converting said received messages specific to said first type of user interface object to standard messages and sending said resulting standard messages to said controlling object; creating a first instance of said first type of user interface object; creating a first instance of said first type of association object; providing said first instance of said first type of association object with a key for obtaining data from a data bearing object; linking said first instance of said first type of association object with said first instance of said first type of user interface object and said controlling object such that in response to a standard message received from said controlling object said first instance of said first type of association object converts said standard message to a message specific to said first type of user interface object and sends the resulting message specific to said first type of user interface object to said first instance of said first type of user interface object and in response to receiving from said first instance of said first type of user interface object a message specific to said first type of user interface object said first instance of said first type or association object converts said message specific to said first type of user interface object to a standard message and sends the resulting standard message to said controlling object.