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.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data objects correspond to application views, database definitions, and data defined and stored in the database.