1. A computer-implemented method for providing reference information for an object by using a computer, comprising: receiving a request from an author to insert a reference to a fragment object into a shell document, the request including a parameter provided by the author, wherein the shell document is separate from the fragment object and the fragment object is of a first type and is stored in a storage device of the computer; providing to display a list of fragment objects by searching through a storage device of the computer using the parameter as search criteria, the fragment objects being stored in the storage device; receiving, from the author, a selection of the fragment object, the fragment object being a known fragment object of a first type and being selected from the list of fragment objects; comparing a predetermined rule associated with the fragment object with the first type to determine an identity of a first property that is compatible with the fragment object; searching in the storage device for the first property; determining whether the first property can be dynamically generated when the search is unsuccessful, wherein a message is provided to indicate that the first property is not available when the search result is unsuccessful and when the first property cannot be dynamically generated; generating, based on the predetermined rule, the first property when it is determined that the first property can be dynamically generated, the first property including textual information describing a characteristic of the fragment object; retrieving the first property from the storage device when the search is successful; generating, based on the request, response data including the reference to the fragment object and the first property associated with the fragment object, wherein the first property included in the response data is the retrieved first property when the search is successful, and wherein the first property included in the response data is the generated first property when the search is unsuccessful; modifying the shell document by inserting the response data into the shell document, wherein the reference and the first property are inserted into an author identified location within the shell document, the reference being inserted without inserting the fragment object, that is known, in the shell document; formatting the modified shell document based on commands inputted by the author; and on a display device rendering the modified and formatted shell document including the response data, the response data conveying a user-ascertainable characteristic of the fragment object by using the textual information included in the first property, wherein the user-ascertainable characteristic describes the characteristic of the fragment object.
1. A computer-implemented method for providing reference information for an object by using a computer, comprising: receiving a request from an author to insert a reference to a fragment object into a shell document, the request including a parameter provided by the author, wherein the shell document is separate from the fragment object and the fragment object is of a first type and is stored in a storage device of the computer; providing to display a list of fragment objects by searching through a storage device of the computer using the parameter as search criteria, the fragment objects being stored in the storage device; receiving, from the author, a selection of the fragment object, the fragment object being a known fragment object of a first type and being selected from the list of fragment objects; comparing a predetermined rule associated with the fragment object with the first type to determine an identity of a first property that is compatible with the fragment object; searching in the storage device for the first property; determining whether the first property can be dynamically generated when the search is unsuccessful, wherein a message is provided to indicate that the first property is not available when the search result is unsuccessful and when the first property cannot be dynamically generated; generating, based on the predetermined rule, the first property when it is determined that the first property can be dynamically generated, the first property including textual information describing a characteristic of the fragment object; retrieving the first property from the storage device when the search is successful; generating, based on the request, response data including the reference to the fragment object and the first property associated with the fragment object, wherein the first property included in the response data is the retrieved first property when the search is successful, and wherein the first property included in the response data is the generated first property when the search is unsuccessful; modifying the shell document by inserting the response data into the shell document, wherein the reference and the first property are inserted into an author identified location within the shell document, the reference being inserted without inserting the fragment object, that is known, in the shell document; formatting the modified shell document based on commands inputted by the author; and on a display device rendering the modified and formatted shell document including the response data, the response data conveying a user-ascertainable characteristic of the fragment object by using the textual information included in the first property, wherein the user-ascertainable characteristic describes the characteristic of the fragment object. 8. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the response data is performed by the computer and the fragment object is associated with a set of properties maintained by the computer, wherein the first property is not included in the set of properties, and wherein generating the response data includes: generating a request to generate the first property; and receiving the first property from a second computer in response to the request to generate the first property when the first property cannot be dynamically generated.