Patent ID: 7313572

Claim:
A method for storing data in a repository comprising the steps of: storing in a first table data for one or more default attributes of a first object type, wherein a default attribute is an attribute included in a default object type, used by an application; storing in a second table, separate from said first table, data for one or more default attributes of a second object type used by said application; and storing in a third table, separate from said first and second tables, data for a first custom attribute of said first object type, wherein a custom attribute is an attribute that is added to a default object type, and data for a second custom attribute of said second object type, wherein said first custom attribute and said second custom attribute have the same data type; and upgrading said application, wherein upgrading said application comprises the steps of: processing the data stored in said first table, wherein processing comprises: creating a first replacement table to hold the data from said first table; copying the data from said first table to said first replacement table, wherein data from said one or more default attributes of said first object type is copied from said first table into said first replacement table; and deleting said first table; processing the data stored in said second table, wherein processing comprises: creating a second replacement table to hold the data from said second table; copying the data from said second table to said second replacement table, wherein data from said one or more default attributes of said second object type is copied from said second table to said second replacement table; and deleting said second table; and retaining, in said third table, values for said first custom attribute of said first object type and said second custom attribute of said second object type.