A data table object module which is a component based object that provides configuration information to a caller in response to a request for information. The present invention also relates to an implementation that exposes a standard interface for callers desiring to access the data as part of an overall catalog management system or schema. The data table interface is substantially separate from the program code related to the catalog schema to thus enable the creation and addition of new data table objects to a catalog system with out recompiling the entire catalog management system program code.