A method for automatically translating computer application program modeling data expressed in entity/relationship terminology into computer application program model data expressed in object oriented terminology. A conversion process extracts unique entity names from the E/R model database and converts the entity names so found into object oriented class names. Next, based on the type of entity/relationships found in the E/R data model, target and source entities are identified for each "is a" type of relationship and the converted object oriented class names are arranged in a hierarchical inheritance grouping in which each unique class name whose matching entity name is the source of a "is a" relationship is subordinate to the unique object class name in the hierarchy which matches the target entity name is said "is a" relationship and in which grouping any unique object class name that has no matching entity with an "is a" relationship is placed subordinate to an arbitrarily selected unique object class name.
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