a method , system and computer program product provides the capability to capture and store data object definitions in a database in a less costly and less time - consuming manner than previous techniques . a method of capturing and storing multiple versions of data item definitions in a database comprises generating a first version of information relating to a plurality of data item definitions in the database , and generating a second version of information relating to a plurality of data item definitions in the database by recapturing only information relating to those data item definitions that have changed since the first version was generated .