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Abstract

The objects stored in computer's memory include a directed graph of object directories. Each object directory stores object names and object pointers for locating and accessing other objects. A root directory object, which is the starting point for locating any specified object, stores object names and object pointers to a set of first level object directories. Each object has an associated pathname that defines a path through the directed graph of object directories for accessing that object. More particularly, each pathname is a succession of path elements, proceeding from a first path element to a last path element. A default pathname parsing procedure is used for parsing any specified object's pathname, starting with said first path element, until the default pathname parsing procedure accesses an object directory having its own distinct pathname parsing procedure. At least one object directory has its own distinct pathname parsing procedure for locating objects whose pathname includes a path element that identifies that object directory. When parsing a specified object pathname, the path elements are successively parsed, one at a time by accessing the corresponding object directory, and then using the information in that object directory to access the object or directory object associated with a next path element. When an object directory is accessed that has its own pathname parsing procedure, that object directory's pathname parsing procedure is invoked to parse the remaining path elements of the specified object pathname.

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