System and method for accessing a directory services repository

Methods and systems are provided for database-style access to a directory services repository stored on a computer network. A directory services application programming interface is controlled by a driver. The driver translates relational database language statements, such as ODBC-compliant SQL statements, into an executable API sequence that produces an API result. The driver also translates the API result into a relational database result. The repository may be a Novell Directory Services repository or an X.500 directory services repository. The invention maps an effective class of the repository to a table identified in the relational database language statement. Each object that is an instance of the effective class is mapped to a row in the table, and each attribute maps to a column of the table. As a result, the invention allows database tools such as report generators to work with the information stored in the repository.