Method and apparatus for creating indexes in a relational database corresponding to classes in an object-oriented application

An improved object-database mapping tool is provided that generates indexes in a database corresponding to classes in an object-oriented application. Initially, the mapping tool maps each class in an object-oriented application to a table in a database. A user, for example, selects one or more fields to be indexed from one or more classes. The tool determines if the selected fields correspond to the columns in more than one table in the database. If the selected fields correspond to a plurality of tables in the database then the mapping tool generates a plurality of indexes. Alternatively, if the fields correspond to one table in the database then the mapping tool generates a single index.