When a webject returns information from a data management system or from some other source, the information is returned as a group of objects. Info*Engine stores each group of objects in a special holding area called the virtual database (VDB).

Groups of objects are created when query, action, group, management, message, and Web Event Service webjects perform their function. Several webjects can be contained within a task or JSP page, each creating its own group of objects to be placed within the VDB. In defining a webject, you name the output group using the GROUP_OUT parameter. It is important to name each group of objects uniquely so it can be identified by a subsequent webject when manipulating or displaying group data.

The VDB does not allow groups to have duplicate names. If a task generates two groups with the same name and both are placed in the VDB, the second group overwrites the first. If any group is unnamed and a previous group was unnamed, the new unnamed group overwrites the previous unnamed group.