A software application system and method to aid in rapid graphical user interface (GUI) development in object-oriented development environments where sub-classing (buttons, list boxes, edit controls, etc.) provided by the compiler or a GUI toolkit are not appropriate. While the invention was motivated by the environment stated above, it can be used in any object-oriented GUI programming environment. This invention provides a method for adding functionality to native controls including, but not limited to: initializing the control with data or other settings; retrieving data from the control; formatting the data; validating the data entered; storing validated data in files or databases; handling multiple controls to create the illusion of a single control; and, establishing relationships between controls. The inventive system and method comprises a set of building blocks referred to as control enhancers, each including a data storage, a data initializer, a data finalizer, and means for maintaining and acting upon control relationships between the control enhancer and other control enhancers for related controls.