Embodiments relate to systems and methods for extracting a model object from a multi-dimensional source database. A modeling client can host modeling logic and an application programming interface (API) to create, access, manipulate, and import / export modeling objects used in modeling applications, such as engineering, medical, financial, and other modeling platforms. In aspects, the source data accepted into the modeling client can include consumer or business-level applications, whose database or other content can be extracted and encapsulated in object-oriented format, such as extensible markup language (XML) format. The resulting model object can be pivoted along selected dimensions, or otherwise manipulated. The modeling client can exchange one or more modeling object directly with external platforms, such as mainframe modeling platforms, via the application programming interface (API) on a programmatic basis. Costs and maintenance savings over mainframe-based modeling tools can thereby be achieved, while providing greater power than consumer or business-level tools.