Problem: Trying to replicate an Oracle 4.5 front end through java.

What i am trying to do is simulate an Oracle multi-record basetable block 
in Java. To do this i need to create my front end so it connects to my 
Oracle databse and returns multi-records into a four items. 

I know i can select back the data from the Oracle database but is there 
anyway i can select back the columns properties and use them in a java 
environment?

If anyone has any idea of how to do this or an alternative solution that 
may work i would be most grateful.

Regards 
Michael McCarthy