A computer system includes a distributed application program having shared objects on a client workstation and on a server. Installation of the application program assures that an object request broker, a preferential naming service (PNS), PNS registry, and a portion of the application program are executable on the client workstation. In operation, the application program makes a request of the PNS containing an object name and criteria for determining an object reference. The PNS accesses the PNS registry to select candidate records according to the object name and version criteria. In addition, for a tree structured registry, the PNS responds to scope criteria and cross references to identify candidates. A tree structured registry may include references to portions of other tree structured registries. The PNS determines a policy from a candidate record, then determines an object reference by applying the policy. When needed, the PNS activates a local object or contacts a naming service on the server to determine the object reference. The object reference is then provided to the application program. The policy may dictate that candidate records refer only to local objects, only to remote objects, that a local object if viable is preferred, or that a remote object if viable is preferred. The request may include a version criteria directing use of an exact version or use of a latest version.