A method and apparatus for linking external information to a network management system are disclosed. A network management system is installed for and executes in association with a managed network. An external application program is identified by defining and storing in a connection file information that describes: the name and location of the program; a position in a menu control tree into which folders and items, which identify functions and options of the external application program, should be displayed and accessed; security roles associated with each folder and item; and other meta-information about the application program and its maker. The information may be stored in a markup format in a connection file. The network management system reads the connection file and integrates the information into its registry and other locations that determine how the network management system operates. As a result, a third-party application may be integrated into a principal network management system, even after the network management system is installed an executing. Further, the connection file need not be rewritten and the application need not be re-installed even when changes occur in underlying structures of the network management system, such as its registry or help system.