You can get the universe definition (read only) from the Business Objects object model. No need to use the Designer object model at all.
I have a “spiffed up” version of the “objects used” utility mentioned here that Dave is going to post it in the code samples forum when he has a chance. If you’re comfortable with the SDK it could be modified to gather universe obects. Actually, an enhancement that I have pondered for the utility is to gather that information and produce an “unused objects” list as candidates for deletion.
Dwayne Hoffpauir 
(BOB member since 2002-09-19)