diff --git a/python/mocha-shell.py b/python/mocha-shell.py
index 5e018ae..44e2dc7 100644
--- a/python/mocha-shell.py
+++ b/python/mocha-shell.py
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ class MochaShell (REPLApplication):
 
 	def print_instance_list(self, instances : list):
 		print("")
-		print("instance key    global identifier                     ")
-		print("--------------- --------------------------------------")
+		print("instance key    global identifier                      comment                  ")
+		print("--------------- -------------------------------------- -------------------------")
 		for inst in instances:
-			print(str(inst.get_instance_key()).ljust(16) + str(inst.get_global_identifier()))
+			print(str(inst.get_instance_key()).ljust(16) + str(inst.get_global_identifier()) + " " + self.oms.get_instance_text(inst))
 		print("")
 
 	def print_instance_list_with_attribute_values(self, instances : list, oms : Oms, refobj : InstanceReference):
diff --git a/python/mocha/oms/Oms.py b/python/mocha/oms/Oms.py
index 204dab8..239f452 100644
--- a/python/mocha/oms/Oms.py
+++ b/python/mocha/oms/Oms.py
@@ -103,6 +103,42 @@ class Oms:
 	def get_tenant_by_name(self, tenant_name : str) -> TenantReference:
 		pass
 
+	def get_related_instances(self, inst : InstanceReference, rel : InstanceReference) -> list[InstanceReference]:
+		pass
+
+	def get_related_instance(self, inst : InstanceReference, rel : InstanceReference) -> InstanceReference | None:
+		rels = self.get_related_instances(inst, rel)
+		if len(rels) == 0:
+			return None
+			
+		return rels[0]
+
+	def assign_attribute(self, instance : InstanceReference, attribute : InstanceReference, value : str):
+		pass
+	
+	def assign_relationship(self, instance : InstanceReference, relationship : InstanceReference, related_instances : InstanceReference|list):
+		pass
+
+	def get_instance_text(self, inst : InstanceReference) -> str:
+		# first see if we have a parent class with `Class.instance labeled by Executable returning Attribute`
+		pclasz = self.get_parent_class(inst)
+		if pclasz is not None:
+			rel = self.get_instance_by_global_identifier(KnownRelationshipGuids.Class__instances_labeled_by__Executable_returning_Attribute)
+			relinst = self.get_related_instance(pclasz, rel)
+			if relinst is not None:
+				text = "EXEC:" + str(relinst.get_instance_key()) # self.execute(relinst)
+				return text
+
+
+		# if all else fails, try getting the `Name` attribute
+		attr = self.get_instance_by_global_identifier(KnownAttributeGuids.Name)
+		text = self.get_attribute_value(inst, attr)
+		
+		if text is None:
+			text = ""
+			
+		return text
+
 	def _create_instance_of(self, class_inst : InstanceReference, global_identifier : Guid = None):
 		pass
 
diff --git a/python/mocha/oms/db/mysql/MySQLDatabaseOms.py b/python/mocha/oms/db/mysql/MySQLDatabaseOms.py
index 07112f5..97acae0 100644
--- a/python/mocha/oms/db/mysql/MySQLDatabaseOms.py
+++ b/python/mocha/oms/db/mysql/MySQLDatabaseOms.py
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ class MySQLDatabaseOms(DatabaseOms):
 
 		return None
 
+	def get_related_instances(self, inst : InstanceReference, rel : InstanceReference) -> list[InstanceReference]:
+		pass
+
 	def get_tenant_by_name(self, tenant_name : str) -> TenantReference:
 		mycur = self.db.cursor()