The invention enables a device type manager (DTM) to implement through a field device tool (FDT) frame application, field device management capabilities that are outside the defined operating capabilities of the FDT frame application. The enables controlling a field device, through a device type manager (DTM) configured to control a field device based on control instructions received from a field device tool (FDT) frame application. The FDT frame application and the DTM and/or a DTM wrapper within the DTM may be implemented based on a first runtime environment and a first set of specifications that defines a first set of operating capabilities for the FDT frame application. The DTM wrapper may be configured to communicate with the FDT frame application based on one or more messaging protocols defined by the first set of specifications and further to communicate through inter-process communication, with (i) a DTM framework controller configured to implement the communication and control instructions that enable the DTM to communicate with or control the field device, wherein the DTM framework controller is configured for implementation based on a second runtime environment that is different from the first runtime environment, and (ii) a DTM user interface controller configured to implement one or more user interface controls for controlling the field device.