Workflow data binding

Abstract

A workflow data binding system facilitates binding of a data component to a feature of a software component. Prior to the binding, a graphical indication of the software component and a graphical indication of the feature of the software component are displayed. In addition, an indication of an element of the data component is displayed in a display area approximately adjacent to the displayed software component. The workflow data binding system receives a user input command to bind the data component to the feature of the software component. The user input command may include dragging the indication of an element of the data component from the data component display area to the feature of the software component and subsequently dropping it on the feature. As a result, the workflow data binding system automatically generates script or code that provides executable instructions to bind the feature of the software component to the data component.

1 . A computer system for binding a data retention resource to a feature of a software component, the system comprising: 
 a display component configured for displaying 
 a graphical indication of the software component, wherein the software component is a form or web form,  
 a graphical indication of the feature of the software component, wherein the feature of the software component is configured to display data or collect data when the form or web form is subsequently accessed by an end user as part of a workflow application, and  
 an indication of an element or node of a data retention resource in a display area adjacent to the displayed graphical indication of the software component, wherein the data retention resource is a database or an XML data retention resource; and  
   a processor component for automatically generating code that provides executable instructions to bind the data retention resource to the form or web form wherein the code includes a class definition for a generated object.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the generated object includes code for binding data and providing an interface is employable by an integrated development environment component.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feature of the form or web form is a control configured to display information when the form or web form is subsequently accessed by an end user, and wherein the binding of the data retention resource to the control allows the control to be populated by information in the data retention resource during the subsequent access.  
   
   
       4 . A method in a computer for binding a data component to a feature of a software component, the method comprising: 
 receiving a command to create a workflow package, the workflow package associated with an integrated development environment;    receiving a user input command via the integrated development environment to bind a data component to a feature of the software component;    automatically generating script or code that provides executable instructions to bind the feature of the software component to the data component wherein the data component associates data with an element associated with a workflow step; and    causing the software component to be displayed wherein the display includes the feature.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the software component is a form for use in a workflow application.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the software component is a web form for use in a workflow application.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the software component is a custom component for use in a workflow application.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the feature is a control associated with collecting information from an end user.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the feature is a control associated with displaying information to an end user.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the data component employs an automatically generated object.  
   
   
       11 . A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method for binding a data component to a feature of a software component, the method comprising: 
 receiving a workflow definition;    modeling the workflow definition;    receiving metadata associated with the workflow;    storing the metadata in a metadata storage; and    generating code that provides executable instructions to bind an object with workflow data, the generated code including the object.    
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the method further comprises providing an adapter class to retrieve data from a workflow database wherein the retrieved data is associated with a field of the workflow definition.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the method further comprises employing a document type definition associated with a workflow description document.