Application integration using XML
First Claim
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1. A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing steps of a method comprising:
- receiving a first input from a user of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system while a form is running on an application layer of the ERP system to select one of a plurality of target applications and to initiate a data integration process, the application layer running on top of an ERP platform layer in the ERP system, the first input being received through a button in a toolbar of a graphical user interface of the ERP system, the plurality of target applications including a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, a database program, and an email program;
generating a metadata form XML file at the ERP platform layer from the form running on the application layer, the metadata form XML file being a linked list data structure having data from the form and information about controls from the form;
sending the metadata form XML file from the ERP platform layer to the application layer for use by the selected target application in integrating data from the form into the selected target application;
automatically selecting a default stylesheet as a first stylesheet based upon which one of the plurality of target applications is selected by the user with the first input;
transforming the metadata form XML file into a target application XML file using a target application transformation engine and the first stylesheet at the application layer, the target application XML file being in a format that is compatible with the target application, the target application transformation engine being implemented within the application layer;
sending the target application XML file to the ERP platform layer;
launching the selected target application from the ERP platform layer using the target application XML file to provide integrated form data with the target application; and
manipulating the integrated form data utilizing the target application.
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Abstract
A method and system for integrating form data in an ERP system with a target application are provided. The method includes receiving a first input from a user of an ERP system while a form is running on an application layer of the ERP system to initiate a data integration process. Next, a metadata form XML file is generated at an ERP platform layer from the form running on the application layer. Then, the metadata form XML file is sent from the ERP platform layer to the application layer for use by target applications in integrating data from the form into the target applications.
41 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing steps of a method comprising:
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receiving a first input from a user of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system while a form is running on an application layer of the ERP system to select one of a plurality of target applications and to initiate a data integration process, the application layer running on top of an ERP platform layer in the ERP system, the first input being received through a button in a toolbar of a graphical user interface of the ERP system, the plurality of target applications including a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, a database program, and an email program; generating a metadata form XML file at the ERP platform layer from the form running on the application layer, the metadata form XML file being a linked list data structure having data from the form and information about controls from the form; sending the metadata form XML file from the ERP platform layer to the application layer for use by the selected target application in integrating data from the form into the selected target application; automatically selecting a default stylesheet as a first stylesheet based upon which one of the plurality of target applications is selected by the user with the first input; transforming the metadata form XML file into a target application XML file using a target application transformation engine and the first stylesheet at the application layer, the target application XML file being in a format that is compatible with the target application, the target application transformation engine being implemented within the application layer; sending the target application XML file to the ERP platform layer; launching the selected target application from the ERP platform layer using the target application XML file to provide integrated form data with the target application; and manipulating the integrated form data utilizing the target application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer-implemented method of integrating form data in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with a target application, the method comprising:
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displaying a graphical user interface along with a form running on an application layer, the graphical user interface including a plurality of different input controls, the plurality of different input controls including a first button, a second button, and a third button, the first button corresponding to integrating the form data with a word processing program, the second button corresponding to integrating the form data with a spreadsheet program, and the third button corresponding to a dialogue box that enables a user to select the target application from a plurality of possible target programs and to select a stylesheet for the target application, the dialogue box and the form being displayed in separate windows within the graphical user interface; selecting an input control, from the plurality of different input controls displayed on the graphical user interface along with the form running on the application layer, to select the target application and to initiate a generating step; in response to initiation of the generating step, generating a metadata form XML file at an ERP platform layer from the form running on the application layer, the metadata form XML file comprising all field data from the form including captions and groupings; sending the metadata form XML file to the application layer; transforming the metadata form XML file into a target application XML file for the target application at the application layer using a target application transformation engine and a first stylesheet, the first stylesheet having been selected by the user utilizing the dialogue box; sending the target application XML file to the ERP platform layer; launching the selected target application from the ERP platform layer using the target application XML file to provide the integrated form data with the target application; displaying the integrated form data in the target application; and manipulating the integrated form data utilizing the target application. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system comprising:
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a processing unit and computer storage medium of an ERP system computer, the computer storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which configure the processing unit of the ERP system computer to implement ERP system components comprising; an ERP platform layer; an application layer running on top of the ERP platform layer; an integrated development environment and runtime database management system on top of the ERP platform layer; an application running on the application layer which implements a form on the application layer, the form having a plurality of different selectable input controls each corresponding to a different one of a plurality of target applications, wherein each of the selectable input controls is configured such that when selected, the selected input control selects the corresponding one of the plurality of target applications and initiates data extraction; a dialogue box that displays a plurality of possible target applications for exporting data to and a plurality of possible stylesheets to use with the plurality of possible target applications; a data extraction component configured to extract form data from the form running on the application layer of the ERP system in response to selection of the input control on the form, and to structure the extracted form data into a form data structure in memory of an ERP platform layer; a data XML transformation engine configured to transform the form data structure in the memory of the ERP platform layer into a metadata XML file, the metadata XML file having a plurality of data fields and corresponding data field identifiers, the data fields including an object type field, an id field, and a caption field; and wherein the ERP platform layer is configured to send the metadata XML file to the application layer for use by the selected target application. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification