Structured data collection, presentation, validation and workflow management
Software-based technologies for improving structured data collection, presentation, validation, and workflow management processes are disclosed, including the use of interpretable configuration files to define data objects, generate object-level and sub-object-level specifications for a forms-based interface, validation processes and a workflow-based interface. A back-end integration component maps the data objects, validation and workflow processes, and interface specifications to portions of a back-end database system. In one embodiment, a data processing system comprises one or more processors; one or more storage media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising causing a first computing device to interpret a configuration file; in response to the first computing device interpreting the configuration file, causing a display device to generate a forms-based interface comprising a data input control element arranged to obtain data in association with a data object that is defined in the configuration file; in response to detecting receipt of a data item by the data input control element of the forms-based interface, executing a data validation process that is, in the configuration file, associated with the data item; in response to validation of the data item by the data validation process, causing, by a second computing device, mapping the data item to a back-end data object; causing, by the second computing device or a third computing device, altering a validation process associated with the back-end data object based on a result of the executing of the validation process associated with the data item in the configuration file; causing storing the data item in a database system in association with the back-end data object.
1. A method for coordinating a state transition process of an interface with a state transition process of a database system, the method comprising:
interpreting a configuration file that specifies a query;
causing the interface to display a control element based on the interpretation of the configuration file;
executing the query in response to detecting an interaction with the control element;
detecting a state transition with respect to a result of executing the query;
mapping the state transition to a set of commands;
executing the set of commands on the database system;
wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising traversing a reference in the configuration file to a set of workflow transition rules.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the interface to display, as the control element, a selectable icon.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving a set of data objects in response to the interaction with the control element.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising causing the interface to display, as the result, at least one data object of the set of data objects.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the query is associated with the control element in the configuration file.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the query is associated with the interaction in the configuration file.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the query comprises retrieving a set of data objects that match a particular workflow state.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the query comprises retrieving a set of data objects that match a property of a particular workflow state.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state transition comprises at least one of changing a workflow state associated with a data object and communicating a data object to a database system.
11. A system comprising:
one or more processors;
memory operably coupled to the one or more processors;
the one or more processors cooperating with the memory to perform operations comprising:
interpreting a configuration file that specifies a query;
causing an interface to display a control element based on the interpretation of the configuration file;
executing the query in response to detecting an interaction with the control element;
detecting a state transition with respect to a result of executing the query;
mapping the state transition to a set of commands;
executing the set of commands on a database system.
12. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising traversing a reference in the configuration file to a set of workflow transition rules.
13. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising causing the interface to display, as the control element, a selectable icon.
14. The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising retrieving a set of data objects in response to the interaction with the control element.
15. The system of claim 14 , the operations further comprising causing the interface to display, as the result, at least one data object of the set of data objects.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the query is associated with the control element in the configuration file.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the query is associated with the interaction in the configuration file.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein executing the query comprises retrieving a set of data objects that match a particular workflow state.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein executing the query a set of data objects that match a property of a particular workflow state.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the state transition comprises at least one of changing a workflow state associated with a data object and communicating a data object to the database system.