A software system for creating new data collection applications for processing input data. User information is provided through a series of screen interfaces to a first program portion, which uses a series of templates to construct an information structure. The new application contains no code but only functional information. The information provided by the user is stored in a data dictionary. A second program portion interprets and accesses the information structure created by the first program portion in order to process input data provided by the user. Certain parts/functions of the information structure can be modified, by both the first and second program portions.