A dynamic application environment or system is described that includes a
client, a run-time system, and a back-end database. The client comprises
a workstation or desktop PC running browser software, such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. The back-end database comprises
a back-end (e.g., server-based) database system, such as an SQL-based
database system. The run-time system includes a collection or repository
module for storing "presentation templates," a Template Services Module
or engine, a Template Parameters Module, and a Database Accessor Module.
The presentation templates are employed for presentation of the
application to the user interface (at the client). At application
run-time, the templates are provided to the Template Services Module,
which includes a Template Manager and a Template Parser. These provide
generic processing of the templates, which may be assembled to complete a
finished product (i.e., run-time application). For instance, the Template
Services Module knows how to load and parse a template and then look up
its parameters, regardless of the application-specific details (e.g.,
user interface implementation) embodied by the template. In use, the
system is deployed with presentation templates that represent the various
client views of the target application, for the various platforms that
the application is deployed to. In this manner, when new functionality
needs to be added to the system, it may simply be added by expanding the
run-time library portion of the system.