Web Client Command Infrastructure Integration into a Rich Client Application

A first computing device comprising a processing unit and system memory, the first computing device including instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the first computing device to:

• install first computer software that integrates a customer relationship management (CRM) software application into a user interface of a messaging application that runs on the first computer device;
• configure the first computer device to obtain a name and a location of a server computer that includes CRM information;
• receive a first definition of a command interface from the server computer, the first definition including first language for encoding the command interface on a web browser;
• use the first computer software to perform a conversion of the first definition to a second definition, the second definition including second language for encoding the command interface on a user interface of the messaging application;
• and
• use the second definition to render the command interface on the user interface of the messaging application.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a client computer, cause the client computer to:

• receive a first definition of a command interface from a server computer, the first definition including rules for encoding the command interface on a web browser, the command interface including a command structure for executing commands for a first customer relationship management (CRM) software application;
• perform a conversion of the first definition to a second definition, the second definition including first language for encoding the command interface on a user interface of an email application on the client computer, the first definition including one or more rule attributes that determine whether one or more elements in the first definition are to be configured to a corresponding element in the second definition, the email application including support for a second CRM software application that is integrated into the email application;
• determine whether the user interface on the email application supports a ribbon interface;
• when it is determined that the user interface on the email application supports a ribbon interface, use the second definition to render the command interface as a ribbon on the email application;
• and
• when it is determined that the user interface on the email application does not support a ribbon interface, performing a conversion of the second definition to a third definition, the third definition including second language for encoding the command interface as a command bar on the user interface of the email application;
• and
• use a command interpreter to process execution of commands selected by a user on the command interface of the email application.