XML user interface for a workflow server

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for a user to interface with a workflow server, the method including:

• accepting a task form from the user, the task form containing data tags and process tags, the data tags identifying a plurality of first data components and a plurality of second data components, wherein the plurality of first data components consist of data that will be kept in a database table after the task form is filled out and submitted by the user, and the plurality of second data components consists of data that is not modifiable by the user when the user fills out the task form;
• passing the task form to an XML Execution Engine;
• accessing an XML namespace to determine how to execute the process tags and how to interpret the data tags;
• storing the plurality of first data components in one or more form data tables;
• executing the process tags to create an XML document, accessing a database if necessary;
• returning the XML document back to the user, said XML document containing a reference to an XSL file and containing the output of the execution of the process tags;
• and
• displaying the XML document using the XSL file.

An apparatus for a user to interface with a workflow server, including:

• means for accepting a task form from the user, the task form containing data tags and process tags, the data tags identifying a plurality of first data components and a plurality of second data components, wherein the plurality of first data components consist of data that will be kept in a database table after the task form is filled out and submitted by the user, and the plurality of second data components consists of data that is not modifiable by the user when the user fills out the task form;
• means for passing the task form to an XML Execution Engine;
• means for accessing an XML namespace to determine how to execute the process tags and how to interpret the data tags;
• means for storing the plurality of first data components in one or more form data tables;
• means for executing the process tags to create an XML document, accessing a database if necessary;
• means for returning the XML document back to the user, said XML document containing a reference to an XSL file and containing the output of the execution of the process tags;
• and
• means for displaying the XML document using the XSL file.