User interface generation using a model layer

A user interface (UI) configurator system, comprising:

• an interface processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the interface processor, the memory configured to store:
• a plurality of framework-specific object models, each object model comprising a plurality of elements for selection in a user interface;
• and
• a framework-independent data processing application associated with a data source;
• the interface processor operable to couple the framework-independent data processing application with the plurality of framework-specific object models, the plurality of object models comprising at least a database dictionary model and a search model, the interface processor is further configured to:
• display a selection of the plurality of elements for a selected object model out of the object models;
• in response to a selection of one or more of the plurality of displayed elements, generate a UI based on the selection of displayed elements, wherein the UI couples the data processing application to the selected object model and the UI comprises a search interface associated with the selection of the plurality of elements;
• display a preview of the UI, wherein the preview of the UI is updated upon selection of a new element, and the preview of the UI is updated upon de-selection of a selected element;
• and
• upon receiving a final element selection, store the UI in one or more computer-readable media for use with the data processing application.

One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions causing a computing system to perform a method for generating a user interface (UI) for a software development framework-independent data processing application of a consumption layer, the method comprising:

• via a user interface wizard presenting a unified user interface generic to a plurality of software development framework types, receiving an indication of the software development framework-independent data processing application;
• from a plurality of supported software development framework types of a model layer, receiving a software development framework type;
• displaying a plurality of object models adhering to the selected software development framework type of the model layer;
• receiving a particular object model out of the object models as desired to be implemented for the data processing application;
• displaying a plurality of elements from the particular object model for incorporation into the user interface;
• displaying a set of additional elements outside the particular object model, the set of elements being co-relevant to the particular object model based on a comparison of metadata associated with each element in the set;
• displaying the set of additional elements as available for incorporation into the user interface;
• receiving a selection of selected elements out of the plurality of elements and the set of additional elements, wherein the elements comprise searchable field names;
• generating a preview of the user interface, wherein the preview incorporates a search user interface showing search criteria incorporating one or more of the selected elements and results of searching the search criteria;
• and
• generating the user interface for the data processing application, wherein the generating comprises incorporating the selected elements for the data processing application according to the particular object model of the selected software development framework type, thereby de-coupling the data processing application of the consumption layer from the particular object model of the model layer.