Patent ID: 7720809

Claim:
A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing steps of a method comprising: receiving a first input from a user of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system while a form is running on an application layer of the ERP system to select one of a plurality of target applications and to initiate a data integration process, the application layer running on top of an ERP platform layer in the ERP system, the first input being received through a button in a toolbar of a graphical user interface of the ERP system, the plurality of target applications including a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, a database program, and an email program; generating a metadata form XML file at the ERP platform layer from the form running on the application layer, the metadata form XML file being a linked list data structure having data from the form and information about controls from the form; sending the metadata form XML file from the ERP platform layer to the application layer for use by the selected target application in integrating data from the form into the selected target application; automatically selecting a default stylesheet as a first stylesheet based upon which one of the plurality of target applications is selected by the user with the first input; transforming the metadata form XML file into a target application XML file using a target application transformation engine and the first stylesheet at the application layer, the target application XML file being in a format that is compatible with the target application, the target application transformation engine being implemented within the application layer; sending the target application XML file to the ERP platform layer; launching the selected target application from the ERP platform layer using the target application XML file to provide integrated form data with the target application; and manipulating the integrated form data utilizing the target application.