Patent ID: 7428735

Claim:
One or more computer storage readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: access a configuration file written in a markup language and associated with an application, the configuration file having definitions of a plurality of configuration handlers for creating handler components based on a mapping table defined in the configuration file, at least one of the plurality of configuration handler definitions including a definition of a first configuration handler, the first configuration handler being configured to create a first handler component based on the mapping table and further comprising a second configuration handler nested within the first configuration handler, the second configuration handler being configured to create a second handler component based on a mapping definition in a configuration section within the first configuration handler, wherein the second configuration handler is user-defined to handle a customized handler data that is not supported by the first configuration handler, and wherein the second handler component created by the second configuration handler implements a known interface such that the data defined by the second configuration handler is properly processed by the application without alteration to the application; create the plurality of handler components including the first handler component and the second handler component in accordance with the definitions; inform one or more of the plurality of handler components of the presence of other handler components; and make the plurality of handler components available to the application.