1. A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to: allow the designation of a connector component provided within a Graphical User Interface (GUI), wherein the connector component is associated with a data source; support a selection of an input field and an output field within the GUI; associate the connector component, the input field and the output field; generate an interactive control panel incorporating the connector component, the input field and the output field, wherein the interactive control panel is a standalone application or plug-in program with interactive graphics that represent input and output data; receive user input at the input field; and recognize a selection of the connector component to initiate access to the data Source, such that the data source returns to the output field a value corresponding to the user input.