1. A computer system for binding a data retention resource to a feature of a software component, the system comprising: a display component configured for displaying a graphical indication of the software component, wherein the software component is a form or web form, a graphical indication of the feature of the software component, wherein the feature of the software component is configured to display data or collect data when the form or web form is subsequently accessed by an end user as part of a workflow application, and an indication of an element or node of a data retention resource in a display area adjacent to the displayed graphical indication of the software component, wherein the data retention resource is a database or an XML data retention resource; and a processor component for automatically generating code that provides executable instructions to bind the data retention resource to the form or web form wherein the code includes a class definition for a generated object.