Abstract: A computer system having a graphical system user interface for accepting input from a user to create objects in an object-oriented computing environment. The system user interface generates an XML-compliant template file reflecting the work-flow defined by input fiom the user. A macro list generator displays a representation of the template file and prompts for user interface customization options based on the template file. The macro list generator generates an XML-compliant macro list file reflecting interface customization. The system has a custom interface generator to present the customized interface to the user, having prompts derived from the macro list data. The customized interface generator accepts input from the user in response to the customized interface prompts and generates an XML-compliant application file corresponding to the template file as modified to reflect responses of the user to the customized interface prompts.