A method and apparatus for applying a rule to a data object using a computing device having at least a processor, a computer-readable memory, a display device and an input device. A rule template is provided in the computer-readable memory, the rule template having attributes corresponding to attributes of at least one type of data object. A rule template icon associated with the rule template and a data object icon associated with a data object having corresponding attributes are also provided in the computer-readable memory. A developer of an application is allowed to associate the rule template icon with the data object icon and, as a result of the association of the rule template icon with the data object icon, the rule template is instantiated with the data object.