System and method for configuring a graphical user interface (GUI) element to publish data to a data target and/or subscribe to data from a data source. During program development, a developer associates a GUI element with a program, e.g., for receiving user input data and/or indicating data to the user. The developer configures the GUI element to publish data associated with the GUI element to a data target and/or to subscribe to data from a data source, and specifies a data source or target for the data connection. The program is executed, during which the program automatically determines and uses an appropriate protocol for interfacing with the data source/target to connect to or open the data source and/or target, and receive data from the data source, which is provided to and displayed by the GUI element, and/or send or write data associated with the GUI element to the data target.