If you’ve ever tried to create an Automated Process in GoldMine, you know that it can be difficult to wrap your mind around complex tracks. Thinking about all the different triggers, actions and branches can befuddle even the most grizzled GoldMine veteran.

When I find myself mumbling out loud about trigger expressions and sequential steps, I stop and harken back to the advice of my high school (PASCAL) programming teacher, Mrs. Tedesco: Create a flow chart to help you see the program.

In the past, I’ve used Visio to accomplish this. Eventually, Microsoft bought Visio and it became a lot more expensive and bloated. Personally, I’ve switched to Dia, an open-source, cross-platform tool capable of creating fine flow chart/diagrams.

Now, if only someone were to parse my AP diagram’s XML-friendly file format and create the AP’s in GoldMine for me.