I apologise if this has been suggested prior, but it did not come up in my searches. I also realise that if this was even to be considered it would be a very long way away.
I have been doing some database development recently and it occurred to me how useful a tool MS visio is, when designing the schema.
In Telco land I have been using Visio for years to plan and document call flows. The more complex the flow, the easier it is to understand when it is "mapped out" using this powerful tool.
So my *suggestion* is that it would be fantastic to have a GUI, like visio, or even a "plug in" for visio (although I realise the plug in would not be ideal from an open source point of view), that will allow a Gui configurator for the elements in a call flow.
The user would start by creating "orphaned" objects such as queues, call groups, extensions, Inbound Routes, custom recordings & announcements.
IVRS, time conditions (abstract), day night (abstract) could all be created using this GUI.
For existing installations, mapping for the purpose of documentation is as simple as a one click process.
Over time this GUI could be come the portal to manage the elements in further detail, by clicking on the object, further configuration details become available.
Critical to this would be the ability to "isolate" Dids & call flows. IE create & analyse call "flows" individually.
If this was to be written from scratch, I am guessing that Flash (or equiv.) would need to be used. The config screen would be divided into 2 sections. One section would contain all of the elements available for use (toolbox) This would have an upper and lower section. The upper would be the "static tools" arrows, new items (groups, IVRS, etc). The lower portion would include all of the available preconfigured elements.
The second section would be used for the construction of the flow diagram.
I believe something like this will be the future of telephone system configuration. But obviously it will take a long time.
