Method for automating troubleshooting flowcharts

An apparatus for automating troubleshooting flowcharts comprising:

• A) a control file or database consisting of troubleshooting step information derived from said troubleshooting flowchart,
• B) a diagnostic apparatus controlled by said control file or database which has input and output devices for user interaction and an input and output device to interact with a device under test,
• C) said diagnostic apparatus,
• a) queries said device under test using said input and output device to interact with said device under test,
• b) reads the response from said device, searches for predetermined text in said response, or performs a comparison on a returned value in said response to a predetermined value,
• c) under the control of said control file or database selects the next step in said flowchart based on the results of said text search or said comparison, or
• d) if said next step doesn't lend itself to a query of said device, displays a user response form on said output device for user interaction consisting of a question for the user to answer with a plurality of selectable responses selected by using said input device for users,
• e) under the control of said control file or database selects the next step in said flowchart based on which response said user selected
• f) repeat a) through c) or d) through e)until said flowchart terminates.