One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for generating a new workflow for an application. The method includes generating a parameter tree corresponding to a current workflow, wherein the current workflow comprises a first document and a second document; modifying a first node of the parameter tree that corresponds to a first parameter of the first document to generate modifications of a first parameter value of the first document; and propagating modifications of the first parameter value to a second parameter of the second document to generate the new workflow; wherein the method is performed using one or more computers.