AutoDialer via a modem
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AutoDialer will automatically dial a phone number for you using a serial port modem with information from the phone field of the calling form.

For AutoDialer via a modem to work, you must have a modem attached/installed that understands Hayes AT  
commands (most do...) and a phone connected to the modem.  
 
You computer's modem should be connected to a telephone jack, and you should also have a telephone handset connected to your modem:

Internal Modem

Calling Via your modem

Clicking the Call Control's Autodial button dials via the port selected in Calls & Research tab --> AutoDial --> Use --> {Com1, Com2, etc}. You will be able to hear the call being dialed through your computer's speaker and you will see:

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After your call is connected, press the "Click when connected" button. This turns your handset on and takes the PC's speakers out of the call....

Local and long distance numbers


For local calls the AutoDialer dials: [OutSide Line] + [Phone Number]

For long distance calls the AutoDialer dials: [OutSide Line] + [Long Distance Code] + [Phone Number]

Long distance calls are calls where the phone number digits are more than 7 digits (ignoring extensions and non-digits). If you area code is 512, then 512-555-1212 is recognized as a local number. Some examples of how numbers are recognized as local or long distance numbers when dialing from area code 512:

Local numbers (from512)
Long distance numbers
555-1212
602 555-1212
(512) 555-1212
(602) 555-1212
1-512-555-1212
+001 33 555 1212
555-1212 x123



Phone number formats


Most non-digits characters are ignored by the AutoDialer. So +011 33 (512) 555-1212 is dialed as 011335125551212. While not an exhaustive list, all of the following would be recognized as phone numbers:
5551212  
555-1212  
512 555-1212  
512-555-1212  
(512) 555-1212  
1 512 555 1212  
1 (512) 555-1212  
+011 33 512 555 1212  
555-1212 X123  
1 512 555 1212 Ext 1234  

Phone numbers with extensions

Your phone numbers may include extensions that start with x or X or ext or Ext. The AutoDialer dials the phone number up to x/X/Ext/ext and ignores the extension information.

AutoDialing Settings


All AutoDial settings are set by buttons "below" the AutoDial button - press the drop down arrow at the bottom of the AutoDial button.

Use Port


Select the serial port that your modem is attached. If you are unsure, check (in Windows XP) START --> CONTROL PANEL --> PRINTERS AND OTHER HARDWARE (CATEGORIES VIEW) --> PHONE AND MODEM OPTIONS --> MODEMS (TAB). Your computer's modem will be listed and the serial port name is listed as attached to. Examples would be COM1, COM2, COM3, etc.

My Area Code


Enter your area code. The area code information is used to insure that the AutoDialer will recognize numbers in your area code as local numbers and not try to dial them as long distance numbers. For example, if your area code is 512, then (512) 555-1212 would be dialed as a local number 555-1212.

Outside Line


If your phone system requires additional digits to access an outside line then those digits can automatically be inserted before any number is dialed by the AutoDialer. For example, if your phone system requires that you dial a 9 to get an outside line, enter 9 or perhaps 9,, - the commas are modem commands that each add a 1 to 5 second delay which may be helpful or required in some phone systems while they find an available outside line...

Long Distance code


You can insert digits or modem commands that will also be dialed prior to a long distance phone number. These might be the long distance access digits like 1 or 0, as well as credit card calling information. A simple example: if you have imported phone numbers like (512) 555-1212 you would like your modem to actually dial 1 (512) 555-1212. If you use a calling card then the access number (1-800- etc) and calling card digits can be entered as well. You may need to insert modem commands like the pause/comma to allow time for your long distance carrier to answer, etc.

Modem Command


The command sent to the modem is:
Modem command (L2M1ATDT) + OutsideLine + LongDistance + PhoneNumber + Carriage Return/Linefeed