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  1. Why dialer does not dial the first several digits (local area code) included in the phone number?
  2. How to synchronize displaying "Connected" message with the real time dialing progress?
  3. How to set dialer to dial or not to dial "1" for numbers from the specified area codes?
  4. How to set dialer to include area code when dialing local number?
  5. How to call a local number without charging it to the calling card?
  6. How can I use multiple calling cards within the same "Location"?
  7. I am writing my own program and I would like to use Phone Dialer Pro as dialing executor, is it possible?
  8. Simple script sample how to access PDP using Assisted Telephony.
  9. How to use Phone Dialer Pro/ Dial Engine Pro from the command line?
10. What are these special dialing options: "$", "@", "W" ?
11. How can I increase the default time delay for "," ?
12. How to set Phone Dialer Pro as the default dialer in Windows and accept dialing requests from other applications?
13. How to sort Speed Dials alphabetically?
14. How to prevent Phone Dialer Pro from being loaded on Windows startup?
15. How to check what Phone Dialer Pro version/revision I have?
16. How to make dialer automatically hang up a line after connecting a call?
17. How to use dialing pad to add on to the existing phone call?
18. How to dial phone numbers selected in any document or browser page?
19. How to setup dialer to work with ISDN cards or non-standard hardware?
20. SysTray icon indications
21. Importing Address Book or Phone List from csv file
22. How to transfer a phone call?
23. Speakerphone: how to use it and troubleshoot
24. Modems with speakerphone feature

Q. How to prevent Phone Dialer Pro from being loaded on Windows startup?
A. In the Tools>Options>General tab click on General Preferences and uncheck the box: "Load Phone Dialer Pro at Windows startup", as shown in the picture below:

Figure 1.

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Q. How to call a local number without charging it to the calling card?
A. In the Tools>Option>Expert menu check the box: "Disallow use of Calling Card for local calls", as shown in the picture below:

Figure 2.

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Q. How to synchronize displaying "Connected" message with the real time dialing progress?
A. Busy signal detection is very tricky and depends on many factors. It is very difficult to consider all the different modem types or computer hardware.  To provide universality Phone Dialer Pro allows the user to adjust the proper timing by the setting "Connected Call detection delay timer" located in the Tools>Options>Expert menu, see the picture below:
Present version has an extra option: AUTO DETECT BUSY.
To take the full avantage of that option and to optimize dialing to the hardware it is recommended to dial the busy line first.
The way to achieve that is to dial yourself, ist. dial the phone number of the line the computer is connected to.
Let it do busy redial several times. After that the dialing will be optimized.

Figure 3.

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Q. How to sort Speed Dials alphabetically?
A. To be able to sort Speed Dials alphabetically the Dialer should have at least one Sub-Title button, always the first speed dial button on any page, which has had an asterisk (*) typed in as the first character - with or without any other name or instead of a name.
Note: Sorting happens between one asterisk button and the next, If you prefer to have any first page (either in alphabetical or Subject Heading modes) unsorted to display speed dial buttons you do not wish to be sorted and to remain at the start of that page as you entered them by choice, do not place an asterisk in the first speed button of that page.
Upon clicking on the Asterisk button the dialer should ask for permission to sort all the underlying Speed Dials. Underlying means all buttons belonging to that subtitle. If there is only one Sub-Title Button all the Speed Dials buttons under that single Tab will be put in alphabetical order (starting from button #2 to the last button #996).
If you have marked another Sub-Title - under the next Subject Heading tab for example, then only those Speed Dials belonging to that Sub-Title and Heading will be sorted. Thus, between the speed dial button you have clicked to trigger the sort and the next valid Asterisk button.
A Sub-Title can only be the first Speed Dial button on any page which will not be used to dial but to trigger sorting of your Speed Dials within a Tab/Heading.
Again, to create a Sub-Title simply place an asterisk (*) in front of the first Speed Dial button's title, in the same way you would enter a name. Clicking on the Sub-Title button will reveal a new window asking for confirmation to sort, see the picture below:

Figure 4.

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Q. How to set Phone Dialer Pro as the default  dialer in Windows and accept dialing requests from other applications?
A. Phone Dialer Pro can make calls on behalf of  other applications. It will accept dialing requests from those applications, which use Microsoft's Tapi Assisted Telephony standard for Windows such as personal managers (PIM's), address books, databases, spreadsheets and word processors (some macro and scripting may be required).
To enable, check "Accept dialing numbers from other applications" from >Tools>Options>General tab, as shown on Figure 3.
Phone Dialer Pro does not need to be open (active)  when being accessed by another application.
All dialing requests are queued and executed sequentially after each completed call.          back to the top

Q. How to set dialer to dial or not to dial "1" for numbers from the specified area codes?
A. In the >Tools > Dialing Properties select Area Code Rules and fill the appropriate boxes, as shown below:

Figure 5.

in Windows 98/SE/ME:

and in Windows 2000:

Users may encounter a problem when the same area code is used with a local call or a long distance call. For instance: the local area number is "905" but to dial outside the local zone the area number must be prefixed with "1", so the dial number will start with "1 905".
In such case user should set in Dialing Properties: "Not to dial '1' for selected area codes" and insert those area codes in the appropriate field.
Next, when programming the Speed Dial button for the outside area call (phone number should begin with "1") user should place the check mark in "Ignore Dialing Properties" box, which will make PDP to dial a "1" for that particular Speed Dial button.          back to the top

Q. I am writing my own program and I would like to use Phone Dialer Pro as dialing executor, is it possible?
A. Yes. If your program uses Tapi Assisted Telephony then read FAQ #12 and FAQ #8.
Otherwise you can revoke Phone Dialer Pro by placing the phone number (dialing string) as the trailing parameter in the full path location of the executable, as shown in an example below (phone number does not need to adhere to any format) :
c:\Program Files\Phone Dialer Pro\phonepro.exe /(785)-555 1234   For more, see FAQ #9.
You may also consider using Dial Engine Pro.          back to the top

Q. Simple script sample how to access PDP using Tapi Assisted Telephony.
A. In visual basic declare:
Declare Function tapiRequestMakeCall Lib "TAPI32.DLL" (ByVal lpszDestAddress As String, ByVal lpszAppName as String, ByVal lpszCalledParty as String, ByVal lpszComment as String) As Long
    Then in your code when it is ready to dial insert:
        Dim PhoneNumber as String
        Dim lTapi as Long
    lTapi = tapiRequestMakeCall(PhoneNumber,"","","")

if lTapi <> 0 then there is an error and you may to provide some error handling.
PhoneNumber is of course the dialing string and must be enclosed in "" :   PhoneNumber = "555 234 9876"
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Q. How to check what Phone Dialer Pro or Dial Engine Pro version/release I have?
A. In the application folder locate file Orderfrm.txt. Normally it can be found in the directory:
  "c:\Program Files\Phone Dialer Pro\" or "c:\Program Files\Dial Engine Pro\". 
Open it and read the information contained in the file's header.         back to the top

Q. Why dialer does not dial the first several digits (local area code) included in the phone number?
A. Phone Dialer Pro is smart enough to recognize whether the dialed number is a local one or not. If it  a local call and the number includes the area code but the checkbox in Dialing Properties>Area Code Rules: "Always dial the area code" (Win98) or "Include the area code" (Win2000) is not checked, dialer will remove that area code digits from the calling number. On the other hand, when the dialing number does not include local area code but that option is checked, dialer will automatically insert local area code number.
Users with Windows 98 and higher should have that option selected. Windows 95 users do not have that option available and to avoid that problem should select: "Ignore Dialing Properties" inside Speed Dial Edit window and manually include area code number.          back to the top

Q. How to set dialer to include area code when dialing local number?
A. Windows 98/98SE/ME users should checkbox: "Always dial area code" in Dialing Properties>Area Code Rules;
Windows 2000 users should checkbox: "Include the area code" in Dialing Properties>selected Location>Edit>Area Code Rules
Windows 95 users are out of luck and should select "Ignore Dialing Properties" and manually add area code.         back to the top

Q. How can I use multiple calling cards within the same "Location"?
A. Each Speed Dial can be programmed to use a different Calling card available from pull down list in Speed Dial Edit window, however  customizing, changing or adding a new Calling card should be done prior to it inside Dialing Properties window.
Selected Calling card in Speed Dial Edit window has priority over Calling card selected in Dialing Properties but if "None (Direct Call)" is chosen in Speed dial Edit and there is a selected Calling Card in Dialing Properties the latter one takes over. For the dialer not to use the Calling Card at all, both places should have be selected "None (Direct Call)".         back to the top

Q. How to use Phone Dialer Pro/Dial Engine Pro from the command line?
A. To enable, check "Accept dialing numbers from other applications" from >Tools>Options>Expert, as shown on Figure 3.
Note: For Dial Engine Pro replace phonepro.exe with dialpro.exe in below examples:
Phone Dialer Pro can be used as a dial engine by accepting dialing requests at the command line:
        \application path\phonepro.exe /(123)-555 6789
or
        \application path\phonepro.exe 123555 6789
the "/" is not necessary and the dialing sequence does not need to follow any specific format.

Depending on usage Windows may require the command to be enclosed in quotation marks:
        "C:\Program Files\Phone Dialer Pro\phonepro.exe" /4162340553

Preceding a phone number with the double characters "XX" will force dialer not to use Dialing Properties (the number will be dialed exactly as entered).
Preceding a phone number with the characters "ZZ##" will force dialer to use specific Calling Card for that number (ignoring selected Calling Card in Dialing Properties), where ## is Calling Card ID number.

For example to dial 1(876) 123-4567 using Calling Card: "US Sprint Direct Dial via 10103331" :
        \application path\phonepro.exe /ZZ09 1(876) 123-4567

It is also possible to invoke a selected Speed Dial from the command line. This feature is very useful for the users wanted to automate dialing process by selecting different Dialing Properties per call (different Calling Cards for example).
To dial a selected Speed Dial from the command line:
the trailing parameter format is:
             /SD+S for Subject (I for Index) mode + Tab number (including leading 0) + Speed Dial button number

example 1:    \application path\phonepro.exe /SDS13657   ---> SpeedDial -> Subject mode:Tab=13, button=657

example 2:    \application path\phonepro.exe /SDI0144   ---> SpeedDial -> Index mode: Tab=01, button=44

Note: there are not spaces allowed in this format.

To fully automate dialing process Phone Dialer Pro has the following available options after making a phone call:
1. automatically dropping phone line (after specified time)
2. close Phone Dialer Pro or
3. stay minimized (on taskbar or Systray) after manually clicking OK button confirming connected call.

Those options are available from the Tools>Options>General menu. 

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Q. What are these special dialing options: "$", "@", "W" ?
A. These are modem's special dialing options:
    -wait-for-billing-tone ($)
    -wait-for-quiet (@)
    -wait-for-dial tone (W)
Wait-for-billing-tone can be used when dialing with a Calling Card. Suppose a person with a calling card wants to make a long distance call. The normal process is to dial a prefix code, followed by the area code and a phone number. The caller then waits to hear a "bong" on the line (the billing tone). After hearing the bong, the caller enters the calling card number.
The following example shows how to automate such dialing sequence:
1 905 777 4321 $ 1234567890987654321

Wait-for-quiet tells the modem to detect "quiet" on the line, which usually means no tones (such as ringing or busy tones and no other sounds (such as human voices). A modem that supports wait-for-quiet is useful for making calls to automated phone systems, such as voicemail systems or automated banking systems.
The following example shows how to use wait-for-quiet:
777 4321 @ 1,,1,,3,,2,6578768934210564,0500,72779673#

Another dial option is wait-for-dialtone. If a modem supports this option, it pauses after a W character in the dial string until it detects a dial tone. Once it detects a dial tone, it dials any remaining digits after the W character. This option is especially useful in hotels or large companies, where it is usually necessary to dial a special prefix digit, such as an 8 or 9, to reach an outside line.
The following example uses wait-for-dialtone:
9 W (905) 777 4321

In the wait-for-quiet example, both the @ and the comma are used for pauses. Typically, user should use the @ when unsure of the length of the pause or when the length of the pause can change and use commas when the length of the pause is consistent and rarely changes.         back to the top

Q. How can I increase the default time delay for "," ?
A. The modem's default time delay for "," is approx. 2 seconds depending on modem's model.
How to change this value user should consult  the modem's manual, however in most of the cases the following init string should work:
                           ATS8= #      where # is the number of seconds required
This string should be entered in the Modem's >Properties >extra initialization command field  accessible from Tools>Options>Advanced menu.         back to the top

Q. How to make dialer automatically hang up a line after connecting a call?
A. Select the options:  "Accept dialing numbers from other applications" and "Drop line when the call connected" from >Tools>Options>General tab, as shown on Figure 3. When done, you may exit PDP or keep it active. The next step is to use another application to send dialing request. That can be your own code, see FAQ #8 or another Assisted Telephony application as for example WAB (Windows Address Book).     back to the top

Q. How to use the dialing pad to add on to an existing phone call?
A. User can send additional digits using the dialing pad when the dialed phone number ends with a semicolon: ";".
For example: (905)-567 0443;
This can be useful in situations when the user does not want to send additional digits together with the phone number.
This method works fine with normal modems on Windows95/98 however it may not always work on WindowsNT/2000/XP (depending on the used hardware).     back to the top

Q. How to dial phone numbers selected in any document or browser page?
A. In Tools > Options > General tab, the option: "Enable 'Copy' as a Dial command" must be checked.
Phone Dialer Pro or Dial Engine Pro must be active (it's icon visible in Systray).
Right click on the selected (highlighted) phone number in any document, browser page or another window and from the pop-up menu click on "Copy". Dialing will start immediately.
Note
· Phone Dialer Pro or Dial Engine Pro will dial only when the selected dialing string starts with the number or one of the following characters: "(" , "#" or "*".
For example selected string: (905)-677 4341,,,2808 will be dialed and 905.677.4341,,,2808 will be dialed as well, but string: Work(905)-6774341,,,2808 will be ignored by Phone Dialer Pro.
· "Copy" function in Windows is not impaired by Phone Dialer Pro. It can be still used for "copy" and "paste" operations.      back to the top

Q. How to setup the dialer to work with ISDN cards or non-standard hardware?
A. In Tools > Options > Expert tab, the option: "Speakerphone, ISDN cards or other modems" must be selected,  as shown on Figure 3.   back to the top

Q. SysTray icon indicators:
A. Both dialers can operate in 3 modes: Regular, Monitoring and Answering.
Dialer's SysTray icon indicates what mode dialer is in:

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Q. Importing Address Book or Phone List from csv file:
Address Book:
Imported entries are inserted into Phone Dialer Pro Index Mode and sorted alphabetically.
NOTE: To import Windows Address Book (WAB): 
- Open WAB and export data to text file (csv file)
- Import that file into Phone Dialer Pro

Phone List:
Imported entries are inserted into Phone Dialer Pro phone list display.

Acceptable csv file formats:

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Q. How to transfer a phone call?
A. In Tools > Options > General tab, the option: "Enable Call Transfer" must be selected.
     When that option is selected, the PDP second phone book (II) becomes Call Transfer Phone Book.
      To transfer the call PDP has to make an outgoing call or receive an incoming call. When the oval Progress Call Window displays that call, clicking on the Speed Dial button in the Call Transfer Phone Book should transfer the call.
Note: That option may not be supported by some hardware (modems) or by the phone co.
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Q. Speakerphone: how to use it and troubleshoot
A. In Tools > Options > Expert tab, the option: "Speakerphone..." must be selected.
Make a phone call.
When connected, DO NOT pickup phone receiver but use computer's microphone and speakers.
DO NOT click OK button until you finish your call.
Clicking on OK button will disconnect the call or when the telephone's handset is lifted up BEFORE that, the phone call will be transferred from speakerphone mode to the handset.
Also, it is possible to make the line disconnection automatic.
Just in Tools>Options>General tab select 'Drop connected call after....' and select how many minutes you want to be online.
Troubleshooting the speakerphone: 
1. Make sure that  in Tools > Options > Expert tab the option: "Speakerphone..." is selected.
2. Make sure that computer's microphone and speakers are enabled (not muted) by checking the mixer options available by double-clicking on the volume control icon in Systray (bottom, right corner of your screen).  If the volume control is not visible in the SysTray, then go to the Control Panel, click on the Multimedia icon, and check the box which says Show Volume Control on the Taskbar.
3. When in doubt whether the modem has speakerphone capabilities do the following: 
     (1). Start Tapi Browser (TB) ---> click here to download Tapi Browser (51 kB)
     (2). Click on top buttons: LAp+ and PAp+ 
     (3). From the list (located on the left side) find lineGetDevCaps and double click on it.
     (4). From the list (located on the left side) find phoneGetDevCaps and double click on it
     (5). Copy and paste all displayed info into email body and send it to the author.
4. When being sure that modem has speakerphone capabilities: 
     (1). ---> click here to download Phone Dialer Pro test file (500 kB)
     (2). Using test file make a phone call and upon connection try to use computer's microphone and speakers.
     (3). Disconnect line by clicking the OK button.
     (4). Close dialer.
     (5). After closing dialer there will be Tapi.txt file in the folder, test file was run from.
     (6). Send that Tapi.txt file to the author.                                 back to the top

Q. Modems with speakerphone feature:
NOTE: I am collecting information on the different kind of modems used as a speakerphone.
If your modem works properly and you are satisfied with its sound quality please let me know the modem's model.

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Copyright © 1999-2002 Jacek Kozlowski. All rights reserved.
Last revised: August 26, 2003