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 * What do I need to install the program?
 The downloaded installation package comes in compressed (.zip) format. The recommended decompressing utility is WinZip program, available from this website: http://www.winzip.com
To start installation, click on Setup.exe (it will be the first file seen in the uncompressed window).

* I  have "Wrong Version Of Run-Time DLL" error. What should I do?
 This error indicates, that you have the old, incompatible version of  msvbvm50.dll file in your computer.
You can download the corrected version from here: msvbvm50.zip
After unzipping it copy this file into Windows\System32 folder or Windows\System if you have Windows 98.
More info on that error can be found here.

* What is the setup.log file and where to find it
 Setup.log file is created during the installation process and contains some setup information.
It is located in the same folder, the program was installed.
For example: c:\Program Files\<name of the program>\setup.log

* How to prevent dialer from being loaded on Windows startup?
 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 left picture below:

Figure 1	Figure 2

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* How to call a local number without charging it to the calling card?
 In the Tools>Option>Dialing tab click on  >Additional Dialing Properties< button and check the box: "Disallow use of Calling Card for local calls", as shown in the picture below:      back to the top

* Modem does not recognize busy signal.
 Some modems, specially older hardware models may not recognize busy signal when being used in voice mode.
If you hear busy signal but your modem does not recognize it, in such situation uncheck the 'Voice' option in Options>Voice tab.
Also, please read next below.

* How to synchronize displaying "Connected" message with the real time dialing progress?
  A properly detected busy signal is very important for the determination of the Connected phone line state.
It is recommended to use the Detect Busy utility. See it in the Tools>Options>Hardware tab.
If for some reason your device cannot detect busy (for example, your phone company may provide voice mail instead of a busy signal), there are 2 methods you can use:
1.
Make a phone call and measure the time it takes to the first audible ring. Manually insert that number into the Busy Detect option in the Tools>Options>Hardware tab and click OK to save the options. The value should be between 8-13 seconds for most modems.
2.
 Find the <>.ini file located at:
"C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\<application name>\<>.ini"
 Open it in a word editor (Notepad, MsWord) and do the following:
 - find Busy Detect=0 and change it to Busy Detect=1
 - find Busy Delay Timer and change it to Busy Delay Timer=13                                  back to the top


* How to override options?
 Find <>.ini file located at:
"C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\application name folder>\<application name><>.ini"
 Open it in a word editor (Notepad, MsWord) and edit the entries you are interested in.

To set all options to default values run application with /default suffix:  <path><executable name> /default
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Figure 5	Figure 6

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* How to set dialer as the default  dialer in Windows and accept dialing requests from other applications?
 Dialer 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 Options>Dialing tab, as shown on Figure 3.
Dialer 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

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

Figure 5.

in Windows 98/SE/ME:	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

 

* Why dialer does not dial the local area code?
 Phone dialer 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

* How to set phone dialer to include area code when dialing local number?
 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

* Simple VB script sample how to access PDP using Tapi Assisted Telephony.
 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 rtn as Long
    rtn = tapiRequestMakeCall(PhoneNumber,"","","")

if rtn <> 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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* Simple VB code how to invoke dialer and make a phone call.
 In visual basic declare:
Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long
    Then in your code when it is ready to dial insert:
        Dim lpString as String
        Dim rtn as Long
                                   lpString = "C:\Program Files\Phone Dialer Pro\phonepro.exe"
                                   rtn = ShellExecute(0&, "Open", lpString, "4162340553", "c:\", 7&)

.         back to the top

* How to check what is the dialer version No and revision No?
 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

* What is a Voice Modem?
 Most modems can be classified with these characteristics:

• Data

• Data/fax

• Data/fax/voice

• Data/fax/voice/speakerphone

A voice modem is a modem that is capable of playing and recording audio over a telephone line.  While almost all modems are data and fax capable, more and more also have voice capabilities.
Most of  the PC systems (and laptops) sold by Dell, Hewlett Packard, Compaq come with data or data/fax modems,  NOT voice modems.
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* Half-duplex versus full-duplex modems
 Most of the voice modems available on the market are half duplex modems only.
 It means that you cannot speak and listen simultaneously.
 There are 2 kinds of full duplex modems:

• Speakerphone modems, which come with the outlets for the mic and speakers.
  Usually, these are internal, PCI voice modems. These modems are good for use as a speakerphone but for the playback or recording purposes these modems can be used only as a half-duplex modems: it is possible to do playback or voice recording, but not both operations simultaneously.

• Truly full duplex modems.
  There is only one full duplex modem: Hi-Phone Desktop. See: modem recommendations.

* What is a TAPI-compliant modem?
 TAPI stands for Telephony Application Programming Interface and is a programming standard provided by Microsoft within  their Windows operating system.  It allows software developers to produce telephony software that will work with any modem, as long as that modem is TAPI-compliant.
For a modem to work with Windows TAPI, the modem must have voice drivers and sound devices.  The voice drivers are interfaced with Win 9x/Me through Unimodem/V(and Win 2000/XP through Unimodem 5), Windows' universal modem voice drivers. Audio devices (or Wave Devices) for the voice modem are usually provided by the modem manufacturer.  back to the top

* How to check if the system has a modem WAVE driver installed?
 If your modem supports VOICE, then a modem wave driver must be listed in the Windows Device Driver Manager. 

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* My modem supports VOICE but I can't find the "Wave Device"("Audio Device") installed
 Windows 2000/XP comes with a variety of "generic" modem drivers - including modems based upon all the popular chipsets. In many cases, adding, changing, or removing a modem is simple: plug and play. But, it doesn't always work that way.
In most cases, Windows 2000/XP recognizes your Data/Voice/Fax modem as Data modem only and install the "generic" modem driver which shipped with Windows itself.  So you may not see the "Wave Device"("Audio Device") driver for modem listed in the Device Manager. After that you can only dial up to the internet but can not record your phone calls with your Modem at all.
If you are sure your modem supports VOICE, please Update or Reinstall  the correct modem driver.   back to the top

* How to update the modem driver?
    1. Find the correct modem driver: CD-Rom ships with your modem or find a XP or Win2k-compatible driver from your modem vendor (or internet download sites).
    2. Open the "Device Manager" as showed below.
    3. Expand the Modems tab by clicking on the +, and your modem should be listed. Right click the modem name and a menu pops up.
    4. Choose the Update Driver... (Win 9x) or Properties>Driver>Update Driver (Win2000/XP) and use the 'Have Disk' option to point 2000/XP to a compatible driver you've downloaded (or in the cdrom)         back to the top

* How to reinstall the modem driver?
     1. Find the correct modem driver: CD-Rom ships with your modem or find a XP or Win2k-compatible driver from your modem vendor(or internet download sites)
     2. Open the "Device Manager" as showed above
     3. Expand the Modems tab by clicking on the +, and your modem should be listed. Right click the modem name and a menu pops up
     4. You can try Uninstall and then try the Add Hardware wizard (Scan for hardware changes) - use the ' Have Disk' option to point to a compatible driver       back to the top

* Does my modem support Caller ID?
 Generally we use HyperTerminal to test our modem if it supports Caller ID.
First make sure you can see the Caller ID information from a normal telephone LED displayer.
Then do the following:

• Select "HyperTerminal" by navigating through the Start button to "Programs," then "Accessories," then "HyperTerminal"

• Double click on "hyperterm" or "hyperterm.exe"

• Name the new connection "test," and select OK

• Change the "Connect using" to Direct to COM X, where X is the COM port used by the modem

• Click on OK on the screen for "Port Settings", the click OK

• Type the string ATZ to initalize the modem (OK should appear on the screen)

• Enter the Caller ID setup string to be tested: AT+VCID=1 for most modems (see notes below)

• If OK results, continue; If ERROR results the modem may not support Caller ID; try a different setup string

• Have someone call you and watch the terminal screen

• If Caller ID is working, you will see the word RING, followed by one or more additional data lines. The word RING will then continue to appear for each incoming ring.

• If Caller ID is not working, you will only see the word RING for each incoming ring. If this is the case try another Caller ID setup string and go back to step 2.

  Notes:
  For most modems, the string AT+VCID=1 will enable Caller ID. On some voice based modems the string is AT#CLS=8#CID=1. Look in the user’s manual for your modem to see if any setup string is referenced or mentioned. Other common setup strings are:

  • AT#CID=1

  • AT%CCID=1

  • AT%CCID=2

  • AT#CID=2

  • AT#CC1

  • AT*ID1

* What is Call Display PLUS service?
 If you subscribe to Call Display PLUS, you have the option of blocking anonymous calls. Just dial *77 and your telephone will not ring for anonymous calls. You can de-activate this service at any time by pressing *87.
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* What are these special dialing options: "$", "@", "W" ?
 These are modem's special dialing options:
    -wait-for-billing-tone ($)
    -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

* How to increase the default time delay for "," ?
 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>Hardware menu.         back to the top

* No Dialtone
 There can be several causes for the modem not detecting a dialtone.
When in office environment the most likely cause is plugging a digital phone line into computer's analog modem.
solution:  commercial converters: http://www.laptoptravel.com/Product.aspx?ID=1013
Other causes:
- plugging phone line into modem's Phone jack instead of Line jack
- bad phone cable
- bad modem         back to the top

* Dialing phone numbers over 79 digits long
 The modem can dial phone numbers up to 79 digits long.
This software allows to extend twice that limit to 158 characters for all of the modems.
Some modems like for example Creative Labs Modem Blaster can be used to extend that limit even further. I was able to dial over 1000 characters when using Modem Blaster.
Note
 Dialing will be done in data mode. It means, that if the used modem has a speakerphone capability, that function will be disabled.
 There may be a noticeable pause after the first 79 digits are processed by the modem. This is due to TAPI limitation, which does not  'notice' when modem finishes processing the numbers. Dialer tries to 'guess' that moment, but depending on modem that pause can be quite significant.
If you want to fine tune dialing, please send Tapilog.txt log file and the modem's log
to            back to the top

* How to make dialer automatically hang up a line after connecting a call?
 Select the options:  "Accept dialing numbers from other applications" and "Drop line when the call connected" from Options>Dialing tab, as shown on Figure 3. When done, you may exit dialer 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

* Monitoring/Answering the incoming call and/or executing a specified program.
 Not every modem supports answering incoming phone call when it is used in the Voice mode. If your purpose is to remotely execution of the external program it can be still done with the Voice mode disabled and Monitor Lines enabled option.
Note:
Executing external program does not terminate the existing call. In General tab you need to enable 'Drop line after...' option and specify the duration of the call considering time to execute the program and giving the caller enough time to hang-up the call. In the case when the caller does not hang-up before the 'Drop line' option is invoked the multiple instances of the external program will be launched.              back to the top

* How to dial phone numbers selected in any document or browser page?
 In Options > Dialing tab, the option: "Enable 'Copy' as a Dial command" must be checked.
Dialer 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.
To dial from the Internet Explorer web page, there is another option available:
Add DIAL command to IE context menu
This option will create a >>> DIAL <<< command in the Internet Explorer context menu (right-click).
Mouse right-click on a phone number in a webpage and select DIAL from the menu to initiate dialing that number.

Note
· >>>DIAL<<< menu will be added to the newly opened IE web pages AFTER this option has been saved.
Closing the dialer will remove this additional menu from IE browser.

* How to setup the dialer to work with ISDN cards or non-standard hardware?
 In Tools > Options > Voice tab, the option: "Voice, ISDN cards or other modems" must be selected.   back to the top

* SysTray icon indicators:
 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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* Acceptable csv file formats:
 

  Important:
When the phone numbers to be imported contain commas (comma inside phone number indicates 2 seconds pause) then the recommended csv format should have all fields enclosed in quotation marks, separated by the comma as shown above in example 1 or example 4.

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* I can't seem to get this software to work!  It looks as if it's dialing out but nothing happens.
 One of the most often causes is the wrong or duplicate modem's driver installed.
     First check should be done by selecting the proper modem's driver in Tools>Options>Hardware tab.
     Pay attention to the same device having #2, #3 in it's title.
     If there is such one or more devices it means you have the multiple instances of the same modem installed, and that is confusing Windows.
The proper procedure will be to click on 'System Modems' in Tools>Options>Hardware tab and removing all not necessary or obsolete drivers. If you are not sure which driver to remove, click on Properties>Diagnostics>Query Modem and run the test on each modem. The modem's driver for which test is negative, can be safely removed from Windows.
If you have the original installation disk for your modem the best way is to remove all listed modems and to install your modem's driver again.                                                           back to the top

* Speakerphone: how to use it and troubleshoot

      Speakerphone in hardware mode:
In Tools > Options > Voice tab, the option: "Voice" must be selected.
Speaker and microphone  must be connected directly to the modem's built-in jacks.
Such configuration will work in full-duplex mode.
To turn off dialing tones see:  switching off dialing tones (when using as a speakerphone in hard mode
      Speakerphone in soft mode:
In Tools > Options > Voice tab, the option: "Speakerphone..." must be selected.
Speaker and microphone are connected to the computer's soundcard.
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.
In Tools>Options>Dialing tab select 'Drop connected call after....' and select how many minutes you want to be online.
Most of the modems used in soft mode are half duplex. It means you can use or microphone or speakers but not both simultaneously.
Troubleshooting the speakerphone in soft mode: 
1. Make sure that  in Tools > Options > Voice 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 Sounds icon, and check the box which says Show Volume Control on the Taskbar.
3. Make the following test:
.    In Windows>Control Panel find:
          Windows XP ---> Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices ---> Sounds and Audio Devices ---> Audio tab
          Windows 2000 ---> Sounds and Multimedia  or
          Windows 98 ---> Multimedia
     and check if you can see your modem's wave driver as one of playback and recording devices.
     Usually the modem's wave driver will look like this: Modem #0 Line Playback
4. When in doubt whether the modem has speakerphone capabilities do the following: 
     (1). 
         ---> click here to download Phone Dialer Pro test file (<500 kB)
         ---> click here to download Auto Dialer Pro test file (<500 kB)
         ---> click here to download Excel Dialer Pro test file (<500 kB)
         ---> click here to download Dial Engine 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 a log file: Tapi.txt created in the folder, the test file was run from.
     (6). Send that log file to the      back to the top

 *Switching off dialing tones (when using as a speakerphone in hard mode)
Some modems have very loud dialing tones. It is possible to turn them off by setting the extra initializing string in modem's properties to the value of M0. See the picture below:

To get to this screen click on Options>Hardware tab, then click on 'Modems, Add, Remove...' button. In Phone and Modems Options window select your modem, click on Properties and then Advanced tab.      back to the top

*Laptop modems
Most laptop modems are not the voice modems, and even when few of them are they are half-duplex only.
It means you can use or microphone or speakers but not both simultaneously.
To play (or record) wave file the best (and the cheapest) solution is to use an external USB voice modem. back to the top

* Voice_modems recommendation:
NOTE:
If you are not sure which modem is good for your application please ask me.
Personally I am using Hi-Phone Desktop and I am very satisfied with its performance.
I have also tried AOpen FM56-P (H) Speakerphone PCI and I recommend it for budget conscious users.

Copyright © 1999-2008 . All rights reserved.
Last revised: April 13, 2008