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 * Important: Read this first
To play messages (wave files) and to read messages (text files) over the phone line the PC voice modem or compatible telephony card is required.
Read more:
What is a Voice Modem?
How to check that modem has ability to play a wave file?
Voice modems recommendation
PC modems do not detect the connected state properly.
To bypass that limitation Auto Dialer Pro offers two options to choose from:
 * Start playing message after .... secs
and
* Start playing message when the silence is detected
For these two options to work properly the following conditions apply:
 1. Detect Busy option must be set fairly accurate
 2. Do not use any extra digits after phone number in dialing string.
     For example:
     dialing string: (555) - 2340553,,1,3     is wrong
     If you need to use delay characters (',') and extension number and you want to automate your dialing, you have to use the script option.
     Script sample:
     dial: (555) - 2340553
     wait: 4
     dialdtmf: 1
     wait 2
     dialdtmf: 3
     <continue your script here>

* Quick Start manual:
 1.
     Record your message using the recording utility in Tools>Options>Record tab (see: Record message) or
     use Windows Sound Recorder and set recording format to  PCM, mono, 16 bit, 8 kHz
  2.
     In Tools>Options>Playback tab select options:
     'Play selected wave to phone line' => select the file and test it (when not sure)
     If you want to start playing manually skip below and read 3.
     If you want to start playing automatically select:
     'Auto play selected file....'  and one of  'Start playing message after ...' option
     When you want to learn more about these and other options just click on Help button at the bottom of Options window.
 3.
     Click OK to save selected options
 4.
     Select (or type in) a phone number and click DIAL.
 5.
     Observe the Call Progress (oval) window.
      If  'Auto play selected file....' option was selected then the message should start playing automatically.
      If  'Auto play selected file....' option was not selected then the Play button will appear on Call Progress window when the call will get connected. To start playing just click on it. Another way to start playing is a mouse right click on dialer's systray icon (screen bottom, right corner) and select 'Start playing..'  from popup menu.
 6.
     Having problems? Read this: Using the test file to diagnose hardware or software problems
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  * Using Internal Phone List
Loaded phone list becomes a queue. Entries will be automatically dialed from the top of the queue or starting from that entry which was highlighted when Start button was clicked on.
When the call succeeds the entry is marked by x.
User can interrupt the calling cycle by clicking on Stop button and save existing queue.
The last saved queue will be loaded automatically on the next ADP opening. 
After finishing with the phone list, ADP has the option to automatically load new phone list and start dialing again.

When the option: Remove entry from queue after successful call is selected that entry will disappear from queue. For failed calls ADP offers the following options: - Move an entry to the end of queue          (to be dialed again later) - Stop dialing - Ignore

Note:
Moving the failed call to the end of the list can put dialer in the endless loop when one of the calls continuously fails.
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* Phone List versus Extended Phone List (internal)

* Using Excel spreadsheet as a regular phone list
Using Excel spreadsheet as a phone list has numerous advantages over the internal phone list:
 - user can select column to store call logging information directly into spreadsheet
 - user can select column to log DTMF tones received from other site
 - regular spreadsheet can contain column with the different wave or text messages to be used with the particular phone call.
 - Wave/Text column can be used to store recordings when executing the outgoing calls script
Usage:
To dial sporadically (manually): click on the Excel spreadsheet cell containing a phone number.
To start auto dialing: click on the 'Start' button (located on dialer's interface).
When autodialing is in progress the 'Start' button changes to 'Stop' button. Click on it to interrupt (stop) autodialing.
Available parameters:
 Rows
 These two fields are used for automatic dialing only.
 Fill in 'from' row if you do not want to start dialing from the first row.
 If 'to' row is not filled in the autodialing will stop at the first row where a phone number cell is blank.

Columns
'First Name' and 'Last Name' columns are optional. When selected, the name will be displayed during the call.
'Phone No.' column should contain phone numbers
'Call logs' column is optional. If selected, dialer will log call results (errors) in there.
'Wave/Text' column (optional):
select this column if you want to play a message file other than the one specified in the Playback tab
When the cell from this column is blank, the file selected in the Playback tab will be used by the dialer.
'Monitor DTMF' column:
When this column is selected, the called person's keypad strokes will be recorded into it.

'Dial from this spreadsheet only'
You must use this option when having more than one Excel spreadsheet opened.
For example:
select this option when one spreadsheet is used as a phone list and there is an another spreadsheet opened or it will be opened during dialing.

When the spreadsheet's title is not provided it is possible to dial manually from any opened spreadsheet.
Important:
1.
Auto Dialer Pro will use Excel spreadsheet as a phone list only if the option 'Excel spreadsheet' is selected and that spreadsheet is opened prior to loading the dialer (or prior to saving the options).
2.
When opening a spreadsheet, if the active cell contains a phone number you want to dial, you must first click on another cell, then on the cell you wish to dial.  This is required on the first call only.
Note:
 Blue coded phone numbers indicate the calls already made.
 Red coded phone entry indicate the phone call in progress.

* Phone List versus Extended Phone List (Excel spreadsheet)
Excel spreadsheet extended version uses the same columns as the regular version but it should contain 2 more columns: DATE and TIME.
The phone call will be made when the scheduled time is up.
Params:
'Date' and 'Time' columns:
Both columns must be selected but there is not need to fill DATE column with the dates for today's calls.
If there is a duplicate starting time for the different calls, the phone number closer to the top will be used.
Note:
 Green coded time entries indicate the calls due today
 Red coded time entry indicate the next scheduled call to be processed today.
 Blue coded time entries indicate finished or missed calls.
 Missed call is that call, which scheduled time has already passed at the time the dialer application has started.
 

* Using Auto Dialer Pro from command line:
To Dial and Play wave file:
Trailing parameter should contain phone number and full path to the wave file to be played to the phone line.
Required format is:
                               (phone number)/(full path to wave file)
Example:
              [...] autodial.exe 555-2340553/c:\Program Files\Auto Dialer Pro\Data\message.wav

Note:
It is possible to queue phone numbers and associated wave or text files from command line. Just execute each command separately and watch those numbers adding to the phone list. Precede that with the /clear command, to delete all existing entries inside the phone list or clear list manually.
Dialing will start automatically with the first number, the other numbers being added to the phone list and processed FIFO, after preceding call is over.
Using any of 'script' commands when the executing of the script is already in progress will cause the termination of the current script. This can be handy when there is a need to change the running script into another script because of the new external trigger.

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 * Using mouse right click:

* Using mouse double click:
Mouse double click on phone list entry will start dialing it.
Mouse double click on play list entry will start playing selected message (only when the phone call is connected)
Mouse double click on calls log entry will dial that entry's phone number and double click on recorded message will start playing it.
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 * Importing phone list from csv file
To import data into internal phone list click on File>Import Phone List and select the source: csv file or Excel spreadsheet.
If your data resides in a different program, you need first to export your data into csv (text) file. Most of the popular programs are capable of doing that.
For csv acceptable formats see this
Note:
 It is possible to create or edit a phone list just by a copy & paste operation.
You can copy & paste one line, several lines or the whole file.
The best way to edit several entries inside a phone list is to copy & paste them into Notepad, edit them and copy & paste them back into the phone list.        back to the top

 * Why does a message start playing too early?
Regular PC modems are not capable of detecting when the call is answered by remote party.
The principle of modem is simple: if signal is NOT BUSY then it is CONNECTED.
ADP provides the user with the option to select approx. time when call is probably connected:
   in Tools>Options>Hardware tab use 'Detect Busy' utility.
CONNECTED state is the start of the process determining when ADP should start playing the message.
In Tools>Options>Playback tab there are 2 options to choose from:
 - 'Start playing message after.. secs' option
    This option will make ADP playing message after the specified time delay
 - 'Start playing message after detecting silence' option
    Use this option when automatic dialing will encounter answering machines or voice mails. Playing the message will be initialized when the silence  on line is detected. Adjustable parameters are:
    Noise Level (default value of 2) --> depending on line noise quality that value should be adjusted upwards
    Silence Duration (default 3 seconds) ---> set your own preference           back to the top

 * Why played message cannot be heard by the receiving end?
  Possible  causes:        

1. Modem is not capable of playing wave file over the phone line.
   Please see this: How to check that modem has ability to play a wave file?

2. Options are not set correctly.
   Modem driver should be set as a selected playback and recording devices in Tools>Options>Playback and Record tab.
   Do not change audio settings in Control Panel. Leave your soundcard as a default device in there.

3. The wave file has the wrong format.
   The usual file format accepted by most of the modems is:  PCM, 16 bit, 8 kHz, mono or PCM, 16 bit, 8 kHz, stereo when stereo format is supported by your modem.
   If you are not sure the wave file you want to use adhere to the above format, use the Recorder available in Tools>Options>Record tab to create your own message or use Windows recorder to convert your file to the required format.
    

   You can test a wave file using an option provided by ADP. In Tools>Options>Playback tab select the file you want to test and click on Test button	Built-in recorder allows to record and save your messages.

   Note:
            When testing the playback over the phone line you have to listen to it from the receiving end.
   You need to have 2 phone lines or 1 phone line and a cellular phone.
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* Using script
Use script when you need ADP to react to phone's keypad inputs during the playback of a message, for example:
"To confirm the message please press '1', to hear it again press'*', to hangup press....".
A script is a plain text file where each line contains an individual command.
To see the list of available commands and a sample script, click on the Help button beside that option.
Note:
Script can be invoked by 2 methods:
1.
 - select this option and specify the script file.
 - save Options by clicking on OK button.
 - click on Start button or  mouse right click on ADP systray icon (bottom right corner of your screen) and click on 'Run Script' menu.
2.
 - start dialer from the command line using one of the following commands:
        <path>autodial.exe /script     (this will use the script file specified in Options)
       <path>autodial.exe /script:<full path to the script file>     (this will use the script file specified on this line)
Important:
When using scripts it is very important to synchronize timing between commands by using the <wait: # > command.
The <play> command should be grouped with <monitor_dtmf: #> or <monitor_dtmf> commands, always followed by the <wait: #> command. See samples by using Help button beside the 'Use Script' option.
Using Script Simulator:
Click TEST button to start Script Simulator. A new window will pop open showing the real time script execution.
When the script waits for the keypad input, click on the desired key on the ADP keypad.
This is the best way to test your script, fine tune it and make sure that it does what the script was intended to do.
Note:
<dial> command starts a simulated action; it will not use the modem and phone line.
<play:> command will play a wave file over the PC speakers, instead of playing it to the phone line.
Remarks:
Because Script Simulator does not use a modem at all,  it is possible to test scripts even if the modem is not a voice modem or the modem is not able to generate (or receive) DTMF tones.

 Important:
     err_... commands when used, should precede all other commands.
                but it is not necessary to use them at all.
     Script must end with <end> command. 

Ask me, if you need another command or action. 

Sample:  Home office
1. When answering incoming phone calls play message: "For ..... please press 1, for .... please press 2" and so on.
2. When received '1' play message 1 and perform other action
3. When received '2' play message 2 and perform other action.
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* Recording your own message
In Tools>Options>Record tab recording utility will allow you to record your own message using a microphone connected to the sound card in your computer.

Important:  Do not plug your microphone into modem's jack!
To start recording press the Start Record button, to stop press Stop Record.
You can hear your message by clicking on the Play button.  When satisfied with the result, click on Save.
Clicking on 'Play' button will play the last recorded message to PC speakers.
'Save' button will store recorded message as a time stamped wave file in \Data subfolder:
the first 2 numbers indicate day, next 2 numbers month, next 2 numbers minutes and the last 2 numbers indicate seconds.
If you have Error No.4 it means that:
 - the soundcard is not set as a default recording device: please check it in Control Panel>Sounds & Multimedia>Audio tab
or
 - some other application is using the soundcard at that moment.
Note:
The usual file format accepted by most of the modems is:  PCM, mono, 16 bit, 8 kHz
or PCM, stereo, 16 bit, 8 kHz if stereo format is supported by your modem.
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* How to start playing message manually?
 1. In Tools>Options>PlayBack tab uncheck 'Auto play selected file to outgoing calls'
 2. Make a phone call
 3. When the call becomes connected or at any time after that click on:
      - Play button on Call Progress (oval) window
        or
      - mouse right click on ADP systray icon and select 'Start playing'
Note:
There is also another way, if you want to play different messages depending on the situation (male, female, elderly etc)
In ADP click on View>Show PlayList to open the pre-selected list of messages.
Just click (double click) on the selected one to start playing. Read more.
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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\Auto Dialer Pro\autodial.exe"
                                   rtn = ShellExecute(0&, "Open", lpString, "4162340553", "c:\", 7&)  ' to dial only
                                  
                                    ' to dial and play a wave file:
                                    rtn = ShellExecute(0&, "Open", lpString, "4162340553/c:\Record\message.wav", "c:\", 7&)
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* Compatibility error when using Text-To-Speech option for Windows XP users
If you don't have a compatible TTS engine installed on your Windows XP, you can download the Microsoft Speech Engine from here.

* How to recover from errors?
Resetting ADP options to default values may help.
To do that start ADP with "default" as a trailing parameter:
                         [...] \autodial.exe /default  
* Using the test file to diagnose hardware or software problems
 1. Click  here to download the test file (600 kB)
 2. Recreate the problem using this test file (run it and use it the same way you were using the original file, until the problem (error) appears).
 3. Close the testing program.
 4. Find TapiLog.txt log file in the same folder the test file was run from.
 5. Send that file to author.
     Please make sure to add comments saying what you are doing externally and where you think the problem was.
Note:
 When the error is a 'run-time' type error it causes the premature program termination and TapiLog.txt log file will not be generated.
In that case run the test file with /tapilog suffix (<path><autodial_test.exe /tapilog) and the second diagnostic window will open. Just save it's content and send it to author.
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* Using Play List

Use Play List when you want to play different message to different people. For example, you may want to play a different message to male or female receiving the call, or different message to live person and answering machine. To start playing message just double click on the message you want to play. To access Play List click on View>Show Play List. It is possible to group messages by the color, just by dragging message into different position. To Add, Edit, Delete or test play a message,  mouse right click on selected message.

 * How to get rid of 'Run Busy Detect' startup message?
 A properly detected busy signal is very important for the determination of the Connected phone line state, which in turn determines the start of message play.
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 3 other methods you can use:
1.
Disconnect phone line from your modem and click on Start button beside this option. Enter any number when asked.
Click OK and wait until no dialtone detection will end.  Real time call progress is displayed in small box beside the Start button.
2.
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.
3.
 Find the AutoDialer.ini file located at:
"C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Auto Dialer Pro\AutoDialer.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
Note:
The busy detect value is stored into AutoDialer.ini on dialer's termination.                                  back to the top

* How to override options?
 Find the AutoDialer.ini file located at:
"C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Auto Dialer Pro\AutoDialer.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><autodial.exe /default
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* How to check modem's wave driver
 To check modem's playback capabilities please read this: Garbled sound: how to check your modem.
 To check modem's recording capabilities make the following test:
  1.
.    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 select your modem's driver as a default Recording device.
     Usually the modem's wave driver will look like this: Modem #0 Line Record
  2.
      Open Windows Sound Recorder  (>Start>Programs>Accessories>Entertainment>Sound Recorder)
  3.
      Make a phone call using Auto Dialer Pro (do not select Playback or Recording options).
  4.
      When the phone call is connected press the Record button in Windows Sound Recorder.
  5.
      After few seconds disconnect the phone call, stop recording and check what was recorded.
  6..
      Do not forget to set back default recording device to what you had before (see (1) above)
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* Garbled sound: How to check the modem.
  Make the following test:
  1.
.    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 select your modem's driver as a default Playback device.
     Usually the modem's wave driver will look like this: Modem #0 Line Playback
  2.
      Open Windows Media Player and load your wave file.
      Make sure, that selected wave file's format is compatible with telephony. You can test it by using TEST utility in Tools>Options>Playback tab.
  3.
      Make a phone call using Auto Dialer Pro (do not select Playback or Recording options).
  4.
      When the phone call is received press Play button in Windows Media Player and check the sound quality.
  5.
      Do not forget to set back default playback device to what you had before (see (1) above).
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* How to check that modem has ability to send / receive DTMF tones?
  Most of the voice modems have that functionality.
If you want to make sure that your modem is capable of sending and receiving DTMF tones:
1.
Use the test file and and send TapiLog.txt log file to author.
or
2.
Using this dialer make a phone call to the voice mail (for example your bank) and using dialer's dialpad try to navigate the voice mail.
If you can, your modem is capable.

* How to check that modem has ability to play a wave file?
  Make the following check:
.    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 and Modem #0 Line Record.
     Also, these same drivers should be seen as a selected playback and recording devices in Tools>Options>Playback and Record tab.

     Also see this:
     Why played message cannot be heard by the receiving side?
     Using the test file to diagnose hardware or software problems
                                                                                                                     back to the top
* Samples of voice recordings using different modems

MODEM	Hear	Download
Hi-Phone Desktop
Creative Labs USB modem
AOpen FM56-P (H) Speakerphone PCI modem
Conexant HCF V90 56K Speakerphone PCI modem

* Selected modems drivers
 If you are experiencing problems with the modem, and your modem's model and Windows version matches one of the listed drivers you can try to install it.
Drivers listed below I have tested myself and are guaranteed to work.

MODEM	Windows OS	Download
AOpen FM56-P (H) Speakerphone PCI Modem	XP/2K	586kB
Motorola SM56 Speakerphone Modem	XP/2K	2 MB
Conexant HCF V90 56K Speakerphone PCI modem	XP/2K	1.5 MB

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* Developers corner
 Dialer can be controlled by using the following 3 methods:
   * from the command line prompt:  see Using Auto Dialer Pro from command line
   * Simple VB code sample how to invoke dialer and make a phone call.
   * Windows text messaging by using SendMessage() API
Note:
     1.
       For the list of available commands see: Using Auto Dialer Pro from command line
     2.
       When using SendMessage() API:

   LRESULT SendMessage(      
    HWND hWnd,
    UINT Msg,
    WPARAM wParam,
    LPARAM lParam
   );

    hWnd
          retrieve and use the value stored in Windows registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Jacek Kozlowski\Auto Dialer Pro\hkey
     Msg
          use WM_COPYDATA
     wParam
          0
     lParam
           structure containing information to be send
           .lpData   should contain command
           .dwData = 1 use only with commands: "", "min" and "setup"
           .dwData = 2 use only with "script...." command
           .dwData = 3 use with all other commands                                     back to the top

Copyright © 1999-2007 . All rights reserved.
Last revised: April 12, 2008