JBDial Version 1.6 (c)JBSoft 1994-6 Overview -------- Put simply, JBDial is a program to dial telephone numbers. If a modem is connected to the Psion then this will be accessed otherwise the internal speaker will be used. Once a file has been selected for use, this name is stored and will be used the next time the application is run. It is also possible to search several files at the same time and also use 'Bring'. It can use phone card numbers as well so most eventualities should be covered. N.B. You should be aware that the modem working relies on the Hayes command set being fully implemented (i.e. ATX0 should stop the modem from checking for a dial tone before sending the dial sequence. If this doesn't happen then the modem dial will fail). Installation ------------ Copy the program to an \APP\ directory and then, from the System screen, with the cursor at the point where you wish the JBDial icon to appear, press Psion-I. Select the drive that has the file on it and select JBDial in the Filename box, then press Enter. The program will show up on your System screen in the selected place and can be run by placing the cursor on the name of the file and pressing Enter. It is possible to use this new file as previous versions (i.e. as an OPO file). Rename the file from JBDIAL.OPA to JBDIAL.OPO and place the file in your \OPO\ directory. This will allow the new version to be run in the same way as the previous releases. Usage ----- On first usage of the program a dialog will show allowing for the Modem and Card dialling setup. Please leave the Card fields blank unless you wish to use this option. On further uses of this dialog, if the Card fields have entries, this is displayed with a tick on the left hand of the dialog. The number is never shown for security reasons so you will have to enter the data again if you are unsure that it is correct. Whilst entering the numbers they are shown though so, if security is an issue, do this in a secure place. The default settings for the modem are Reset: ATZ,ATX0 Dial: ATDT Whilst anything can be entered at this point you will need to use something similar to ATX0 as this is what enables a series of numbers to be sent using the modem without disconnecting the line. Failure to use something like this will mean that only the first number will be sent (be it the Dial Out code or the Card number or the Telephone number). If the system doesn't work with the defaults then you will have to read your modem manual to find out if it is possible for the modem to dial without dial tone detection. The comma after ATZ is necessary to allow that command to complete before another command is sent (otherwise the second command will be lost). The Number formatting line is set so that numbers are formatted by the Psion (in a similar way as Data does this) or just used as shown without any formatting taking place. Choosing a file: Once this data has been input then a further dialog asking for the file to search will be shown. Once this file has been specified the dialog will only be shown if Setup is pressed on the Find dialog. The dialog also enables a build of a database of files to be searched (you can Add or Delete from this file but only if the visible file in the Filename line is a true file name). Find: The Find dialog is shown next and a search clue should be specified to enable the search to work. This need not be a full name and the case is non-specific. The search will take place on all fields and, once the item is found, the numbers embedded in that record will be displayed along with the data in the first field. For the program to recognise telephone numbers there must be a telephone symbol in the Label associated with the field but no symbol is required when using Bring or the Redial log. If the file is open in a Data application then it will be automatically closed to do the find and re-opened when JBDial is terminated. Manual Entry: If the Control key is pressed at the same time as Enter and then held down for a moment then the details entered in the Find dialog will be used for manual dialling. Alternatively, if the edit field is left blank, you will be taken to the Edit number dialog where you can enter your number (this isn't quite as good as you will not be able to enter names or Extension numbers on this second dialog). Redial Log: You can also access the Redial log at this point by pressing Ctrl- Menu. This takes you to the list of numbers in the Redial file where you can select the number to dial and press enter. Selection is either with the cursor up and down keys or you can press the Number relating to the line which will move the cursor there. If there is no entry in the file then the option to escape or manually enter a number is given. The file is automatically created when the first entry is sent to it. If you do not wish to select a number then exit using Esc. There is a menu implemented in this view with the following options: Delete will delete the highlighted number (as will Psion-D) Information Psion-I will display the information on the selected line Edit Psion-E will edit the information on the selected line. Manual Entry Psion-M will allow a Manual entry in the file. Reverse Bring: The highlighted line can be copied to another application (if that application can use Bring - e.g. Agenda) - this only works whilst in the Redial Log display and only works on the one line that is highlighted. Bring: Alternatively a Bring option (using the Tab key) will bring highlighted data from another application (e.g. Agenda and other programs that allow the use of Bring). This can be in the format of a name followed by a number - the program will separate the sections out. If the data found is incorrect the search can be resumed by pressing Esc which takes you to an Action dialog where you can choose to Find again ('G'), start a new search ('F') or Quit ('Esc'). Otherwise, highlight the phone number to dial and press Enter. If nothing is found in the search then you can specify a new file to search or change the text to be searched for. Dialing: Once the number has been specified then the final Dial dialog will be displayed. This allows a selection of dialling Out (with a <9,> or whatever was specified in your Psion setup) or normally. There is an additional button which allows the use of a Dial card - this button just enables or disables this usage. Esc will allow you to escape from this dialog without initialising a dial sequence. Modem choice: The program will check to see if a modem is connected at this point and, if so, will use the modem to dial the numbers. If no modem is available then the speaker will automatically be used. If the 3Link is connected but there is no modem on the end of it the program will hang. I have not been able to intercept this problem as it does not appear possible to set a timeout for the link. A series of dialogs will now be shown (depending on what options you have chosen) allowing the different numbers to be sent. If an extension has been entered after the Number in your database or in the data for use with Bring, then an option to use this will be given. The format must be 123-4567 X4976 ^ ^ normal extension for this to work (the extension must be indicated with a capital 'X' and must be on the same line as the telephone number). If an extension has been detected then, after dialling the number, a further dialog will show to allow the sending of the extension number. On Connection: If the modem was used then, on connection to the required number, press Enter to disconnect it (this is prompted by another dialog). Finally, a further dialog is shown that will allow a re-dial or another search as well as the option to place the phone number into a Redial log for further use at a later date - up to 10 numbers can be stored this way. To leave the program use Esc. Termination: If you wish to terminate the sequence at any time use the Esc key - if the modem method is in use you will be prompted to disconnect the modem from the line. Restrictions ------------ 1. The telephone number to dial must have a phone symbol embedded in the Label associated with that field if using a database. 2. If the Serial Link is connected and there is no modem on the end of it, then the program will hang with an empty screen. You can only exit at this point using Psion-Esc. 3. The modem must be Hayes compatible (i.e. accept AT commands). 4. The speaker dial uses the setup resident in the Psion as set from the System screen (on English machines using ). 5. The file(s) storing the Data files accessed and the modem information is stored in the OPD directory of the default drive as JBDIAL.CFG - it is unencrypted! 6. The file which keeps the Redial log is called \OPD\JBDLOG.DBF and is always on the default drive. 7. The modem must be able to send a dial sequence without having to recognise the dial tone first and also it must understand the command <;> which returns the modem to the command mode after sending the dial string. Thanks ------ The most profound thanks are due to Arthur Karpman whose ideas, testing and driving force made this program more than just a little toy. Release History --------------- 1.2 First public release (previous versions were hard-coded for my system. 1.4 Increased potential size of Labels dealt with. Now allows sub-directories of \DAT\ to be used. 1.5 Implemented Bring. 1.6 Improved closedown and re-opening of Datafiles. Allowed re-dials and searching again of number. Allowed more than one file to be searched at a time. Changed program into an Application (OPA). Various small changes have taken place. Allowed International dial prefixes to be used. Allowed use of a dial card. Altered dial out buttons to mimic Data for choice of Dial and Dial Out. Extensions allowed. Implemented a Redial later log file. Implemented the reverse Bring in the Redial log. Contact ------- John Boyce CompuServe: 100014,1240 CIX/Internet: jboyce@cix.compulink.co.uk John Boyce 5 June 1996