Copyright: (C) 1995 PhoneLink PLC


What is Thomson Classified?

Tel-Me Thomson Classified allows you to find addresses and telephone numbers of businesses in a particular locality according to their trade classification. As well as locating up to twenty appropriate businesses in the requested area, Thomson Classified also produces a UK map showing the relative densities of such businesses within the country as a whole. As an additional service you can also choose to download many more businesses of the required type and automatically produce call sheets, posting labels and/or exportable data files.

Thomson Classified provides full access to all UK businesses that have opted to take a free listing in the Thomson directory. Please note that information for businesses in Northern Ireland, Kingston-upon-Hull and the Channel Islands is not available through Thomson Classified, however, specific Northern Ireland telephone numbers can be obtained using Tel-Me Teledirectory.

See also

Making a Thomson Classified Enquiry

Viewing the Response


Thomson Classified Contents

What is Thomson Classified?

Making a Thomson Classified Enquiry

Viewing the Response

Business Data Download

Business Data Export

Printing Labels and Call Sheets

Enquiry Charges

Thomson Classified Menus and Toolbar

General Information on:

The Product Area

The Input Area

The Library

The Extended Information Screen

RETURN TO MAIN CONTENTS


Viewing the Response

When the response is received, Thomson Classified will display a summary of up to twenty received businesses within two information boxes in the Product Area. Further details are contained within the Extended Information Screen.

Once in the Extended Information Screen you can toggle between viewing the address details and a distribution map.

The following options are also available from the View menu:

 to view the address details.

 to view the distribution map.

See also

Using the Map

Making a Thomson Classified Enquiry

Thomson Classified Menus and Toolbar

Transferring to and from the Extended Information Screen.


Business Data Download

Thomson Classified is an invaluable tool to those who wish to contact many businesses of a certain kind at local or national level. By using the inclusive Data Download feature after a normal enquiry, you can obtain contact details for up to five thousand companies, either centering around a particular location or as a geographic spread. The downloaded details can then be printed as call sheets or labels, or alternatively exported as a basic data file.

Points to Bear in Mind When Downloading Data

To download multi business data:

1.	Make a normal Thomson Classified enquiry based on the required Business Type and Location.

2.	Click on the [image] button from the toolbar or select the Download Data option from the Data menu.

3.	Choose the required options from the subsequently displayed Business Download dialog and click the Download button.

4.	When the data has been downloaded you can then choose to:

Printing Labels and/or Call Sheets

Export the data to a file


Business Download Dialog

When the Download Data option is selected, the following is displayed:

To make a download request:

1.	Choose the required Quantity Selection.

2.	Choose the required Intended Usage.

3.	Click the Download Button.


Business Data Export

Using this option you can create data files containing company information that can be used within other programs. You must first have perfomed a successful Data Download session using the Multiple Use option.

To export data:

1.	Click on the [image] button from the toolbar or select the Export downloaded data option form the Data menu. The following dialog is displayed:

Click on the required item for more information.

2.	Select the required Start and Finish record numbers.

3.	Click on the Select Target File button to determine the location and name of the new file.

4.	Click on the OK button to proceed with the file export.

The file is created in a comma separated ASCII format using your entered name and the .TXT extension unless altered otherwise.


Printing Labels and Call Sheets

Using this option you can create sales call sheets for telemarketing purposes. You must first have performed a successful Data Download session using either the Single Use or Multiple Use options.

For more information:

   Printing Labels

   Printing Call Sheets


Printing Call Sheets

To print call sheets:

1.	Click on the [image] button from the toolbar or select the Print Call Sheets option from the Data menu. The following dialog is displayed:

Click on the required item for more information.

2.	Enter the appropriate Campaign Name, Agent/Employee and Client Reference details into the relevant fields.

3.	Click on the OK button to proceed to a standard Windows printer selection dialog where you can choose and configure the target printer (if required) before printing.


Map

The map provides an instant indication of the density of businesses throughout the UK mainland that are trading under the current classification. Each coloured dot on the map gives an indication of the number of like businesses trading within a 5km squared area. The key allows you to quickly discover the density figure for each displayed colour.

Choose the Using the Map option at the foot of this screen to find out more about changing the map size, zooming in and out, panning around and changing the level of detail.


Quantity Selection

This section allows you to specify how the businesses will be selected for download:

To retrieve businesses within a particular geographic region, choose the first option. You can then specify an outer Range in kilometres from the previous specified location. Pressing the Preview button will then initiate an enquiry that determines how many businesses of the required type are located within the specified area. The answer is displayed in the following form:

Using this information you can then decide whether you need to increase or decrease the Range. When the Range is correct, click on the Download button to retrieve the business data.

To retrieve a specific quantity of businesses, choose the second option. This will retrieve a specific number of records, up to 5000, with a near even spread across the UK. To use this option, enter the required number of businesses that you wish to retrieve in the field provided and click on the Download button.


Specified Range Option

To retrieve businesses within a particular geographic region, choose this option. You can then specify an outer Range in kilometres from the previous specified location. Pressing the Preview button will then initiate an enquiry that determines how many businesses of the required type are located within the specified area. The answer is displayed in the following form:

Using this information you can then decide whether you need to increase or decrease the Range. When the Range is correct, click on the Download button to retrieve the business data.


Specific Amount Option

To retrieve a specific quantity of businesses, choose this option. This will retrieve a specific number of records, up to 5,000, with a near even spread across the UK. To use this option, enter the required number of businesses that you wish to retrieve in the field provided and click on the Download button.


Intended Usage Section

This section allows you to specify how the information will be used and thus which tariff level you will incur as a result:

If you wish to use the downloaded data for printing labels and/or call sheets in a one-off situation, choose the first option.

If you wish to use the downloaded data for printing labels and/or call sheets and/or export the data to an ASCII file (subject to Thomson Directories conditions) for use more than once, choose the second option.

If you wish the telephone numbers for each downloaded business to be omitted, uncheck the Include tel numbers option.


Single Use Option

Choose this option if you wish to use the downloaded data for printing labels and/or call sheets in a one-off situation.


Multiple Use Option

Choose this option if you wish to use the downloaded data for printing labels, call sheets and/or export the data to an ASCII file (subject to Thomson Directories conditions) for use more than once.


Include Telephone Numbers Option

Uncheck this box if you wish the telephone numbers for each downloaded business to be omitted.


Download Button

Begins the data download procedure using the entered parameters.


Cancel

Exits from the dialog box and returns to the previous screen.


Start At

Enter the record number at which you would like to begin exporting. If you plan to export all downloaded business details, then enter "1" in this field.


Finish At

Enter the record number at which you would like to the export to end. If you plan to export all downloaded business details, then enter the number displayed in the "Number of records available for export:" entry in this field.


Select Target File Button

Click on this button to reveal a standard Windows file dialog. Using this you can enter a name and location for the new export file.


File Name
Target file name

This entry displays the expected name and location of the export file to be created once you have made a configuration using the Select Target File button.


Number of Records
Number of records available for export

This entry shows the total number of records that were previously downloaded and hence are avilable for export. If you wish to export all records, enter the number displayed here into the Finish At field.


OK

Exits from the dialog and proceeds with the requested action.


Printing Labels

To print labels

1.	Click on the [image] button from the toolbar or select the Print Label option from the Data menu.

2.	Click on the OK button within the subsequent dialog to processd to a standard Windows printer selection dialog where you can choose and configure the target printer (if required) before printing.


Campaign Name

Use this optional field to enter the name of the telemarketing campaign for which the call sheets are being produced. The entered information will be printed at the top of each call sheet.


Agent Name
Agent/Employee

Use this optional field to enter the name of the telemarketing person for whom the call sheets are being produced. The entered information will be printed at the top of each call sheet.


Client Reference

Use this optional field to enter a reference for the telemarketing campaign. The entered information will be printed at the top of each call sheet.


Points to Bear in Mind
Points to Bear in Mind When Downloading Data

An additional charge is made for addresses that are downloaded. The standard charge is available from PhoneLink Customer Services.

In general, each business record downloaded occupies roughly 100 bytes. Before beginning a download, check that your system has enough free space on the drive that holds Tel-Me:

Space Required = Number of Records x 100 bytes.

For large downloads, the transfer process can be reasonably lengthy so it is best carried out during off-peak times when the system is not so busy and connection charges are cheaper.

As the download process occurs, you will be presented with the message shown below. By proceeding with the download you are accepting the conditions of the licence:

© Thomson Directories

Reminder: The information that you are downloading is the property of Thomson Directories. At the tariff you have paid it may be used (once only/more than once)* for your company's marketing activities, however, it may not be added to a database or re-sold. Substantial parts should not be disclosed to third parties. Please refer to clause 6.5 of the Standard Conditions of Provision of Tel-Me for full details of your rights and obligations.

Warning: Seed business information may be added to your selection to monitor its use.

* Depending on whether you select the Single or Multiple use options.