5.25 Testing Your Voice Script
There are two ways to test your new voice script. Firstly you can test it using the built in test window.

Using headphones connected to your modem you can click the test button and proceed with the test.

However, there is a snag. The built in test script cannot test the fax on demand service neither can it allow you to test the built in BBS.

The seconds choice is to test your script "live". If you have two phone lines then testing will be easy. Choose a time when no-one is likely to call you (late at night?) and setup your modem, computer and STFax Pro.

Dial your number from your other phone and try the various options available. Listen for any problems, fix them and try again.

There is another snag. Most likely you don't have two computers and two phone lines. Therefore it will be difficult to actually try sending a fax, using the fax on demand service, testing your BBS etc. We suggest you go to a friends house (who has a computer, be it an Amiga or PC!) and test your system as much as possible to avoid any embarrassing moments from a dodgy voice script!

5.26 Voice Tips

• Create text messages first. You could, if you prefer, create text based messages within the message creation window before you actually record them. This would allow you to select your message(s) when using the advanced script editor without the lengthy task of having to record all your messages before you use the script editor.

• Record messages often. It is best advised to record messages often, if not daily. There is nothing worse than a message which never changes, a message which is out of date or a message which is simply wrong.

  ie. you don't want a caller hearing "we are on holiday at the moment and won't be here for the next two weeks" or something equally as vague when you are actually out at the local shop!

  If you are a small business you don't want a person to try and contact sales, leave a message for a particular employee and for their voice mail to say "I am out of the office today" when this referred to the previous day.

• Listen to as many automated systems as possible. Call other companies and try their voice scripts, see how they work (or don't work in some cases).

• Call yourself. Think how you would feel being faced with the greeting message from hell! Try to make it short and to the point.

  If you are a small business, you want your customers to be put through to sales as quickly and efficiently as possible or you will lose their custom due to the amount of time needed to trek though your voice script!

• Use a good quality new modem. Unfortunately a lot of people buy cheap, unbranded modems thinking that they are "the same as the branded equivalents". Often they aren't.

  A good quality modem will normally offer a better quality recording option with less hiss and background noise.

• Use a better microphone. If you find that your recordings are very poor quality or have a lot of background noise, you could always try using a better quality microphone to record your messages.

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