This Dialer desk accessory can dial a telephone number from any Macintosh program that allows the Copy of TEXT onto the clipboard. This program will, through the use of an FKey, enable you to dial numbers from word processors, drawing programs, and data bases that do not already have a built in telephone dialing mechanism. (An FKey is a program you invoke by holding the command and shift keys down while typing the number of the FKey. FKeys are not necessarily invoked by pressing the function keys on an extended keyboard, although you can use utilities like Apple's MacroMaker or CE Software's QuicKeys to equate function keys with FKeys.)
Shareware Fee & Distribution Rights
Dialer is not free. It is not public domain software. If you decide to use Dialer, send $15.00 along with your name, address, and version number to:
Bugless Software Ltd.
P.O. Box 1097
Mason City, IA 50401
This shareware fee will entitle you to continued use of Dialer along with on-line support and a reduced price on future full commercial versions of Dialer.
You may distribute Dialer to others, but you may not charge for Dialer without permission from Bugless Software Ltd.
Bug reports and feature suggestions can be sent to Bugless Software via Compuserve and GEnie addresses located at the end of this text. Let me know what you think of this program and what improvements you would like to see.
If you use Dialer, I could sure use the $15.00. If you decide not to use Dialer, I would be interested in knowing why so that I can make improvements.
Dialer the FKey
Initially Dialer exists only as a desk accessory and is invoked from the Apple menu. Using the Dialer desk accessory menu, you can install the Dialer FKey. The Install FKey menu item will indicate which FKey number will be used.
Once the FKey has been installed, you can use Dialer from any program simply by selecting the number you want dialed and by pressing command-shift-FKey#. Your number will be displayed in the Dialer window, and dialed using Dialer's current configuration settings.
If Dialer is set to use the speaker port for dialing, then Dialer's window will automatically close after the FKey is done dialing a number. If a modem is being used for dialing, then you should click in the close box of Dialer's window once you hear that the modem has completely dialed your number. (You could also use the "Close Dialer" item in the Dial menu or hit your Return or Enter key.)
To make sure that you will be able to hear the number being dialed, you can either use the speaker on your modem (if it has one), or you can wire your modem to the phone line so that you can hear what is taking place through the handset of your telephone.
Many modems have a jack for connecting a telephone to the modem. Often times a telephone connected in this way will be dead while the modem is in use. If your modem has no speaker, this will make it difficult for you to tell when a number has been completely dialed. You may want to get around this problem by purchasing a jack that splits one phone jack into two phone jacks. Simply connect the modem to one side of the jack and your telephone to the other. Now you will be able to hear everything that takes place when your modem is in operation. However, you will want to remember to leave your phone on the hook whenever your modem is being used to connect with another modem, because while the phone is off the hook you will be inserting noise into the connection.
Dialer the Desk Accessory
When the Dialer desk accessory (DA) is invoked, a window is displayed containing the contents of the clipboard. Dialer expects the information in the clipboard to be a phone number that is to be dialed. Simply select the Dial item within the Dialer menu and Dialer will dial the number shown in the window.
As long as the DA's window is the topmost window, the Dialer menu remains available. The items within that menu are as follows:
About Dialer…
Dial
Use Speaker
Use Modem
Install (or Remove) FKey #
Set Prefixes…
Set Up Modem…
Reset…
Close Dialer
The text you are reading was displayed in response to your selection of the "About Dialer…" item, so it's probably safe to assume that you now understand that menu selection.
The "Dial" command will, of course, send whatever information is currently shown in Dialer's window to the device currently configured for dialing. The possible devices are the speaker and the serial ports.
To use the speaker port, simply select "Use Speaker" in the Dialer menu. When using the speaker as your dialing device you will probably want to connect the speaker port to the telephone, this can be handled by devices such as the Data Desk International HyperDialer.
When dialing through the speaker, characters other than digits, "*", and "#" are ignored. One exception is that a comma "," will insert a two second pause.
Dialing through the use of a serial port requires a modem that can dial the telephone. Choose "Use Modem" in the Dialer menu, and use "Set Up Modem…" to properly configure Dialer for your particular modem. The default modem settings will work for Hayes-compatible modems used with Touch Tone-compatible telephone systems. Be aware that any number you try to dial using a modem will be sent to the modem as part of a command. So, if you try to dial a "number" containing letters or strange punctuation, you might cause your modem to do interesting things.
When you first use the Dialer DA on your Macintosh, there will be an "Install FKey #" item present in the Dialer menu. Select this item in order to place an FKey with the number indicated by # in your System. If you have installed FKeys in all of the available slots (slots 1 through 4 are reserved), then this menu item will be dimmed and will be titled "No Empty Slots for FKey Installation".
After the Dialer FKey has been installed, the install menu item changes to "Remove FKey #". You can use the menu item to delete the Dialer FKey from your system, or you can use the remove menu item as a reminder in case you forget the FKey number for Dialer. Just pull down the Dialer menu and read the remove menu.
A version of the FKey is also provided in a separate file. I've been told that this is handy for Suitcase and/or Master Juggler users who do not wish to install the FKey in their system file.
Use "Set Prefixes…" to give Dialer instructions on what to do with long distance calls. If you have a newer Mac with newer system software, then a dialog box is displayed for entering:
1. A set of area codes and prefixes,
2. A prefix for other area codes, and
3. A prefix to be used for local calls.
When you dial a number that is ten digits long, Dialer will search the set of area codes for an area code matching that of the number to be dialed. There is a prefix in the list that corresponds to the area code found. The number that will be dialed is that prefix followed by the last seven digits of the number that was to be dialed.
Note that the area code is deleted from the number before the prefix is added. This may seem strange, but it provides flexibility. For example, if you want all numbers within your area code to simply be preceded with a one, then put an entry in the list with your local area code and enter a single "1" as the prefix. That way, your local area code will be deleted from calls placed within your area, but a "1" will still be added for long distance.
If you have a prefix that you use for all long distance calls, then enter that in the box labeled "Prefix for Other Area Codes". For most people, the prefix will just be "1". If you always use some sort of special code number before dialing long distance, enter it in this box. If you don't want to use your special code on "800" numbers, then put an entry in the "Area Codes with Prefixes" list with "800" as the area code and use "1800" as the prefix.
If the number you are dialing contains seven digits, then the "Prefix for Local Calls" will be added before your number. This can be used to prefix local calls with a "9", for example. If all of your calls need a preceding "9", then be sure to precede ALL of your prefixes with that digit.
If you are running older system software (or, perhaps, an older Macintosh), a simpler "Set Prefixes" dialog box is used. You use it to enter a Long Distance Prefix and Local Area Code. If you enter a Long Distance Prefix, your prefix will automatically be added before numbers consisting of exactly ten digits. If a Local Area Code is entered, then when a ten digit number is to be dialed, the first three digits will be compared with the Local Area Code. If they match, then the area code will be deleted from the number before it is dialed. (Your prefix will still be used, if you have one.)
The "Set Up Modem…" item can be used to configure Dialer to work with a modem connected to either the printer or to the modem port on your Macintosh. Choosing "Set Up Modem…" will cause a dialog to be displayed asking for various settings that will depend on the type of modem you intend to use. The default settings are for using a Hayes-compatible modem with a Touch Tone phone system.
If you do not have Touch Tone service at your location, change the "T" to a "P" at the end of the information labeled "Send before number to be dialed:". Be aware that you will not be able to listen in using the phone handset during pulse dialing. Hopefully, your modem has some blinking lights or a speaker to let you know when it is finished dialing.
You get the default settings when you use Dialer for the first time, or whenever you choose "Reset…" from the Dialer menu. "Reset…" not only reverts the modem settings to their initial values, it also snaps the Dialer window back to its original position, makes the speaker port the current dialing device, and clears all prefixes.
You can close the Dialer DA at anytime by selecting "Close Dialer", by clicking in the close box of the DA's window, or by hitting your Return or Enter key.
Happy dialing!
Jon Hill
Bugless Software Ltd.
Compuserve: 72576,616
GEnie: J.Hillrequires a modem that can dial the telephone. Choose "Use Modem" in the Dialer menu, and use "Set Up Modem…" to properly configure Dialer for your particular modem. The default modem settings will work for Hayes-compatible modems used with Touch Tone-compatible telephone systems. Be aware that any number you try to dial using a modem will be sent to the modem as part of a command. So, if you try to dial a "number" containing letters or strange punctuation, you might cause your modem to do interesting things.
When you first use the Dialer DA on your Macintosh, there will be an "Install FKey #" item present in the Dialer menu. Select this item in order to place an FKey with the number indicated by # in your System. If you have installed FKeys in all of the available slots (slots 1 through 4 are reserved), then this menu item will be dimmed and will be titled "No Empty Slots for FKey Installation".
After the Dialer FKey has been installed, the install menu item changes to "Remove FKey #". You can use the menu item to delete the Dialer FKey from your system, or you can use the remove menu item as a reminder in case you forget the FKey number for Dialer. Just pull down the Dialer menu and read the remove menu.
A version of the FKey is also provided in a separate file. I've been told that this is handy for Suitcase and/or Master Juggler users who do not wish to install the FKey in their system file.
Use "Set Prefixes…" to give Dialer instructions on what to do with long distance calls. If you have a newer Mac with newer system software, then a dialog box is displayed for entering:
1. A set of area codes and prefixes,
2. A prefix for other area codes, and
3. A prefix to be used for local calls.
When you dial a number that is ten digits long, Dialer will search the set of area codes for an area code matching that of the number to be dialed. There is a prefix in the list that corresponds to the area code found. The number that will be dialed is that prefix followed by the last seven digits of the number that was to be dialed.
Note that the area code is deleted from the number before the prefix is added. This may seem strange, but it provides flexibility. For example, if you want all numbers within your area code to simply be preceded with a one, then put an entry in the list with your local area code and enter a single "1" as the prefix. That way, your local area code will be deleted from calls placed within your area, but a "1" will still be added for long distance.
If you have a prefix that you use for all long distance calls, then enter that in the box labeled "Prefix for Other Area Codes". For most people, the prefix will just be "1". If you always use some sort of special code number before dialing long distance, enter it in this box. If you don't want to use your special code on "800" numbers, then put an entry in the "Area Codes with Prefixes" list with "800" as the area code and use "1800" as the prefix.
If the number you are dialing contains seven digits, then the "Prefix for Local Calls" will be added before your number. This can be used to prefix local calls with a "9", for example. If all of your calls need a preceding "9", then be sure to precede ALL of your prefixes with that digit.
If you are running older system software (or, perhaps, an older Macintosh), a simpler "Set Prefixes" dialog box is used. You use it to enter a Long Distance Prefix and Local Area Code. If you enter a Long Distance Prefix, your prefix will automatically be added before numbers consisting of exactly ten digits. If a Local Area Code is entered, then when a ten digit number is to be dialed, the first three digits will be compared with the Local Area Code. If they match, then the area code will be deleted from the number before it is dialed. (Your prefix will still be used, if you have one.)
The "Set Up Modem…" item can be used to configure Dialer to work with a modem connected to either the printer or to the modem port on your Macintosh. Choosing "Set Up Modem…" will cause a dialog to be displayed asking for various settings that will depend on the type of modem you intend to use. The default settings are for using a Hayes-compatible modem with a Touch Tone phone system.
If you do not have Touch Tone service at your location, change the "T" to a "P" at the end of the information labeled "Send before number to be dialed:". Be aware that you will not be able to listen in using the phone handset during pulse dialing. Hopefully, your modem has some blinking lights or a speaker to let you know when it is finished dialing.
You get the default settings when you use Dialer for the first time, or whenever you choose "Reset…" from the Dialer menu. "Reset…" not only reverts the modem settings to their initial values, it also snaps the Dialer window back to its original position, makes the speaker port the current dialing device, and clears all prefixes.
You can close the Dialer DA at anytime by selecting "Close Dialer", by clicking in the close box of the DA's window, or by hitting your Return or Enter key.
