Dialing Options

The dialing options allow you to configure ‘dialing intelligence’. This way, you can set up GFI FAXmaker to accommodate multiple local area codes and other special dialing procedures. It processes the fax number in a structured manner and dials out in the correct format for the phone system.

To configure the dialing logic, right-click on the Advanced ► Dialing node in the GFI FAXmaker configuration and select Properties.

The dialing logic is split into 2 parts: International dialing (country code), and National Dialing for local area codes and exchange settings.

Screenshot 70 - Dialing options

First, you must enter your country code and area code. The country code must be entered without the dial prefix. The dial prefixes are the numbers that are placed in front of the country code when dialing an international number. This may vary per country, but the most common are 00 and 011.

It is important to remember that the dial prefix of a country is the number the user in that country must dial to make an international call (sometimes defined as a + in front of the country code). The country code is the number that the user in another country must dial in order to call the country with that country code. For example, in the United Kingdom the dial prefix is 00; thus, to dial the United States (which has 1 as its country code), the user must dial 001 and then the number. In the United States, the dial prefix is 011, thus to dial the United Kingdom (country code 44) the user must dial 01144 and then the number.

International dialing

In this section you must enter the settings for international dialing. When the fax server detects a + in front of the number, this section is used to modify the first part of the number. The user may select the option to remove the country code if it matches the one in the ‘Where am I?’ section.

If this option is not selected, the country code will remain as is. If the option is selected, it enables 2 other options. One is the option to attach a prefix if the country code matches and is removed. The other is the option to replace the + with the international dial prefix when selected.

This logic will allow you to use the following number notation in your fax number entry:

+44-(020)-2282666

GFI FAXmaker will then determine in which country you are and if you are in the same country, GFI FAXmaker will strip off the 44 and optionally put a prefix in front of the number, for example 0.

If you are not in the same country, GFI FAXmaker can replace the + with the international dialing prefix, for example 00 or 011.

National dialing

This option is especially important if you are based in North America. Using this option you can enter your area code and ask GFI FAXmaker to remove it if you are faxing to a number with the same area code. In addition, you can add a prefix to the number. If the number is not your local area code, you can set up GFI FAXmaker to automatically add 1 as prefix.

NOTE: The area code in the fax number must be included in round parentheses. If this is not done, the fax server cannot determine which part of the number is the area code.

Screenshot 71 - The dialing exceptions dialog

Exceptions

Because some dialing procedures can be very complex (Especially those in the US), you can set up a number of exceptions, which can for example handle multiple local area codes.

The Exceptions dialog allows you to specify the different area codes and exchanges for each number. It allows you to remove the area code and add a prefix if needed. Since one area code may have hundreds of exchanges, to avoid entering a lot of numbers with the same area codes and different exchanges, you may enter a wild card (*) in the exchange section, which will handle all the related exchange numbers. Thus if you enter area code 342 and exchange *, it will process all the numbers starting with area code 342 (342 456, 342 123, 342 789…).

To add an exception: Click on the Exceptions button, and key in the area code affected into the Area Code field.

If the settings pertain to a particular exchange within the area code (i.e., the three digits of the phone number following the area code), enter them into the Exchange field.

NOTE: You can use commas to add a delay between numbers if your system requires it. Each comma represents approximately a two second delay.

If the telephone number requires a prefix for distance dialing, for example a 1, then check the box “Dial a prefix before the area code” and enter the 1.

If you do not need to dial the area code for this number then check the box “Do not dial the area code”.

Click on the Add to add it to the list of telephone entries.

To remove an exception: Select the telephone entry to be removed and click on Remove.

Notes for Users / inputting the fax number

The dialing options will only work if the user keys in the fax numbers correctly. If this is not the case, GFI FAXmaker will not be able to process the fax number.

The fax number should be inputted in the following format:

+<country code> (<area code>) <fax number>

E.g.,

+44 (171) 226 4788

+1 (716) 265 1016

+356 382 419