Please see the following link:
http://www.pcplus.co.uk/tips/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=5545&subsectioni...

dial.exe <phonenumber>  command line dials the phone.  It works fine.

Bharat -

Thanks for the download info; that is getting me closer to what I want.  Ironically, I do believe it is simply accessing a Windows XP utility.  It is frustrating that I can't access it in Windows directly.  If I use dialer.exe, it brings up a more elaborate screen with provisions for video, conferencing, etc. .... not what I want.

In any event, I CAN get the Dial.Exe that I downloaded to execute from the RUN command in Windows by providing the path followed by a space followed by a valid phone number.  Try as I may, however, I cannot come up with programming to use @shell to run the Dial.Exe and pass a phone number from my database.

If you have manageed to do this, since you said "problem solved," can you PLEASE provide me a sample of the code you used.

Thanks!

Ray -

I've tried that all variations of that.  I see the black screen flashing, but the program is not executed. 

I'm totally baffled.

Spencer,

Where is dial.exe located on your computer? If it is in a directory with a space in it you have to change the code to

vReturn = @Shell(@Chr(34) + "C:\Program Files\dial.exe" + @Chr(34) + " " + Phone) 

-Ray

The following code will go on the Element Entry event of the the command button

var VSuccess as Int
var vPhonenumber as String = Phone1    //phone element name
var vAreacode as string = "773"   //Area code
var vName as String = Name    //if firstname and last name change accordingly
var vPath as String = "C:\utilities\"  //path for dial.exe utility


vPhonenumber = @num (vPhonenumber)

If @len (vPhonenumber) = 10 then
      {
            If @left (vPhonenumber, 3) = vAreacode then
            {      
                  vPhonenumber = @Right (vPhonenumber, 7)
            }
            Else
            {
                  vphonenumber = 1 + vPhonenumber
            }
      }

vsuccess = @Shell(@Chr(34) + vPath + "dial.exe" + @Chr(34) + " " + vPhonenumber  + " [" + vName +"]")

If not vSuccess = 0 then
      {
            @msgbox ("Problem!!! Dialer did not work.", "", "")

      }

 

The above code will also display the name of the person you are calling. It will also remove the various format element like (    ) -     - from the phone# and add 1 in the begining if it is required. If you are calling locally, it will dial only seven digits as required.

You have to download free dialing utility from following site
http://www.pcplus.co.uk/tips/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=5545&subsectioni...

As such the above utilizes dialer.exe that comes with the operating system.

I am still having the most horrific time working with the phone dialer (although I am still delighted that parts of it are working just fine).

It may help to know that my (10-digit) telephone numbers are formatted (on element exit) as (123) 123-1234.

I am currently using the following code:

Var vReturn as Int

if @lt(home,5) = "(813)" or @lt(home,5) = "(727)" then
Vreturn = @shell(@chr(34) + "C:\Program Files\sesame\utilities\dialer.exe" + @Chr(34) + Home)

if not @lt(home,5) = "(813)" or @lt(home,5) = "(727)" then
Vreturn = @shell(@chr(34) + "C:\Program Files\sesame\utilities\dialer.exe" + @Chr(34) + Home)

If not vReturn = 0 then
    
            @msgbox ("Problem!!! Dialer did not work.", "", "")  

If the number I am dialing begins with area code (813) or (727) it works just fine.

I am making some assumptions based on this:

1)  FOR AREA CODE 813:  The utility program itself must know to ignore the symbols ( ) and - because it shows that the number I am dialing as (123) 123-1234 ... and dials it properly.  It does NOT dial the area code and this, perhaps, is because of my windows settings.

^{(In the control panel under Phones & Modems, the Dialing Rules reflect that the area code from which I am dialing is 813).}

2) FOR AREA CODE 727:  I MUST first dial the area code but must NOT dial the 1 first.  In this case, my programming is apparently accepted "as is."

3) FOR ALL OTHER AREA CODES:  Naturally, I have to dial a 1 first and apparently the utility program does not know to automatically do this because - using the above code - I get a "wrong number" each and every time.

I have tried DOZENS and DOZENS of code variations to get the 1 prefix added to the number.  I have tried the following code:

Var vReturn as Int

if @lt(home,5) = "(813)" or @lt(home,5) = "(727)" then
Vreturn = @shell(@chr(34) + "C:\Program Files\sesame\utilities\dialer.exe" + @Chr(34) + Home)

if not @lt(home,5) = "(813)" or @lt(home,5) = "(727)" then
Vreturn = @shell(@chr(34) + "C:\Program Files\sesame\utilities\dialer.exe" + @Chr(34) + 1 + Home)

If not vReturn = 0 then
    
            @msgbox ("Problem!!! Dialer did not work.", "", "")  

In this case, the msgbox appeared.

I have also tried many variations of the code Bharat recommended and nothing has worked.

In one case (which unfortunately I can't replicate at present) I got a message that windows could not find:  C:\Program Files\Sesame\Utilities\Dialer.exe11232331234. 

Woe is me!!!

Bharat -

I'll definitely try the code you recommended (even though it apparently is not necessary for me to strip the ()- symbols or disect the area code & phone number in the 813 or 727 area codes).  But I am still concerned that having limited my programming to just one field, I istill can't get it to work with area code other than 813 or 727.  I did try a variation that included using the variable for the phone number and using the coding you did.  As I said I am unable to replicate it right now; however, it should have worked and didn't.

I want to assure you that I appreciate and will use the code you suggested.  It is important to me, though, to fully understand any "gift" code so that I am able to manipulate it if I need to and, hopefully, to be able to use variations of it at a future date.

Right now, I am going to take a break (to play Spades on the Internet) even though I should be in bed.  But, I need a little recreation other than Sesame. 

I renamed Dial.exe Dialer.exe

As far as I know my programming provides for the space