Toshiba Using StrataLink Application Bulleti
Computer Telephony Integration
Application Bulletin
AB50-0004
April 1, 1997
Using StrataLink for CTI Connections
4170114
Many Microsoft® Windows®-based Computer Telephony software products either do not have
a TAPI compliant version of their product, or need the additional capabilities of a
“middleware” software to control how the application functions with Strata DK call handling.
StrataLink has bee n de v eloped wit h this in mind and o f fers you t he abil ity to w ork with se ve ral
popular software applications. They are:
♦ Elan Software’s Goldmine
♦ TeleMagic
♦ DayTimer Organizer
♦ Golden Gate Software’s Page Server/Page
♦ Commence
®
for Windows V2.2
™
®
V3.1
V2.0
95 V3.0
™
®
Send Application V1.0
StrataLink will work with Toshiba’s new V2.22 TSPI. Both will be packaged together, and
when released, will ship with each RPCI-DI. The installation procedure will provide options
for installing the TSPI, StrataLink, or both.
Note
This bulletin provides important general information on StrataLink and how it
operates. For specific instructions on using one of the above applications with
StrataLink, see the Application Notes for the desired software.
StrataLink communicates with these software applications using Microsoft Windows Open
System Architecture capabilities for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). StrataLink accepts a
DDE exchange to provide for outbound dialing and creates DDE instructions which in turn
create actions within the li nked application.
The program is designed to wor k wi th Toshiba’s TAPI Service Provider to recei ve events from
the telephone system and collect information for the application. It also provides dialing
instructions which ensure the number sent to the telephone system matches the local dialing
plan.
Figure 1 shows how StrataLink is used with Windows applications to provide telephone
services with your desktop PC.
Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
9740 Irvine Bl vd., Ir vin e, CA 92618-1697 (714) 583-3700
Telecommunication Systems Division
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AB50-0004
Using StrataLink for CTI Connections
Microsoft Windows PC
Strata DKT
RS-232 Link
RPCI to COM Port
2046
Figure 1 Computer Telephony Connection Using Toshiba’s StrataLink
TAPI
Service
Provider
TAPI
DLL
(Windows)
StrataLink Function s
StrataLink has three basic functions. It:
♦ Accepts events from the telephone, applies filtering rules and conditions and causes
actions to take place in the application.
♦ Provides for outbound calling and call control from the application.
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StrataLink
DDE Link
DDE Link
CT
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♦ Provides tools for testing the interface and debugging or monitoring the call events.
Processes Telephone Events
Using Win dow s TAPI, StrataLink accepts the Strata DK commands and pr ovides a sel ection of
“Actions” based upon call events, called Triggers. Each Trigger can have one or more
conditions applied to it to control how, when, or if the Action is to be performed. Each Action
has a limited set of paramet ers t hat can be chan ged to c ustomiz e the a pplica tion f or th e user. A
list of Trigger events can be selected for the Action desired.
Provides Outbound Calling and Call Control
The Computer T elephony Software creates events for controlling the telephone. The events are
controlled using DDE exchanges originating from the application and received by StrataLink.
In some programs, the application software must be configured for this operation.
Tests, Debugs, and Monitors
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StrataLink pro vides several important testing and debugging functions. These tools enable the
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installer to verify whether the link is functional and by using the TAPI link, to view t he de tails
of the information being passed. Without these tools, the troubleshooting or verifying
operation is reduced to guessing.
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Using StrataLink for CTI Connections
Software Application Initiated Events
Dialing Preferences
Most application programs when attempting to dial using a DDE command are not able to
specify the line appearance for the call. A line appearance must be specified for:
♦ Intercom Calls – dialing numbers with less than five digits.
♦ Local Calls –
calls that m atch
the local area
code specifie d or
calls with on ly
seven digits (also
need specify the
local area code to
be stripped befor e
dialing).
♦ Long Distance
Calls – any call
with 10 or more
digits (also
indicate if a ‘1’
needs to be added
if missing).
Figure 2 Dialing Preferences Screen
AB50-0004
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StrataLink provides an easy-to-use dialog box (see Figure 2) available in the Main Menu’s
Setup sub-menu to set your dialing preferences.
Local Calls
Application programs may dial the area code of the telephone number even if it is a local call.
Thus, by setting the Local Area Code field, StrataLink detects these calls, strips off the Area
Code of the telephone number, and dials using the “Local” appearance. For example, if your
Local Area Code is “714” and the application attempts to dial “714-515-1234,” the program
converts the number to “515-1234” before dialing.
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Long Distance Calls
Application programs may not insert a “1” before a long distance call. By using the option
“Add 1+ if Missin g,” StrataLink can automatically detect and correct this. For example, if the
application attempts to dial a long distance call like “612-555-1234” (and your Local Area
Code is “714”), this option converts the number to “1-612-555-1234” before dialing.
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Application Program DDE Commands
With t he e xcepti on of TeleMagic, all other applicatio ns mentio ned in thi s b ulle tin ca n send the
appropriate DDE commands to StrataLink. Some application programs (for example
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GoldMine) must be configured to use these DDE commands.
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StrataLink, wherever necessary, offers more than one format for each command. (See your
program’s Application Notes for applicable commands.) The following are some examples:
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Dial
Using StrataLink for CTI Connections
Dial a telephone number on the specified line appearance. If the line appearance is not
specified, the appropriate default appearance (Intercom, Local, or Long Distance) is used.
[Dial, “Phone Number”, “appearance”]
...or [DialNumber (“Intercom or Trunk ID”, “Outside Phone Number”)]
Answer
Answer a Ringing Call on t he specif ied line appea rance. If the l ine appear ance is not spe cif ied,
the current appearance is used.
[Answer, <appearance>]
...or [AnswerCall ( )]
Hangup
Hangup on a active call .
[Hangup]
...or [DropCall ( )]
Telephone System Events
Trigger Rules and Conditions
The Trigger Rules are established by the installer or user so that specific Actions can be
performed when an event occurs. The Triggering event can be any number of things (e.g.,
Call Ringing, Call Connected, or Call Cleared).
The existing Trigger Rules can be displayed (Figure 3), edited, deleted or new rules added to
meet the needs of the application. These functions are important when setting up the desktop
PC. Multiple rules can be created and active at the same time.
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Figure 3 Trigger Rules Screen
Strata DK I&M April 1997
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