N E T WO R KI N G D Y N A M I C S C O R P O R A T I O N CompuFax User Manual Networking Dynamics Corporation 101 North Garden Avenue, Suite 220 Clearwater, Florida 33755 Phone 727.446.4511 • Fax 727.446.4252 www.networkingdynamics.
January 2001 Copyright Notice © Copyright + 1992--2001, an unpublished work by Networking Dynamics Corporation. Portions Copyright + 1988--1996 by Aladdin Enterprises, Menlo Park, California. Portions Copyright + 1990--1991 by Bitstream Inc. Certain fonts are licensed from Elfring Consulting, Inc., 4N899 West Mary Drive, St. Charles, IL 60175.
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CompuFax® Version 4.3 Quick Installation Instructions (For use on VAX or Alpha AXP Systems) CompuFax contains a full fax server that runs on the primary computer node that has a fax modem device connected. CompuFax also contains a remote fax server that you can install on a remote node and send fax requests to the primary node. This procedure will allow installation of a Primary Fax Server. To install a Remote Fax Server system, please refer to Chapter 1, "CompuFax Installation.
$ FAX DELETE/ENTRY=id-number Refer to Chapter 1, "CompuFax Installation", or use the CompuFax on-line Help for additional information. We suggest you review the product release notes, located in the CompuFax directory, for additional information. 9. Print and read the CF.RELEASE_NOTES located in the FAX$DIR directory.
CompuFax® Hardware Installation and Configuration (As shipped, CompuFax is set up to transmit faxes TTA0: device. It can easily be configured to send to a null device for testing. This allows you to demo the software without using a real fax device. A. SETTING UP A TERMINAL SERVER PORT. (Skip to step B if using a direct connect.
Preface Overview CompuFax will run on VAX/ VMS and OpenVMS versions 5.4 through 7.1, as well as on Alpha-AXP OpenVMS versions 6.1 through 7.1. Fax documents may be created as ordinary text files and sent with a simple command. Documents may be sent either via the CompuFax command processor, via the VMS print mechanism, or via VMS MAIL. Starting with CompuFax Version 3.2, faxes may be received and printed or viewed.
Intended Audience This manual is intended for users who want to become familiar with CompuFax, System Managers wishing to install and maintain CompuFax and Programmers wishing to interface other applications with CompuFax. How To Use This Manual This manual has been fully revised from earlier issues, with concentration on legibility, usefulness, accuracy, completeness and aesthetics. Chapter One contains installation instructions, Chapters Two through Four are a tutorial on how to use CompuFax.
Table of Contents PREFACE....................................................................................................................................................................IX OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................................... IX T ABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................................................
3.16 LOGOS AND LETTERHEADS ..................................................................................................................................13 OTHER COMMANDS ...............................................................................................................................................14 4.1 USING COMMAND FILES .......................................................................................................................................14 4.2 THE VERIFY COMMAND.......
6.6.3 Setting Up a Default Recipient .....................................................................................................................36 6.6.4 Adding, Changing or Deleting a Lookup Entry ............................................................................................36 6.6.5 Sending The Same Fax to Multiple Destinations .........................................................................................36 6.6.6 Sending Routine Faxes.......................................
10.2.1.5 FAX_CMD_SET_USER............................................................................................................................92 10.2.1.6 FAX_CMD_FORCE_EXIT.......................................................................................................................92 10.2.1.7 Linking Modules ......................................................................................................................................93 APPENDIX A.......................................
1 CompuFax Installation 1.1 Overview Several configuration decisions should be made prior to installation of the CompuFax product. This overview has been provided for your convenience and may be used as a guideline in making those decisions. Fax modem hardware may be installed on one or more VAX or Alpha AXP computer nodes. Multiple fax modems may be connected to a single system or distributed over several nodes. Nodes with attached fax modems are referred to as Full Device Server nodes.
1.2 Hardw are Installation This procedure is performed only for Full Device Server software. 1.2.1 Fax Modem Devic e A Class II fax modem device is required for use with the CompuFax product. The MultiTech MT2834ZDX fax modem (19,200 data/ 14,400 fax) has been tested for performance and reliability, and is the recommended modem device. 1.2.2 Modem Cabling A standard serial modem cable can be used to connect the modem to the terminal server (LAT) or hard-wired terminal port (TX, TT, etc.).
1.2.
1.3.2 Full Devic e Server Inst allat ion If you do not plan on using the Remote Fax Server on other nodes, perform each step related to a Full Device Server only. Place the distribution media in the drive to begin the installation. Use VMSINSTAL to load the correct files onto your system. If you performed the steps in the Section 1.2.5 section and copied the saveset to disk, replace tape-drive: with the name of the target-directory you created earlier.
1.4.2 Full Devic e Server St art up CompuFax is composed of a main executable image and several other images that support various features. The startup command file defines logicals, creates directories and installs the correct images on the system. Start the CompuFax Full Device Server $ @FAX$DIR:FAX_SYSTARTUP Warning: Full Device Server and Remote Fax Server startup procedures are never executed on the same node.
1.4.4 Rem ot e Fax Server Set up Configure the Remote Fax Server startup options to indicate the node(s) you have designated as your Full Device Server systems(s). Edit the Remote Fax Server startup command file to include the node name(s) of the system(s) this node will use as Full Device Server for transmitting faxes: $ EDIT FAX$DIR:FAX_REMSTART.COM Search for the line containing "**" and add the node name(s).
2 Getting Started As a CompuFax User 2.1 What Is CompuFax? CompuFax is a collection of computer programs that lets you send fax document files directly from your VAX or Alpha-AXP VMS terminal or workstation. CompuFax is a software package with many options and supporting features that make it powerful, yet easy to use. 2.2 Getting Started A CompuFax user can verify that CompuFax is running on the system with the FAX SHOW QUEUE command.
2.3 Sending a Fax To send a fax, you need two things: The name of the document (file) you want to send The fax phone number you want to send the fax to. Using your favorite text editor, create a short text file, called TESTFAX.1 and enter the following lines of text: This is a test. I am sending a short message with CompuFax. CompuFax makes faxing easy! Send your file to your office fax machine, using the example below: $ FAX FAX> SEN D TESTFAX.
2.4.1 An Even Sim pler Way t o Send Instead of going into the CompuFax program first, you can enter the command directly from the DCL command line: $ FAX SEN D TESTFAX.1 / N UMBER= 123-4567 CompuFax executes the above command and then returns control to DCL. More examples of entering fax phone numbers: $ FAX SEN D $ FAX SEN D $ FAX SEN D $ FAX SEN D TESTFAX.1 / N UMBER= 1234567 TESTFAX.1 / N UMBER= 1-555-123-4567 TESTFAX.1 / N UM= 15551234567 TESTFAX.
2.7 Sending Faxes Using VMS Mail Here is a way you can send a fax from within VMS Mail: $ MAIL MAIL> SEN D TESTFAX.1 To: FAX%1-555-123-4567 Subj: Sending File TESTFAX.1 MAIL> At the To: prompt, enter FAX% followed by the fax phone number, without any spaces between them. 2.7.1 Using Com puFax Qualifiers w it h VMS Mail To include qualifiers with a fax sent from VMS Mail, enter the qualifiers after the fax phone number. Enclose the fax phone number and qualifiers within quotation marks.
From: VS4000::P_SMITH 15-JUN -1994 11:52:38.95 To: FAX%"" CC: P_SMITH Subj: Sending File TESTFAX.1 This is a test. I am sending a short message with CompuFax. CompuFax makes faxing easy! 2.8 Getting Help You can basically teach yourself CompuFax by studying the Help text. From the DCL command line, you can enter: $ FAX HELP A Help screen displays, from which you can then select a topic to study. The CompuFax Help text works just like the VMS Help text.
The next chapter gives further information on how faxes may be sent.
3 More About Sending Files In the previous chapter, we covered some simple ways to send faxes. Since the SEND command is the most important command in CompuFax, we devote this chapter to more of its options. (This does not complete the list, however, since some options are related to System Management. For a complete list, see Chapter 7.) 3.1 Sending Multiple Files You can send multiple files, all as part of the same fax. For example, if you have five files (named doc.1 through doc.
3.2.1 Tex t Files The simplest file type is a regular text file, such as the ones we sent in the examples of the previous chapter. These files are also referred to as printer format files or ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) files. This type of file can be created with a simple text editor. 3.2.2 Bit m apped Files In addition to text files, there are also graphics or bitmapped files.
3.3 Using Different Fonts The word font is a printing term, which denotes letters of a certain style (called a typeface) and of a certain size. When CompuFax converts a text file into the T4 format, it uses a special file, called a font file, in its conversion. Two different font files are shipped with CompuFax; one of the font files will print at least 8 characters per inch and the other will print at least 12 characters per inch.
3.5 Sending Files With Overlays An overlay, in terms of CompuFax, is an image that is superimposed on another image. An example of this is a form overlay, such as an invoice, which is overlaid on (merged with) the text that is to be printed on the form. An overlay file must always be in T4 format. Overlay files are specified with a / OVERLAY qualifier in the SEND command 4 . Here is an example: $ FAX SEN D MEMO.TXT / OVERLAY= (FILE: DRAW.T4, REPEAT) / N UM= 123-4567 In the above example, MEMO.
# # REMARK ********************************************************************** # # REMARK Below, we indent the text 1.2 inches and reset the character spacing. # # POSITION _CURSOR IN CHES 0 1.2 # # CHARACTER_SIZE # # REMARK You can enter an optional message below: Dearest Bill, I miss you. Won't you please come home, Bill Bailey? I'll cook the food, pay the rent, etc.
# # BREAKUP (This section of text is not faxed) . . # # N EWFAX # # N UMBER 123-4567 (This section is faxed to 123-4567) . . # # EN DFAX (This section of text is not faxed) . . # # N EWFAX # # N UMBER 234-5678 (This section is faxed to 234-5678) . . # # EN DFAX (This section of text is not faxed) . . # # N EWFAX # # N UMBER 456-7890 (This section is faxed to 456-7890) . . # # EN DFAX (This section of text is not faxed) . . # # BREAKUP This directive informs CompuFax that this is a breakup file.
This directive indicates the end of a section. Any further text will be ignored, except for a # # NEWFAX directive, which would indicate the start of another section. As an example, assume we are sending three files, FILE.A, FILE.B and FILE.C, where FILE.B is the breakup file shown above: $ FAX SEN D FILE.A, FILE.B, FILE.C This results in: One fax, consisting of files FILE.A, FILE.B1, FILE.C to number 123-4567 One fax, consisting of files FILE.A, FILE.B2, FILE.
The / LOOKUP qualifier causes CompuFax to look up Fred's number (1-818-555-1111) automatically and send the fax to that number. Or, instead of using the / LOOKUP qualifier, you can use the # # LOOKUP directive in your text file: # # LOOKUP "Fred Smith" . . . 3.9 Lookup With Wildcard In the above lookup example, if you could not remember Fred's last name, but you know that there is only one Fred in your lookup file, you could enter: $ FAX SEN D TESTFAX.
Here is a sample fax file (MERGE.TXT) we could send: # # MERGE_EN ABLE %%Internal_Address%% %%Salutation%%: Just wanted to say 'Hello.' Let me know how things are going with you. Best, Bill. Let us say, we send this with the following command: $ FAX SEN D MERGE.TXT / LOOKUP= CITY= "Los Angeles" Jane Jones now gets this fax: Attn: Jane Jones, Purchasing Dept. Dear Ms. Jones: Just wanted to say 'Hello.' Let me know how things are going with you. Best, Bill. Fred Smith gets: Mail stop 333 Dear Mr.
3.13 Deferred Sending You can tell CompuFax to wait until late at night to send a fax, when the phone rates may be lower, or there is less chance of getting a busy signal. We briefly touched on the / AFTER qualifier in the previous chapter, but here it is discussed in more detail. Here is an example: $ FAX SEN D TESTFAX.2 / AFTER= TOMORROW $ FAX SEN D TESTFAX.2 / AFTER= 18:00 $ FAX SEN D TESTFAX.2 / AFTER= 12-APR-1996:2:15:30 $ FAX SHOW QUEUE CompuFax queue report as of 10-JUN -1995 17:50:46.
3.15 Setting Priorities Some faxes are more urgent than others and sometimes you may want to push a certain fax to the head of the queue. CompuFax uses priority values to determine what fax to process next. These values range from 0 through 255, with 255 the highest and 0 the lowest priority. When you send a fax without the / PRIORITY qualifier, it is assigned a default priority of, say, 100.
4 Other Commands 4.1 Using Command Files You can use command files with CompuFax. This can be very useful for routine work or large tasks. Command files can reduce the possibility of errors. For example, let us say we create a command file, REPORT_SEND.COM, which is to send the same weekly report to three different locations: $ FAX SHOW QUEUE $ FAX SEN D REPORT.TXT / N UMBER= 1-213-428-5253 $ FAX SEN D REPORT.TXT / N UMBER= 1-512-953-2605 $ FAX SEN D REPORT.
3 P_SMITH 100 Pending 3 FAX server queue entries After we submitted the command file, we did an initial display of our queue, which was empty. Next, we issued three SEND commands to three different numbers, followed by another SHOW QUEUE, which shows the first fax in the process of being converted and the other two faxes are pending, waiting for the fax to finish being converted. This display verifies that all three faxes have been submitted. Next week, you can just create a new version of the REPORT.
4.3 The DELETE Command The DELETE command lets you delete queue entries that are waiting to be sent, or even while in the process of being transmitted. For example: $ FAX SHOW QUEUE CompuFax queue report as of 30-MAY-1995 13:34:41.69 0 FAX server queue entries CompuFax queue report as of 30-MAY-1995 13:34:44.
4.4 Keeping Track Of What You Did You can record what you type at the fax prompt. This is particularly useful if you are sending a lot of faxes. To start recording, use the LOG_OUTPUT command from within CompuFax. For example: FAX> LOG_OUTPUT TEST.LOG This records the commands you type into file TEST.LOG within your current directory. If after this you issue a new LOG_OUTPUT command, the first file will be closed and a new one opened. This concludes the Tutorial portion of this manual.
5 Receive to Disk 5.1 Overview Starting with CompuFax Version 3.2, fax documents can now be received to disk and printed or viewed. In addition, a CONVERT command has been created, which makes it possible to crop and position T4 file images, for use with logos or overlay files. Received faxes may be printed automatically, or held for later viewing and/ or printing. Requirements: The Receive to Disk license option is required to receive faxes.
faxes after they have been received. It is advisable to print and delete the received files routinely, since a single fax page may easily take up several hundred blocks of disk space. CompuFax may be set up to print received faxes automatically and then delete them. This is the recommended procedure for sites where this will not cause security or distribution difficulties, as this gives reasonable assurances that available disk space will not be exceeded. 5.
to set / NOBEST_WAY, in which case the compression method specified by the / MODEL qualifier will always be used. The / [NO]BURST qualifier specifies whether a burst page is printed before the first page of the file. Defaults to / NOBURST. See VMS System Manager documentation on managing queues for more information on burst pages. The / COPIES= nn qualifier specifies how many copies are to be printed of each page. Range is 1 through 99, with 1 as the default value.
defined as an actual print queue on the system. See VMS System Manager documentation on managing queues. The / [NO]RECEIVE qualifier defines whether or not faxes are printed automatically upon receipt. The received fax is in T4 format and CompuFax creates a PCL format print file for the printer currently supported. After printing, the PCL file is automatically deleted. To prevent deletion of the T4 file after conversion to PCL, specify the / NODELETE option.
lost whenever CompuFax is restarted. Operator privilege is required to make use of the FAX SET PRINTER command. 5.3.2 Verifying Print er Opt ions The new SHOW PRINTER command shows the current settings for the fax printer. This is a useful command to verify that the printer is set up correctly.
5.4.1 The VIEW c om m and The CompuFax VIEW command options are explained in detail in Chapter 6. However, here are some examples: $ FAX VIEW FAX$REC_DIR:RADA80AD_1_8182485253.T4 / DOWN SCALE= 3 / MODE= 257 The above example displays a received T4 file, scaled down by a factor of 3 (it displays every third dot in the fax file, both vertically and horizontally.
5.5 Converting Fax Files With the overlay facilities in CompuFax it becomes desirable to have some means of modifying bitmapped images, in order to produce overlays, coversheets and logo files. With the Receive option in CompuFax, the procedure becomes fairly simple: 1. Set up CompuFax to receive faxes and print them, but not to delete them: $ FAX SET PRIN TER / RECEIVE / N ODELETE / N OTIFY 2.
FAX or T4 PRIN TER or TEXT PCL POSTSCRIPT and PS are synonyms. FAX and T4 are also synonyms, as are PRINTER and TEXT. Printer format is the normal default for ASCII files. PCL (Printer Control Language) is valid only for the output file, while PostScript format is only valid for the input file. The / LEFT_MARGIN qualifier specifies the amount of white space between the left edge of the document and the bitmapped image. This is measured in dots, or as specified by the / UNIT qualifier.
For example: $ FAX CON VERT IN .X / PRIN T $ %DCPS-I-JOBSTART, Job IN (queue SYS$FAX, entry 3) started on SYS$FAX $ COPY IN .PCL OUT.PCL Job IN (queue SYS$FAX, entry 3) completed $ This is the preferred method, since the / FORMAT= PCL option produces a generic PCL file, without any data compression and an unscaled image. (Copying the PCL file is necessary, since IN.PCL is automatically deleted when printing is complete.) The third example converts T4 file TEST.T4 into a later version of TEST.
6 The Personal Computer Interface 6.1 Introduction Starting with Release 4.0 of CompuFax, you can send faxes from Personal Computers (PCs), which are connected via DEC PATHWORKS software to a VAX or Alpha VMS machine that is running a CompuFax Full Device Server. The PC should be running a Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 operating system. The user invokes the CompuFax PC Interface program, enters the fax phone number of the recipient and prepares the fax.
2. Execute the command (batch) file CFINSTAL.BAT, using as argument the path to the PCIF directory on the server (With Windows 95 you can execute this using Start | Run, or with Windows 3.1 using Program Manager | File | Run, or you can use the MS-DOS prompt.) For example: C:\ CFIN STAL E:\ FAX\ PCIF (Note: This assumes that CFINSTAL.BAT is in the C:\ root directory and the path to the server's FAX directory is defined as logical drive E:.
to set up the PostScript driver, so it will operate correctly with the CompuFax PC Interface. Both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 come with PostScript printer drivers, although the driver may need to be loaded from a Windows system diskette or CD-ROM. The procedure given here is for Windows 95. For Windows 3.1, see the section below, entitled Windows 3.1 PostScript Driver Initialization. 1. Click on Start | Settings | Printers. A window with printer icons should appear.
6.3.2 Adding a Port Nam e (Go to the Details window of the selected PostScript printer driver. Refer to the PostScript Driver Initialization section above, if necessary, for information on how to get there.) 1. In the Details window, the box entitled Print to the following port: should show: C:\ CFTEMP.PS (Unknown local port) 2. If it does not show that, click on the arrow to the right of the box and a dropdown list of names should appear. Select the one that says C:\ CFTEMP.PS.
The server must be a VAX or Alpha running VMS version 5.4 or above The server must be running CompuFax Release 4 Full Device Server software The client and the server must be networked with DEC PATHWORKS software. 6.4.
6.4.5 Help Sc reens As shown on the Destination screen, you can bring up a Help screen from any of the PC Interface main screens, simply by pressing the F1 key. From each Help screen, you can move to another screen by clicking on a Hypertext Link (usually shown in green underscored text). You can also get to the Table of Contents by clicking on the Contents button near the top of the Help screen and jump from there to a topic you want to review. You can exit the Help screens by clicking on File | Exit. 6.
6.4.6.6 Edit ing an Ent ry You can edit an entry by selecting it and then clicking on the < Back button. This takes you back to the Destination screen, where you can make your changes. From there, click on the Next> button to use the edited entry without saving it, or click on the Add to List button to also save it. Note that the original entry is retained, which is useful if you want to make entries for several people at the same company, for example.
logo differs from a coversheet in that it covers only a few inches at the top of the page, while a coversheet takes up an entire page and usually includes some variable information, such as the recipient's name. Unless you have reason to change it, you may select the Default logo setting, which means that you decided to go along with however the server is set up in this regard. (We suggest you try out the various options by sending yourself some faxes before you finalize the default settings.) 6.4.8.
for the PC Interface to work properly. These entries should be correct if the PC Interface software was installed properly and the server path was entered during installation. This file may be edited with a text editor, such as Notepad. We recommend that you do not use a word processor to edit it and that you make a backup copy of this file before you edit it. Here follows a sample listing with explanations below it. [Server] Path= \ \ GORMAN \ FAX\ PCIF User= M_JON ES ID= MAJ [Defaults] From= Michael A.
6.5.4 [Files] 01 The first default file in the File List on the Options screen. The full file path should be given. This file may be removed from the list by highlighting it and clicking on the Remove button 02 As above, but defines the second default file. Up to 10 file names may be defined this way. 6.6 Making Things Easier Sending a single fax is easy enough to do, but if you send faxes frequently, you may be interested in ways to speed up your work and make the job easier.
6.6.7 Frequent ly Used Files Frequently used files may be saved in a special format to make sending faxes more efficient. If the file consists of plain text and there are no special font requirements, you may want to save the file as a plain text (ASCII) file with a .TXT file extension, since this file does not require any conversion on the client side. Files that do have font requirements may be saved as PostScript files with a .PS extension.
# # N OTE % Add a note to the coversheet. WriteVariableInfo showpage % The page is complete. # # *** End of File *** 6.7.2 Sam ple File Ex plained The file starts out with a number of comments, identified by two pound signs (# # ) followed by a space or end of line. The fourth line contains an include_file statement, which causes the interpreter in the PC Interface to include the file CFCOVER.INC to be included at that point.
Next follows the Named Constants section, which is of greater interest. Note that the page dimensions are given as 11 inches high by 8.5 inches wide. If you use a different paper format, such as A4, you may wish to change these to your format, but corresponding changes will also need to be made in the server setup.
7 Summary of Commands and Directives This chapter is an alphabetical listing of CompuFax commands and directives, as given in the CompuFax Help facility. 7.1 Commands CON VERT Format: CONVERT infile [/ FORMAT] [outfile] [/ qualifiers...] Description: Converts from one file format to another or changes the layout of a file. Valid input file formats are text, PostScript, and T4; valid output file formats are T4 and PCL.
Description: Specifies the amount of white space between the left edge of the document and the bitmapped image in the outfile. This is measured in dots, or as specified by the / UNIT qualifier. If a negative left margin is specified, this means the image will be shifted left instead of right and serves to crop the image. Decimal fractions are allowed. / N OTIFY Format: Description: completes.
DELETE Format: DELETE / ENTRY = (n, ...) [ / ALL] [/ LOCAL] Description: This command is used to delete one or more queue entries. Entry numbers can be obtained by doing a SHOW ENTRY command. Up to 32 entry numbers may be specified. If the local node is a Remote Fax Server node and the / LOCAL qualifier is present, the entry numbers are the numbers shown for the "Local file copy queue". If the / LOCAL qualifier is not present then the numbers apply to the database, conversion or device queues.
Description: The first command parameter is the name of the input file. This must be a journal file which was created by CompuFax. While it can be changed by the system manager the default journal file name is FAX$DIR:FAX_JOU.DAT. The logical name FAX$JOURNAL gives the name actually in use by CompuFax. output_file Description: This is the name of the output ASCII format journal file. The default if this parameter is not specified is to create a file in the current directory called FAX_JOURNAL.DAT.
Format: / DELETE / NODELETE Description: Specifies whether the T4 file is to be deleted after printing. This qualifier overrides the default setting for the deletion of received files (see SET PRINTER and SHOW PRINTER commands.) If this qualifier is omitted, the default setting is used. Description: It is recommended you always use PRINT / NODELETE, unless you specifically wish to delete the file. QUIT Description: This command exits the FAX command processor. This is a synonym of EXIT.
/ FON T Format: / FONT[= filespec] Description: This qualifier specifies the font to be used when converting a text file into T4 format. The font file must exist in the logical directory FAX$FONT_DIR, which is normally the same directory as FAX$DIR and must have a .FNT file extension. This qualifier expects only the file name, without path name or extension; for example: # # FONT 132 refers to font file FAX$FONT_DIR:132.FNT.
Description: This qualifier forces or suppresses the sending of MAIL messages on fax completion. If / MAIL is specified, MAIL notification will always be given the user on FAX completion. If / NOMAIL is specified, MAIL notification will never be given the user on fax completion. If a username is specified in / MAIL = username then mail notification will be given on completion but it will be sent to the specified username rather than to the username of the process which originated the FAX.
Format: / PORTRAIT (D) Description: Specifies that the current document is to be sent without any rotation sideways. / LANDSCAPE and / PORTRAIT apply only to printer format (ASCII) files. This qualifier is ignored for other file types. This qualifier is positional: if it occurs before the name of the first file to be sent, it applies to all the files to be sent with this SEND command; otherwise it applies only to the file name that immediately precedes this qualifier.
/ N ORECEIVE / RESOLUTION / SPEED / SPEED2 In order to use the following qualifiers the device must be taken off line (STOP/ DEVICE) first: / CLASS / CSI / DEVICE_TYPE / IN ITIALIZATION _STRIN G / RECEIVE / N ORECEIVE / SPEED / SPEED2 SET JOURN AL Description: This command may be used to modify the current journal file settings. OPER privilege is required. The record layout is defined by $FAX$DIR:FAX_JOURNAL.H. Modifications made with the SET JOURNAL command last only until the system is restarted.
Control Language) type printers, such as the HP LaserJet 4 series, are supported. The initial setup is done at CompuFax startup time and may be modified in the options file, with the PRINTER command. The SHOW PRINTER command may be used to verify the current printer setting. The SET PRINTER command requires OPER privilege.
1 = Run Length Encoding 0 = N o Compression If the / BEST_WAY qualifier is also enabled, the actual method used may vary between zero and the number selected above. / N OTE Format: / NOTE= "string" Description: Specifies a message string of up to 131 characters, which will print at the top of the flag page, provided the / FLAG qualifier has been enabled. / N OTIFY Format: Description: completes.
/ SIZE Format: / SIZE= LETTER (D) / SIZE= LEGAL / SIZE= A4 / SIZE= EXECUTIVE Description: This qualifier determines the maximum dimensions of a printed image. A quarter inch border is required by the printer, which leaves a printable area of 8" x 10.5" for letter size paper, 8" x 13.5" for legal size, about 197 mm x 284 mm for A4 size and 6.75" x 9.75" for executive size. / TRAILER Format: Description: / TRAILER / NOTRAILER (D) Determines whether a trailer page is printed after the file has been printed.
Format: / CONVERSION (D) / NOCONVERSION Description: This qualifier controls the display of the queue of entries which are waiting for the conversion of one or more of the files involved in the FAX. When a FAX containing one or more PostScript files is sent the files must first be converted to PostScript format. Depending on the FAX devices being used it also may be necessary to convert files which are in printer (ASCII) format.
Format: / USERNAME= (username [,...]) Description: This qualifier causes the report to be filtered by username. Only those entries which were originated by one of the specified usernames will be displayed. The specified usernames may contain the wildcard characters "*" and "%". Up to 4 usernames may be specified in the list. SHOW PRIN TER Description: Shows the current printer settings, which may be altered using the SET PRINTER command (which requires OPER privilege.
Description: This qualifier is used to delete one or more entries from the queue. The entry number is the number from a SHOW ENTRY report. Up to 32 entry numbers may be specified. OPER or WORLD privileges are required to dequeue entries for other than the current username. Note: STOP/ ENTRY and DELETE/ ENTRY are synonyms and are identical in function. VERIFY Format: VERIFY [ON] VERIFY OFF Description: This command enables or disables display of command file execution.
Description: Directs display output to a file instead of to the screen. The created file can later be displayed on a suitable terminal, using the DCL TYPE command. / PAGE Format: / PAGE= nnn Description: Specifies the height (length) of the displayed image, which is measured in dots, or as specified by the / UNIT qualifier. This value must be greater than zero. You can use this qualifier to view one section of a page at a time, for improved legibility.
Description: Specifies that the current file is to be a Breakup file, which means that selected portions of the file are to be treated as though they were separate files, which may have different fax phone numbers. This directive must occur in the file, prior to any non-directive text lines. See also # # NEWFAX and # # ENDFAX directives. Only one of the files in a FAX can be the Breakup file.
Description: Includes an explicit phone number to use for sending the FAX. The syntax of the number is the same as the SEND command / NUMBER qualifier. Only the first occurrence of the # # NUMBER or # # LOOKUP directive is used. Subsequent occurrences of these directives are ignored. The SEND qualifier / NUMBER overrides # # NUMBER.. OVERLAY_FILE Format: # # OVERLAY_FILE filename Description: This directive defines the name of the overlay file that goes with the current page of text.
ending delimiter. Trailing spaces and multiple imbedded spaces are removed from field names. If the end of a line is encountered before the field name ending delimiter, the name is ended at the end of the line. Special directives are included to allow control of mail-merge functions. These directives allow the field name delimiters to be changed and allow text substitution to be disabled or enabled. These directives all start with "# # " as the first non-white space on the line.
8 CompuFax Files And Logical Names 8.1 Directories FAX.DIR This is the main CompuFax directory, which is created when you install CompuFax. PS.DIR This is a directory, used by the PostScript portion of the CompuFax converter. This directory is referred to by CompuFax with the FAX$PS_DIR logical name. It contains four files: FONTMAP., GS_FONTS.PS, GS_INIT.PS and GS_STATD.PS. SCRATCH.DIR This is a directory, used by the Send facility of CompuFax, which refers to it with the FAX$SCRATCH logical name.
ASCJN L.COM This command file allows you to display formatted fax journal data located in FAX_JOURNAL.DAT, which is an ASCII file created from the journal file FAX_JOU.DAT, by running the stand-alone JNL2ASCII.EXE program in the FAX$DIR directory. This command file reads the file FAX_JOURNAL.DAT in the current directory and displays the record to SYS$OUTPUT. The display portion can be modified for the site-specific application. CF31.
FAX_CMD_SHARE.EXE This shareable image contains the callable command processor, which is required by CompuFax and may also be accessed by user applications. When CompuFax is installed, this file is placed in the SYS$LIBRARY directory. FAX_CVT.EXE The program that translates fax document files in ASCII or PostScript format into T4 fax format for transmission via the fax modem. It is also capable of certain other conversions, such as from T4 format to PCL format, as used by HP LaserJet printers. FAX_DB.
This program is the print symbiont that allows documents to be sent using the VMS PRINT command. This file is placed in the SYS$SYSTEM directory during installation. FAX_SYLOGIN .COM This command file creates the FAX symbol and the JNL2ASCII symbol. FAX_SYSTARTUP.COM This command file creates logical name assignments and starts the CompuFax detached processes. FON TMAP. This file is used by the PostScript converter. It resides in the FAX$PS_DIR directory. GIRL.PS A sample graphics file in PostScript format.
This is the default font file that CompuFax uses when converting text files to fax format. This font file produces text at about 80 characters per line in portrait orientation, 6 lines per inch. The typeface is Courier with a cell size of 19 by 33 pixels. TESTDB.EXE A program to assist programmers in developing their own database applications. 8.3 CompuFax Logical Names FAX$ASCII_FON T This is the default font file used by the ASCII to T4 conversion section of the CompuFax converter. Defaults to STDFONT.
The file containing CompuFax FAX$DIR:FAX.OPTIONS. Full Device Server start-up information. Defaults to FAX$PS_DIR The subdirectory where certain files used by the PostScript converter are stored. Defaults to FAX$DIR:[PS]. FAX$QUEUE The static queue file. Defaults to FAX$DIR:FAX.QUEUE. FAX$REC_DIR The receive directory where received files are stored. Defaults to FAX$DIR:[REC]. FAX$SCRATCH The scratch directory where temporary files are stored FAX$DIR:[SCRATCH]. 64 prior to transmission.
9 CompuFax Messages 9.1 Introduction CompuFax provides error messages, which can help you sort out the cause of various problems you may encounter. This section describes these messages. Here is an example of two CompuFax messages from a FAX.LOG file: 4-JUN -1995 11:40:38.15: %FAX-F-N EEDKEY, please get a license key from N DC 4-JUN -1995 11:40:38.40: %FAX-S-SERON LIN E, CompuFax server on line.
F time. Fatal. The attempted action did not work. In the previous example, the first message has an "F" severity level and the second one has an "S" severity level. 9.1.3 Message Rout ing Since your fax documents are queued and not always sent right away, the majority of CompuFax messages are not sent back to your terminal, because you may not be logged in to the system at the time the error occurs.
Description: User action: This indicates an internal error has occurred. Any information available about the circumstances should be reported to NDC product support. CALLOCFAIL Message: %SQ-F-CALLOCFAIL, calloc failure Description: This indicates an internal error in the server. User action: Restart the server. NDC product support should be contacted with any information available about the failure. CALLTERM Message: %FAX-E-CALLTERM Description: Attempted call was terminated.
Message: Description: User action: %FAX-I-DEVMOD, Device xxxx modified by user yyyy Device has been modified by user None. DEVON LIN E Message: %FAX-F-DEVONLINE, Device must be offline (STOP/ DEVICE) for requested action Description: Device must be offline to allow requested action. User action: Issue a STOP/ DEVICE command. DEVRESPFAIL Message: %FAX-E-DEVRESPFAIL, Device not responding Description: This indicates that a fax device is not responding in the expected manner.
Message: Description: User action: %FAX-I-ENTRYID, Queue entry ID nn This message is appended to other messages to specify the queue entry ID the message applies to. As specified for the remainder of the message. FAULTN AME Message: %FAX-I-FAULTNAME, Fault identifier xxxx Description: Gives fault identifier. User action: None.
protection is such that users are allowed read action. ILLN UM Message: Description: User action: ILLPRI Message: Description: User action: %FAX-F-ILLNUM, Illegal phone number Indicates that a phone number was syntactically illegal either as specified with / NUMBER= or as returned by the database. Check the validity of the number. Phone numbers may contain only digits, punctuation, spaces and TABs. %FAX-F-ILLPRI, Illegal priority nn Indicates an invalid priority value was specified.
IVDEVIN D Message: Description: User action: %FAX-W-IVDEVIND, Invalid device index nn ignored An out of range device index was specified. Device indices are in the range 1 to the number of fax devices supported. Use a number in this range. IN VEN TRY Message: %FAX-W-INVENTRY, Invalid entry ID nn ignored Description: An invalid queue entry ID was specified. User action: Check the queue entry ID specified. It is possible that the target entry has completed, making the ID invalid.
MBXWRITEERR Message: %FDB-F-MBXWRITEERR, Error writing to mailbox xxxx Description: Indicates an unexpected error has occurred writing. User action: Report this error along with any information available about the circumstances to NDC product support. MEMALLOCFAIL Message: %FAX-F-MEMALLOCFAIL, Failure allocating memory Description: A CompuFax program has attempted to allocate memory and has failed. User action: Check that the process quotas in the CompuFax startup files have not been altered.
User action: had been previously saved. See the documentation on the FDB routines for a description of streams and contexts. N ODEVICE Message: %FAX-F-NODEVICE, No fax device in options file Description: The server options file did not contain a valid device specification. User action: Check the server options file. There must be at least one DEVICE command in the options file.
while a fax is being sent with the VMS Mail interface, check that the process has TMPMBX priv. N OMATCH Message: Description: User action: %FAX-E-NOMATCH, No database matches This message indicated that the database lookup key specified did not match any database records. Check the contents of the database and the validity of the lookup key specified.
Message: Description: User action: %FDB-F-NOSTREAM, Specified database stream not open An attempt was made to reference a database stream that is not currently open. The database application should close out any internal context associated with the stream. N OTIN QUEUE Message: %FAX-W-NOTINQUEUE, Entry nn not in queue Description: An attempt was made to delete a queue entry that did not exist. User action: Check the correctness of the ID number specified.
User action: in the server options file have been changed since the last time the server was started. Delete the file FAX$DIR:FAX.QUEUE and restart the server. QSIZMISMAT Message: %SQ-F-QSIZMISMAT, Static queue pool size mismatch. Old: nnn, New: nn Description: This indicates that either the number of fax devices or the QUEUE_MAXIMUM parameter in the server options file have been changed since the last time the server was started. User action: Delete the file FAX$DIR:FAX.QUEUE and restart the server.
Description: User action: Indicates the CompuFax server has successfully initialized and is running. None. SHUTDOWN Message: %FAX-I-SHUTDOWN, CompuFax system shut down by user xxxx Description: CompuFax shut down by user. User action: None. STATS Message: Description: User action: %FAX-I-STATS, Database responses: nn, Number sent: nn, Number failed: nn Database responses as shown. None.
10 Programming Information Com puFax provides t w o fac ilit ies t o c ust om ize it s user int erfac e: • Dat abase Int erfac e • Callable Com m and Int erfac e. 10.1 User-Written Database Applications CompuFax supports an interface to a database lookup application, which allows database keys to be translated into fax phone numbers. It also allows mail-merge operations on documents to be done automatically, using data from database records. A simple database lookup program, FAX_DB.
routines. The format and use of the lookup key is left entirely up to the database application. It is passed from the source (command processor or document file) directly to the database. A concept used in the CompuFax system for database lookup is a database lookup request stream. The general idea is that the user issues a fax request specifying a database lookup key. It is possible that this key may match many records in the database (which is one way in which bulk mail type operations may be achieved).
8. Wait for another request using FDB_GET. 9. When no more matches exist for a particular key, either use FDB_NOMATCH or FDB_CLOSE to return this status to the requestor. 10.1.3 Com puFax Dat abase Func t ion Library 10.1.3.1 FDB_CLOSE This function closes a database stream. It should be called when FDB$_CLOSE is returned by FDB_GET. It may also be called any time the user desires to end a lookup sequence. When a lookup sequence is complete, the user has the option of either returning a .no match.
[, username] [, priority] [, status] [, astrtn] [, astprm] Arguments name: stream_id type: longword signed access: write only mechanism: by reference On completion, this contains the database stream identifier for the received request. name: lookup_key type: charactercoded text string access: write only mechanism: by descriptor: fixed length string descriptor. On completion, this will contain the lookup key from the received request as a space-filled string.
This is the address of an optional AST procedure to execute when a request is received. If this parameter is not passed or is passed as zero, FDB_GET operates synchronously. Therefore it does not return until a request is received. If an AST routine is passed, FDB_GET returns as soon as the operation is begun and the AST is delivered when a request is received. name: astprm type: longword access: read only mechanism: by value This value is passed to the user's AST routine when the AST is delivered.
This parameter gives the address of the context data area in the user program that is to receive the saved user context. The contents of this area are completely user defined. name: max_size type: word unsigned access: read only mechanism: by reference This gives the maximum size of the user context. If this parameter is not passed or is passed as zero, the number of bytes copied to the user context will be the same number of bytes that were last saved.
The effect of setting this parameter FALSE will be that any active lookups will be started from the beginning each time the database is restarted. If it is set TRUE, the context of streams will be saved but the user code must be capable of resuming interrupted streams. There is some runtime performance gain from setting it to FALSE. If this is TRUE, the database will create and maintain the context in the file FDB$CONTEXT. Save_context defaults to FALSE. Return Value: N one. Errors are signaled. 10.1.3.
This parameter gives the address of the context data area in the user program. The contents of this area are completely user defined. name: size type: word unsigned access: read only mechanism: by reference The size in bytes of the user context. This specifies the amount of data to save from the user's programs. Return Value: FDB$_N ORMAL N ormal successful completion FDB$_N OSTREAM If the specified stream is not open 10.1.3.
10.1.3.9 FDB_SEND_DATA This routine is used to send to the requestor a message that has been built with the fdb_set_* functions. If the status returned is a success, then at least the phone number must have been set. The message is deallocated after being sent. The user need not deallocate it. Calling Sequence: FDB_SEN D_DATA stream_id, message Arguments name: stream_id type: longword signed access: read only mechanism: by reference This is the target database stream identifier.
mechanism: by descriptorfixed length string descriptor This is the field name. This name is compared with the field name the sender has embedded in the document and if there is a match the field value is inserted in the document. name: fieldvalue type: charactercoded text string access: read only mechanism: by descriptorfixed length string descriptor The value to insert in the document when a FIELDNAME is found. 10.1.3.
This is the message object that was previously allocated with fdb_start_msg. name: phone number type: charactercoded text string access: read only mechanism: by descriptorfixed length string descriptor The value of the phone number for this database record. 10.1.3.13 FDB_SET_STATUS Used to set the value of the lookup status in a message that was previously allocated with fdb_start_msg. Use of this function is optional.
name: message type: unsigned long access: write only mechanism: by reference On successful completion, this contains the message object that will be passed to the other fdb_ functions. On failure this is 0. Return Value: The status of the operation is returned as a normal VMS status value. 10.1.4 TESTDB.EXE This is a test program to allow database applications to be tested. It writes requests to the database and displays the responses.
10.2 The CompuFax Callable Interface 10.2.1 Callable Com m ands The CompuFax command interface is available as a shareable image that may be called from user-written programs. This makes the entire functionality of the CompuFax command processor available to a user application. The FAX command processor itself (the program invoked by the FAX command) is implemented using this interface. The source file for this program, FAX_CMD.C, has been included with the CompuFax software as an example.
The user condition handler may force the command processor to exit by modifying the severity of the first status value in the signal array to be SEVERE and calling FAX_CMD_FORCE_EXIT before it returns. Calling Sequence: FAX_CMD_SET_HAN DLE [handler_address] Arguments name: handler_address type: entry mask access: call mechanism: by reference This is the address of the user condition handler. If this is zero or if this routine is never called, then all signals are handled internally in FAX_CMD_PROC.
Calling Sequence: FAX_CMD_SET_OUTPUT [output_proc] Arguments name: output_proc type: entry mask access: call mechanism: by reference This routine will be established as the output procedure for FAX_CMD_OUTPUT. All output will be displayed via this procedure. The calling sequence of this procedure should be the same as LIB$PUT_OUTPUT. If this parameter is not passed or is passed as zero, the default output procedure will be used which displays its output on SYS$OUTPUT. 10.2.1.
10.2.1.7 Link ing Modules The user application would link with a linker options file specifying the command processor as a shareable image. The following is an example: $ LIN K MYPROG, SYS$IN PUT/ OPT sys$library:fax_cmd_share/ share The following source code modules have been provided with CompuFax as examples on how to use the CompuFax database interface: DB_CON D_KEY.C DB_GET_DIR.C DB_MAIN .C DB_N EXT_REC.C FAX_CMD.
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Appendix A Release Notes A.1 Release 3.1.00 Changes 1. CompuFax has been converted to run Alpha AXP in addition to VAX. Functionally CompuFax is identical on both systems, although each machine requires its own executable. 2. A new licensing scheme has been adapted, with a low-cost basic unit and add-on features.
See FAX> HELP FILE_DIRECTIVE POSITION _CURSOR 3. File Breakup. Many users have software that generates large text files, such as financial reports, which then need to be broken into smaller units and faxed to different destinations. CompuFax now has a File Breakup feature that makes this simple to do through embedded file directives. New File Directives: # # BREAKUP See FAX> HELP FILE_DIRECTIVE BREAKUP # # N EWFAX See FAX> HELP FILE_DIRECTIVE N EWFAX # # EN DFAX See FAX> HELP FILE_DIRECTIVE EN DFAX 4.
A.4 Release 2.2.00 Changes Disk Space Limitation. The new Class 2 FAX modems, which CompuFax now supports, require bit mapped files in T4 format. These files can take up large amounts of disk space and can quickly fill up a disk, if they are allowed to queue unchecked. 1. The disk space limitation feature has been added to prevent the disk from getting filled up due to too many converted fax files being queued.
2. The install procedure now asks for the disk to install CompuFax on. This should be a disk that is mounted and available during system startup. 3. A journal file of all faxes sent may now be generated by CompuFax. This file is a machine-readable file which may be used to generate cost and other types of reports. A new logical name, FAX$JOURNAL, gives the file name of the journal file. Journaling may be disabled using the server options JOURNAL command. 4.
A.6 Release 1.2.04 Changes 1. The / DELETE option may now be used on the VMS PRINT command when it is used to send FAXes. A new directory, FAX$SCRATCH is used as a holding area for PRINTed files until they can be sent. 2. The time of original issue and the time of the last send attempt have been added to the SHOW QUEUE/ FULL display. 3. Log file entries are now made when the CompuFax system or an individual device is shut down. Log entries are also made when a FAX device is started. 4.
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Glossary access method A way to get to and use CompuFax. Alpha-AXP A computer type, built by Digital Equipment Corporation, on which CompuFax is designed to run. See also VAX. ASCII An acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A method for representing letters, numerals and other symbols with unique numerical values in a computer. A text file which only contains text, but no graphics or formatting characters and only minimal control characters, such as carriage returns and line feeds.
A file that has been made smaller than an uncompressed bitmapped file by counting groups of black and white dots and representing those with special shorthand codes, rather than storing the individual dots. See also T.4. CompuFax The name of the product by Networking Dynamics Corporation which automates the sending of fax documents from your VMS terminal or workstation.
fax An electronically transmitted facsimile of a document. A machine that will transmit and receive such documents. The action of transmitting such a document FAX The command that VMS recognizes and which tells it to begin running the CompuFax command processor on your VAX or Alpha AXP computer. fax device (modem) A device used to transmit images via a telephone line to another such device which converts received telephone signals back into images.
header line The line of text right at the top of a fax, which contains identifying information, such as date and time of transmission, sender's fax phone number, page number, etc. HELP The command to type when you need online assistance. image A picture. In CompuFax, especially a picture as it appears on a fax or on the screen of a computer terminal. See also bitmap. include-file A text file that contains programming information and that is to be included in one or more programs.
null string An absence of text where text may be expected or required, usually indicated by a pair of quotation marks (""). overlay In image that is placed over another image, such that the two images merge into one. The CompuFax overlay feature permits faxing of invoices and other documents on the proper forms. PCL An acronym for Printer Control Language, a printing language similar to PostScript, used on Hewlett Packard LaserJet printers.
record A collection of data elements grouped together by some commonality. remote server In CompuFax, a program which sends commands and information across a network or cluster to a device server on another node, which in turn converts the documents and transmits them via a modem. scaleable font A typeface which can be adjusted in size by means of certain computer instructions.
A file used as a model for creating other files, such as for the creation of a coversheet. The purpose of a template is to simplify the task of creating the final document. text file See ASCII file. TSI Acronym for Transmitting Service Identifier. A text string which identifies the sender of a fax to the receiver. See also CSI. typeface The style of a family of printing characters, such as Courier or Helvetica. See also font.
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Please feel free to report any other difficulties encountered with this product to: Product Support Manager Networking Dynamics Corporation 101 North Garden Avenue, Suite 220 Clearwater, Florida 33755 Phone: (727) 446-4511 (800) 275-6321 Fax: (727) 446-4252 E-mail: support@networkingdynamics.com www.networkingdynamics.
