Re: Suggest automated call announcer -- MIDRANGE-NONTECH

Vern,

The file of numbers to be called is already produced on the iSeries in the IFS. US Netcom's software requires you to use specific file name extensions and move the file into a special PC directory. Their software monitors this directory and automatically loads new files to the device. Yes the iSeries can do this part with QNTC. It can't get the results as you have to use their GUI that only goes to printer.

US Netcom doesn't provide any command line (DOS) access so I would have to write a VB program which is what they suggested. They did provide a couple of DLLs that could be used to load the call list and get it to create an access DB of the results.

It just looks a lot more maintainable and reliable if the PC is removed from the process altogether. The iSeries doesn't freeze or BSOD like a PC, has lots better logging, and you can debug programs much more easily.

Everything is basically a batch process (load the list, dial the last at a given time, produce the results file) so why add another layer? Also, their software doesn't provide much for confirming that the file has been loaded. With an iSeries application and proper error handling the status can be driven right to the user. This isn't like some n-tier client server apps where you need the workload distribution or management.

Roger

On 12/27/2003 8:49 AM, Vern Hamberg wrote:

Roger

Is there a way to have the file exist and maintained on the 400, then start the PC app from the 400 (RUNRMTCMD or STRPCCMD), which could download it into the VB app, do its thing, then upload the results, if useful, and process as needed?

HTH
Vern

At 05:11 PM 12/26/2003 -0600, you wrote:

Hello,

Can anyone recommend an automated device that will call a list of phone
numbers, play a message, and provide feed back on success or busy?

I have a customer that is using a device from US Netcom to call utility
customers and warn them of impending service interruptions. Even though
it attaches via a serial port they won't release the protocol and
require the use of a PC. This makes it a manual process to load the list
(file not individual numbers) and it only prints the results report so
it has to be manually re-entered into the customers. US Netcom finally
provided some APIs to the PC programs but this still requires a PC and
VB programs. I would like to find something that can interface directly
to the iSeries via serial or maybe even TCP. They only use one phone
line so it doesn't need to be a very large system.

Thanks.

Roger Vicker, CCP


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