Callview Interface Program
Version 1.3

Overview

The CALLVIEW program is a DOS program. It is used to convert time and expense transactions from a data file created by the Nynex Callview System to be compatible with the Tabs3 Merge Data Capture Transactions program.

Note: The Create Validation Files program must be run before you can successfully use this data capture device interface program. The Create Validation Files program is found in Tabs3 by selecting the following menu options Maintenance|Integration|Create Validation Files. When creating validation files, select a Validation File Type of Data Capture Device.

Because the Callview transaction type codes may not be the same as the transaction codes in Tabs3, you will be allowed to specify up to 10 different Callview transaction type codes and their corresponding Tabs3 equivalent. The CALLVIEW interface program will then translate the Callview transaction type code into the appropriate Tabs3 transaction code for you.

This program can also create a data file containing employee, client and matter data that can be uploaded on a one-time basis at the installation of the Callview System.

Note: Employee, client and matter data cannot be imported into Tabs3 from the Callview system using this interface program.

Note: Time and expense transactions can only be added to Tabs3. Changing or deleting transactions that have already been imported into Tabs3 must be performed in Tabs3, not through the Callview system. Transactions that have been changed in the Callview system and have been previously transmitted to Tabs3 will be rejected by the Callview interface program. Also, transactions deleted in the Callview system that are re-transmitted with a "delete code" are rejected. Information pertaining to rejected transactions is temporarily stored in a file named CALLVIEW.TRY. If the interface program rejects any transactions, you will be notified at the end of the interface. You have the option of displaying the contents of the CALLVIEW.TRY file on your monitor screen using the DOS "TYPE" command or printing the file to a printer using the DOS "PRINT" command. Based on the information in the CALLVIEW.TRY file, you can make the appropriate changes to the Tabs3 data files.

Note: This interface program assumes that the description lines of each Callview transaction do not exceed the maximum number of characters per line allowed by Tabs3 which is 50 characters per line of description.

Installation

The Callview interface program (callview.EXE) must be transferred to the directory on your hard disk where the Tabs3 program files reside. This is done by using the INSTALL program on the Callview interface program disk.

To install the Callview interface program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the Callview interface program disk into your floppy disk drive.
  2. From a DOS prompt, make the floppy disk drive the default drive by entering the drive letter followed by a "colon". For example, if your floppy disk drive is drive A, then enter:

    3.         A:

  3. From the floppy disk drive prompt, enter the command:

    4.         INSTALL

    Note: The INSTALL program has a built-in search feature that will find where your Tabs3 program files reside. On larger network hard drives, this search feature can take quite a bit of time. If you know where the Tabs3 program files reside, you can bypass this search feature by entering the path following the install command. For example, if the Tabs3 program files reside on drive F: in a directory named "STI", you would enter: INSTALL F:\STI

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software onto your hard disk. The Install program will locate the Tabs3 software on your hard disk so that the interface program can be transferred to the same directory as Tabs3. After the installation process, the message "Installation Complete" will be displayed.

Executing the Callview Interface Program

Use the following procedure for interface:

  1. Transfer the data from your Callview system to your computer's hard disk. The data file must be transferred to the directory where the Tabs3 data files reside. The data file can be named any valid DOS file name. The default file name will be CALLVIEW.DTA if none is specified when you execute the interface program.
  2. There are 2 ways to execute the CALLVIEW program depending on whether you are going to import Callview data into Tabs3 or export Tabs3 data to the Callview system. From a DOS prompt, the format of the command is:

    3.         CALLVIEW "Function Filename"

    where "Function" is either IMPORT or EXPORT
    and "Filename" can be any valid DOS filename.

    "Function" defaults to IMPORT if it is not specified.
    If importing, "Filename" defaults to CALLVIEW.DTA if not specified.
    If exporting, "Filename" defaults to UL_DATA if not specified.

    Note: All program prompts are suppressed if the CALLVIEW program is executed by specifying the desired function from the command line. Otherwise, the program will assume operator intervention.

    To import Callview data, from a DOS prompt, enter the command:

            CALLVIEW IMPORT CALLVIEW.DTA

    To export Tabs3 client and employee information, enter the command:

            CALLVIEW EXPORT UL_DATA

  3. The first time you run the CALLVIEW program, you will be asked to enter the Tabs3 transaction code number that corresponds to each Callview transaction type (i.e. type 1 represents a fixed charge for phone service, type 2 represents time spent on a phone call, type 3 represents a fixed charge for non-phone service, type 4 represents time spent for non-phone service). Once you define the transaction type numbers, the CALLVIEW program will use them each time you run the CALLVIEW program and no operator intervention is required. You can specify up to 10 Callview transaction type codes and their corresponding Tabs3 transaction codes.
  4. If you choose to import and do not specify a filename to import, the program will look for a file named CALLVIEW.DTA containing the Callview system's data. If the CALLVIEW.DTA file is found to contain data and operator intervention is not suppressed, the program will display the message "Converting Transactions". A counter for each transaction read from the file will also be displayed. The files T3EXPKEY.REM, T3EXP.REM, T3EDESC1.REM, T3FEEKEY.REM, T3FEE.REM and T3FDESC1.REM will be created which can be merged with the main Tabs3 data files. You must then start Tabs3 and run the Merge Data Capture Transactions program to import the data.

If you choose to export Tabs3 data, the CALLVIEW program will create client and employee records and output them to a file named UL_DATA (if no filename is specified).

Note: If you are not using a demo version of the program, the CALLVIEW.DTA file will automatically be deleted when the interface is complete to avoid double posting of the data.

Note: You may change the Callview transaction types and the corresponding Tabs3 transaction codes used by the Callview program by deleting the file named CALLVIEW.PRM which is created in your Tabs3 directory. This will enable you to go through the setup procedure described above in Step 3 as a first time user of the program.