Microcall Interface Program
Version 2.4

Overview

The MICROCAL program is a DOS program. It is used to convert telephone expense transactions from a Microcall System to be compatible with the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program. The MICROCAL program must reside in the same directory as the TABS III programs in order to work properly.

Important: This program works with data formats from Microcall versions 5.x, 6.x, 7.x as well as the Windows version. If you are using a different version of Microcall, your data must match one of these 4 formats.

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 TABS III by selecting the following menu options Maintenance|Integration|Create Validation Files. When creating validation files, select a Validation File Type of Data Capture Device.

Installation

The Microcall interface program (Microcal.EXE) must be transferred to the directory on your hard disk where the TABS III program files reside. This is done by using the INSTALL program on the Microcall interface program disk.

To install the Microcall interface program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the Microcall 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 TABS III program files reside. On larger network hard drives, this search feature can take quite a bit of time. If you know where the TABS III program files reside, you can bypass this search feature by entering the path following the install command. For example, if the TABS III 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 your TABS III software on your hard disk so that the interface program can be transferred to the same directory as TABS III. After the installation process, the message "Installation Complete" will be displayed.
    5.

Executing the MICROCALL Interface Program

Use the following procedure for conversion:

  1. Create a Selective Extension Detail Report using the standard data format report option. Save the report to a file named MICROCAL.DTA. Transfer the billing data file from your Microcall System to your computer's hard disk in the directory where your TABS III programs reside. The data must reside in a file named MICROCAL.DTA in the TABS program III directory.
  2. From a DOS prompt, start the interface program by entering:

    3.         MICROCAL

  3. The first time you run the MICROCAL program, you will be asked to enter the TABS III transaction code number that you use for phone calls. Once you specify the transaction code number, the MICROCAL program will use that same number each time you run the MICROCAL program.
  4. Next, you will be asked "Is it OK to continue? (Y/N)". If you enter "N" the program will be aborted. If you enter "Y" the program will look for the MICROCAL.DTA file containing the Microcall data. If the MICROCAL.DTA file is found to contain data, the program will display the message "Converting Transactions" followed by a "." for each transaction read from the file. The files T3EXPKEY.REM, T3EXP.REM and T3EDESC1.REM will be created which can be merged with the main TABS III data files. You must then start TABS III. If you are using a version of TABS III prior to Version 3.4, select the MERGE REMOTE DATA utility program. Otherwise, select the Merge Data Capture Transactions program.

Important: Be sure to clear the transactions from your Microcall system's memory to avoid duplication of data merged with your TABS III files.

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

Note: You may change the phone call transaction code used by the Microcall program by deleting the MICROCAL.PRM file which is created in your TABS III directory. This will enable you to go through the setup procedure described above in Step 3 as a first time user of the program.