Infortext OS-Plus Call Data Interface Program
Version 1.6

Overview

The OS-PLUS program is a DOS program. It is used to convert telephone expense transactions from Infortext System's OS Plus Call Data Processor to be compatible with the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program. This program can also create a client validation data file named VALBAK.REC that can be used by the OS-PLUS System. This file will contain a record for each active client/matter that exists in the TABS III Client file.

Note: The OS-PLUS program must reside in the same directory as the TABS III programs in order to work properly.

The Access Package provides you with access to the stored detailed call information. The detail information can be written to an ASCII text file without affecting the standard call accounting data stored in the system. The Access output format allows a user-definable delimiter character and an option to choose the date, time and currency formats. Specify the options as follows:

What is the Delimiter Character? The delimiter may be any character.

Is MM/DD/YY the Date Format? Enter "N" (no slashes should be included).

Is HH:MM:SS the Time Format? Enter "N" (no colons should be included).

Are Quotes used around Strings? Enter "N" (no quotes).

Does Currency Require Decimals? Enter "N" (no decimal).

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.

If you are using the Infortext Systems software, the Create Validation Files program in TABS III must also periodically be run before using the "CV" option so that new clients can be included in the client validation data file (step 4 under Executing the OS-PLUS Interface Program).

Installation

The OS-PLUS interface program (OS-PLUS.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 OS-PLUS interface program disk.

To install the OS-PLUS interface program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the OS-PLUS 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 OS-PLUS Interface Program

Use the following procedure for conversion:

  1. Create an ASCII text file using Infortext's Call Data Access Package. The Access Package provides you with access to the stored detailed call information. The detail information can be written to an ASCII text file without affecting the standard call accounting data stored in the system. The Access package allows you to name the ASCII file and it must be named OS-PLUS.ACC in order for the OS-PLUS program to find and read the contents of the file. After the OS-PLUS.ACC file is created, transfer the data file from your Infortext Call System to your computer's hard disk in the directory where your TABS III programs reside.

  2. From a DOS prompt, start the interface program by entering the command:

    3.         OS-PLUS
  3. The first time you run the OS-PLUS 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 OS-PLUS program will use that same number each time you run the OS-PLUS program.

    4.  

  4. Next, you will be asked “Do you want to print telephone call transaction descriptions with the detail information included? (Y/N)”. If you enter “Y”, the program will include the extension number, the phone number and location from the OS-PLUS telephone data file. If you enter “N”, the program will use the description of the TABS III transaction code specified in the previous step. Once you specify how you want the descriptions, the OS-PLUS program uses that same method each time you run the program.

  5. Next, you will be prompted to enter a command: CD, CV or Q. If you enter "Q" (Quit), the program will be aborted. If you enter "CD" (for Convert Data), the program will look for the OS-PLUS.ACC file containing the call accounting data. If the file is found to contain data, the program will display the message "Converting Transactions" followed by count of each transaction as it is read from the file. The files T3EXPKEY.REM, T3EXP.REM and T3EDESC1.REM will be created which can then be merged with the main TABS III data files using the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program.

If you enter "CV" (for Create Validation File) the routine will create a client validation data file named VALBAK.REC. This file will contain a record for each active client/matter that exists in the TABS III Client file.

Note: An OS-PLUS.ERR file is created and will contain any records that were not converted.  If no errors were encountered during the conversion, then the OS-PLUS.ERR file will be deleted.

Note: If you are running TABS III, you must first run the Create Validation Files program in TABS III with the Data Capture Device option selected and the Client check box selected before using the "CV" command. If new validation files are not created in TABS III before creating validation files in OS-PLUS, current client information will not be included in the new validation files for Infortext Systems.

Note: If you are not using a demo version of the program, the OS-PLUS.ACC 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 and the detail description option used by the OS-PLUS program by deleting the file OS-PLUS.PRM, which is created in your TABS III directory. This will enable you to go through the setup procedure described above in step 3 and 4 as a first time user of the program.

2001/06/28