Need Help Faxing From ACT! 2000

[Dan]

I help a guy who is extremely computer illiterate. Rather than learn, he pays me to make things work and keep it simple for him.

So, here's what I'm working with:

I've set up two PC's and a laptop in a small business setting. They are networked for file and printer sharing via a DSL router. All use Win2K for their OS. Today the guy tells me he wants to fax directly from his PC. (He has extensive data bases in Act.) So first, I need some info on integrating ACT with WinFax Pro 10.

Second, and more troublesome, is the issue of faxing period. I'm sort of at a loss here. Since this is a small business in an office complex, he has multiline phones. When you pick up a handset you don't get a dial tone until you press a button for a specific line. How does the fax/modem in his PC get around that? (For what it's worth, it's a US Robotics ISA hardware modem in a Dell PC.)

I'd like to get this resolved before the Memorial Day weekend. (Because I can think of many better ways to spend a long holiday weekend!)

 

[Dan]

bump...

 

[EagleKeeper]

You should have a dedicated inbound line for a fax number. They should already have one for the existing fax system.
Outbound, the WinFax sets up a special printer for Fax output. This printer can be shared by the host system that has the fax modem. I have this set up on a 5 system non-profit org using Windows Small Business Server as the host system and the workstatios are NT4 and Win98.

The user just prints to that shared printer(fax).

They can also fax over the internet with special S/W.

 

[Tates]

When in ACT!, look under Help, Quickstart Wizard. It will guide you to link ACT! to Winfax. Easy.

 

[Dan]

You should have a dedicated inbound line for a fax number. They should already have one for the existing fax system.

They do have a dedicated phone line for a stand alone fax machine. Can I use a dual connection, with one line running to the fax machine and another line from that jack to the PC's fax/modem?

 

[rb56]

I use Act and WinFax all day at work. Just split the line as you stated and and you will be fine. In Act it is very simple to setup to use WinFax. From the main contact screen choose Edit/Prefences/WinFax and enable. One problem I have when trying to run both the PC fax and regular fax machine at the same time is when sending from the PC with the regular fax connected it will pick up the out going fax and slow down the tranmission. I usually unplug the regular fax during the day. Don't know if it would be the same for you but if you have problems with slow tranmission speeds try unpluging the regular fax.

rb56

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the replies and advice, everyone. Once I get it up and running for him I'm sure the next thing will be automating the process so it faxes out from his PC during the night. That way transmission speed shouldn't be too big an issue. (And it keeps more of it out of his hands.

)