Dynamic Data Exchange

Collect! supports the following Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) scenario:

Connection

Connect using:

Service: 'collect'

Topic: 'dialer'

Command Line Startup Options

Turn on DDE by using /z in Collect!'s Command Line Startup Options.

Right-click the Collect! icon on your Desktop, choose Properties, and add the /z option to the Target line.

Example: Target: X:\Collect\bin\collect.exe /z

Ready Indicator

The interaction between Collect! and a Predictive Dialer system relies on the Collect! session sending out a "Ready" signal when the collector is available for a call or a "Busy" signal when the collector is on a call or otherwise unavailable to the dialer.

It is the DDE Request command that manages these "Ready" and "Busy" signals.

DDE Execute Command

We use the DDE Execute command in the following format.

[ open( debtor,file,FileNumber)]

Where the strings 'open', 'debtor' and 'file' are string literals, FileNumber is the ASCII representation of the file number of the Debtor Collect! is to display. Brackets are used as shown.

Example DDE Execute String: [open(debtor,file,1438)]

The result of this command is that the Debtor screen pops up and the collector can edit the file. During this time, the DDE Request commands return the string 'Busy,' as the collector is handling the call.

When the collector closes the Debtor by clicking OK, Collect! returns to the Predictive Dialer waiting for file screen. Now the DDE Request command returns the string 'Ready'.

If the file number is invalid, the collector will receive a message that the file could not be found in the database. Collect! DDE functions return a DDE_FACK, to acknowledge receiving the number. An invalid file number passed via DDE should not occur and indicates a serious campaign build issue on the predictive dialer side. If a collector were to see such a message, they should immediately contact their system administrator.

If the format of the command is incorrect, the DDE return value is DDE_FNOTPROCESSED. If this error occurs, please check the format of the Execute command you are sending. This error indicates that the Predictive dialer software has a problem.

If, for any reason, Collect! is not in the correct state for the DDE Execute function to succeed, the DDE return value is DDE_FNOTPROCESSED. The DDE caller should respond by trying again later.

DDE Functions And Callbacks

Collect! uses a limited subset of DDE command to enable predictive dialer links.

DDE Functions

Collect! uses the following DDE functions:

- DDEInitialize - using the following parameters:

- APPCMD_FILTERINITS
- CBF_SKIP_CONNECT_CONFIRMS
- CBF_FAIL_SELFCONNECTIONS
- CBF_FAIL_POKES

DDECreateStringHandle - 'collect'

DdeConnectList - establishes a conversation with all server applications that support the 'collect' Service and 'collect' Topic names.

The data format we use is CF_TEXT - i.e. the standard text format.

DDE Commands Supported

Collect!'s responses to the following commands:

XTYP_CONNECT

Returns TRUE.

XTYP_ADVREQ

Returns "Ready" or "Busy".

XTYP_REQUEST

Returns "Ready" or "Busy".

XTYP_ADVSTART

Checks that the format is CF_TEXT and checks if the hszItem is the same as the application name "collect".

Returns TRUE if the condition fails and FALSE if the condition succeeds.

XTYP_EXECUTE

If Collect! is busy, it returns DDE_FBUSY.

If it doesn't understand the command/syntax, it returns DDE_FNOTPROCESSED.

If it gets a file number, it returns DDE_FACK.

XTYP_REGISTER

Returns a DdeConnectList, then posts a DDE ADVSTART Transaction.

STYP_DISCONNECT

Returns a FALSE.

See Also

- Introduction To Predictive Dialer
- Command Line Startup Options
- Predictive Dialer Topics