Localities regulate how phone numbers are dialed, indicating when the area code should be included, when it should be replaced with something else, and, if the area code is used, what should precede and follow it. Phonebook lets you define different localities from which you may be dialing phone numbers. Typically, each area code constitutes a different locality. If you do all of your dialing from only one area code, you’ll only have one locality, but if you travel around a bit, you may have more than one. Additionally, you may have more than one locality if some numbers in your area code should be treated differently than others (outstate calls that must include a “1” before the number, for example). You can switch between localities (when you travel) by choosing Localities from the Phonebook menu, selecting a different locality from the list, and clicking Select.
For each locality, Phonebook recognizes three syntax conventions for identifying the area code: (612) 555-1212, 612/555-1212, and <612> 555-1212. To specify treatment for one of the three types, click on the type in the list box. You can specify that each convention is to be treated differently, or that they are to be treated identically, by entering numbers in the text boxes below. You might, for example, use the (612) 555-1212 convention for domestic phone numbers, and the <612> 555-1212 conventions for international numbers, with different handling for each type of syntax.
“Similar area code, substitute:” whatever you enter in the text box will replace the area code of any phone number whose area code is similar to that for this locality. Similar area codes are those whose numbers are identical, after all A-Z characters have been removed. For example, (612) 555-1212 and (612B) 555-1212 have similar area codes.
This feature is designed to let you dial numbers correctly when different regions within an area code require different treatments. For example, in the 612 area code, if you are in the Twin City metro area and dial an outstate number, you don’t include the area code, but you must dial a “1” before the phone number. For this situation, create a locality with a 612 area code, and specify that similar area codes should be replaced by a “1”. Then, when you’re entering phone numbers, metro phone numbers should be entered like this:
(612) 555-1212
while out-state numbers might be entered like this:
(612o) 555-1212 (that’s a letter o)
If you sometimes travel to the outstate area and wanted to dial from there, create a second locality with a 612o area code and the same settings. When the out-state locality is selected, Phonebook will delete the area code from out-state numbers, and will substitute a “1” for numbers in the metro area (without the letter o).
“Different area code, prefix with ___ and add:” These text boxes specify what should precede and follow the phone number’s area code when it is completely different from that of the selected locality, for example, if you dial a 612 phone number from a 206 locality. In the “prefix with” text box, enter whatever you dial to access your long distance company; often, you simply dial “1,” but it may vary depending on your long distance service. If your service needs a little time before you dial the phone number, be sure to put a comma or two after the number in the “prefix with” text box to make dialing pause (2-seconds for each comma). In the “and add” text box, enter whatever should immediately follow the area code, if anything. This is usually only used for international calls.
Tips
The best thing to do is to watch the sample to the right of the list, which displays examples of phone numbers and how they will be formatted prior to dialing. Of all the text boxes, you’ll probably use the “prefix with” text box the most. The first text box is only used if you dial differently depending on where in the local area code you are calling. The last text box, as mentioned previously, is usually only used for international calls.
