Like many, I have always wanted to be able to use ClarisWorks to dial phone numbers from it’s database module. After trying a few shareware programs that dial numbers that have been pasted to the clipboard, I decided to try and make something similar using the communication module in ClarisWorks.
This is the result of my labor. It is a simple stationary document that I place in the stationary folder of the Claris folder. When launched, it will try to auto-connect and discover that there is no number stored. Being the smart document that it is it will then ask you to give it a number. Once a number is given, hit return and it will dial your number. Make sure to pick up the phone as it starts the process, because by the first ring (or sooner) it will disconnect and leave you with a ringing phone in your hand (the modem string that is used should work on most modems). To get rid of the Comm. document, you simply hit return and close the window.
To create a true AutoDialer, you need to have your phone numbers stored in a ClarisWorks database and create a macro. Here is how you do it:
1. Open your database and select a phone number you wish to dial. Make sure you actually select the entire number. If you select the entire number, you can use this macro in other modules besides the database module.
2. Use Command-Shift-J to start a new macro. Give it a Command-key equivalent (i use Com-Opt-D) and set it to work in the Database, Word processing, Spreadsheet, and Communication modules. Begin recording.
Note-try to use keys or menu items as much as possible when recording a macro. Try to avoid clicking things with the mouse. ClarisWorks just seems to do better that way.
3. Hit Command-C to copy the phone number to the clipboard.
4. Command-N to open a new document. Use the mouse (no other way to do this, but it seems to work fine) to select “AutoDialer” from the stationary list. If it is not there, then you need to make sure you put the document in the stationary folder in the Claris folder. Hit return. AutoDialer will launch and attempt to log on. When it can't find a phone number (since I did not put one in), it will prompt you to put one in. Use Command-V or select “Paste” from the edit menu. Hit return.
5. once AutoDialer is done dialing the phone number, select Command-Shift-J to stop the macro recording process. You are done.
This template is ‘E-MailWare’. If you find this program useful, write me online and let me know. You can also write if you have any suggestions on how to improve AutoDialer or the macro that launches it. I could not find a way to get the same macro to close the document, because the macro cannot record a wait time while the phone is being dialed (the macro wait command is dimmed).
I hope you can use AutoDialer. It is probably just as fast to dial the number yourself, but not near as fun. You also don’t mess up the number this way.
