Communications

	This module interfaces with and requires the Asynchronous Communications Server and/or the Fax Server software packages. Outbound messages are prepared in the integrated, multi-window, editor. Addressing is a snap via an interface to the Directory module. The user simply pops up the Directory entry of the addressee and selects the service and the program takes care of the formatting and sends the message on its way via the appropriate server. Message preparation and addressing is the same for any service whether Telex, DDD, E-mail, or Fax.
	Upon preparation of a message, it is added to a database containing comment and creation information. When the message is placed in the outbound queue, information relevant to this process is added. The user can easily edit or re-queue a previously prepared message by simply pointing to it in a scrolling list.
	The user can point to incoming or sent messages in a scrolling window. The messages are sorted by date and time so that the latest message is always at the top of list. One step view, stamp, and advance to the next message. The user can plow through a pile of messages as fast as he or she can read, and in the process stamp all text files with their user name and the date and time.
	The user can reprint or copy a message to any directory or project with the touch of one key. Messages can be edited right away (including inbound faxes) or tagged for later look-up and a descriptive comment included--a one step process. The list of tagged files can then be read into a window in the Communications editor to act as a table of contents in dealing with the other messages the user wants to work on in other windows.
	Information can be found in inbound or outbound text messages whether they are current or archived. Easy to use and fast, the user can enter any phrase including "wild cards" and all files containing the phrase are checked making it easy for the user to simply point to the checked file and then proceed to edit, view, reprint, or copy the message.
	Sent, failed, or retrying telex messages can be easily re-queued.
	The user can specify the time and date that any message shall be sent. The baud rate and even the port on the Asynchronous Server can be specified.
	All outbound messages are kept for a week, or other user configurable time, and automatically archived for virtual hands-off management.
	Multiple destination lists for sending a single message to more than one destination can be created in a snap. The lists are re-useable and can be edited, copied, appended to each other, and printed. An attention line can be added for each addressee for proper routing. Any service can be combined in a list, including telexes and faxes. Like any other outbound message, sending a multiple destination list can be queued for transmission at a later time or date.
	Normal single destination messages are prioritized over multiple destination lists automatically on the both the Asynchronous Communications Server and the Fax Server. This way, multiple destinations lists can be sent immediately without concern for tying up all the outbound lines. If a situation arises later on that calls for an urgent message to be sent, there is no need to cancel the list or otherwise interfere with anything since any single destination message will be sent right after the current message regardless of the number of multiple destination messages still pending.
	Both the Fax and Asynchronous Servers can be set to print the text of a broadcast only once rather than every time each message transmitted, thereby saving significantly on paper.
	Dynamically maintained logs provide information on message and system status for both the Asynchronous Communications Server and the Fax Server. A special log of outbound faxes contains all relevant transmission information including the CSID received from the remote fax machine. A reconciliation log for carriers providing that type of service is kept thereby making it easy for the user to check the status of store and foward messages.
	Projects can be easily created. Once a project has been created, outbound files can be tagged at queue time and a copy of the outbound message will be copied to the appropriate project directory once the file has been sent. Messages can be easily copied from project to project as well as from the inbound and outbound queues or any user specified directory.
	Built in Electronic Mail allows easy sending of internal mail to other users in exactly the same manner as a regular telex or fax is prepared and sent. The user mail boxes are automatically purged at a user definable time period.
	External E-mail can be sent to the Internet or X400 adresses. Other specialty E-Mail gateways will be available in the near future--if you have a preference or perhaps a close correspondent with a private E-mail service, we can probably write a driver for a small charge to interface with that service.
	The user can see inbound Telexes, DDDs, and E-Mail scroll by in a special dynamically updated window. Also shown are the last five status reports on outbound messages. This last feature notifies the user when a message has been sent, is retrying, or has failed. Immediate access to the inbound message directories and the Communications module is provided via this window thus allowing the user to operate Brokerbase in a normal fashion in the lower window yet have immediate updates and access to communications in the upper window.
	Outbound faxes are created and treated exactly like any other outbound message except that the user can include a reference to inbound faxes or other compatible PCX or TIFF format files in the outbound message and that message will be merged into the outbound message.
	Inbound faxes can be expanded, shrunk, flipped, inverted, rotated, and even stretched or reduced on an x or y axis for easy readability.
	Inbound faxes can be easily edited with Windows Paint, or similar graphics editor, which is automatically called with the fax already loaded. Additionally the header can be automatically cut off without even going into the graphics editor program. The graphics editor to be used is configurable by the user. Thus users preferring to use another PCX compatible editor can configure Brokerbase to launch that instead.