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Installing and Configuring Active Fax (ActFax)

ActFax is compatible with RamSoft software and allows users to send and receive faxes. This is a very useful tool which can cut down on overhead time by streamlining faxes.

It is recommended to install ActiveFax Server on a dedicated server.

Installing Fax Hardware (optional)​

  1. Install the fax board into the fax server.
  2. For Brooktrout / Dialogic TR1034 board: a. Download and install the driver from the location http://www.actfax.com/download/bfvsetup_tr1034_671.msi. This driver needs to be installed on the fax server to use this fax board. b. Install the 64-bit driver add-on from the location http://www.actfax.com/download/bfvsetup_tr1034_x64_671.msi. c. Reboot. d. Configure the Brooktrout device driver from the Device Manager.

Installing ActFax Server​

Perform the following steps to install ActFax Server:

  1. Download Firebird ODBC from the location: http://www.firebirdsql.org/index.php?op=files&id=odbc.
  2. Install Firebird ODBC drivers
  3. Download and Install the ActFax executable 64-bit file from the location http://www.actfax.com/download/actfax_setup_x64_en.exe. Run the ActFax installer and choose Complete Installation.

  1. Click Next. The Program Components window appears.
  2. The basic required options are selected by default.

  1. Create a folder named Outgoing Fax in the folder ActFax\Server. Ensure that the report distribution service has write privileges to this folder.
  2. Open the Firebird ODBC through Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC).
  3. Create a System DSN by the name PACSFAX.FDB.
warning

  • Database Name should follow the following format: <PowerServer/Gateway Name>: <Full Path of FDB File on PowerServer/Gateway Computer>

  • Database password should be a database account created on the PowerServer machine with select privileges for the ACTFAXPROTOCOLQUEUE table.

  1. Select the option to start the fax server automatically during system start up. In this case, the fax server is started as a service after the system boot.
  2. Turn on the modem and initiate the fax server.
  3. If there is only one Area Code that requires dialing with just the local number (7 digits in North America), then specify the Local Area Code.
  4. If there are Area Codes that require dialing with the "area code+ local number" (10 digits in North America), then specify the Local Area Codes.
  5. If there are area codes that require dialing with a mix of local and local distance dialing (7,10,1+10 digits in North America), then Enable Dialing Rules and configure them in the following format:
a)### - ??? - ???? to ???-???? only dials the ? digits (7 digits in North America)
b)### - ??? - ???? to ### - ??? - ???? only dials all digits (10 digits in North America)
c)### - ### - ???? to 1-### - ### - ???? dials all digits with a long - distance prefix (1+10 digits in North America
  1. On the right panel, click on ODBC Database.
  2. Change the Data Source to PACSFax.fdb (Firebird/InterBase(r) driver).
  3. Click Test Connection. A message appears confirming that the connection has been successfully established.
  4. Click on the Transmission Protocol tab and select Enable Export of the Transmission Protocol checkbox. The Table field on the right should change to ACTFAXCONTROLQUEUE.
  5. Click OK to close ODBC Database.
  6. On the right panel, click on File System.
  7. Click New.
  8. Click Search Directory, and then navigate to the OutgoingFax folder that was created in Step 6. Change File Extension to PDF and click OK.
  9. Repeat steps 19-20 but instead, set File Extension to CTL.
  10. Click OK to close File System Properties.

Configuring ActFax Integration​

  1. Open IBOConsole or Database Workbench.
  2. Create a new database user (i.e, ACTFAXUSER).
  3. Grant the user all privileges on the ACTFAXPROTOCOLQUEUE table.
  4. Click Run.
  5. Open Maintenance through Start > Run > Maintenance.exe
  6. Enter the Maintenance password.
  7. Go to Communications > Fax Settings.
  8. Click on the Active Fax radio button at the bottom of the fax settings form to select it as the default fax server.

  1. Set the Fax Outgoing Path to the Outgoing Fax folder created in step 6 in the previous section.
  2. Set Cover page to a template document which would be used as the fax cover page in each fax.
  3. Set the username as a unique identifier for PowerServer. If multiple clients are using the same ActFax server, this identifier can be used to identify the origin of the fax.

Testing the ActFax Integration​

  1. To send a test fax, open PowerReader/Gateway.
  2. Create a study with at least two reports: one text and the other a Word report.
  3. Right-click the study and select Send Fax. Fill the Last Name, First Name, and Fax Number. Click the Send button.
  4. Open Settings > Logs > Communication > Fax Log tab. The fax process should go through the following statuses: Scheduled > Waiting for Process > In Progress > Fax Completed.
  5. Verify that the received fax has the correct number of pages and information contained in the fax cover page is correct.
  6. On the server, open the ActFax Server program. Verify that the fax is in Outgoing > Sent category.
  7. Double-click the fax item in the list. Go to the Settings tab and verify that the following parameters have been populated correctly: a. Under Recipient: Name, Fax b. Under General: User, Subject, Cover Page c. Under Transmission Parameters: Resolution These parameters were defined in the Fax settings dialog of Maintenance.
  8. On the client, open Maintenance.
  9. Enter the Maintenance password.
  10. Go to Communication > Fax Settings and set the Fax Attempt Times to zero (0).
  11. On PowerReader/Gateway, open the study again, then select Send Fax and fill the Last Name, First Name. Enter an invalid fax number or un plug the phone line.
  12. Click Send.
  13. Open Settings > Logs > Communication > Fax Log Tab. The fax process should go through the following statuses: Scheduled > Waiting for Process > In Progress > Failed. The Detail column of the Fax log should give the correct reason for fax failure.
  14. Verify that the fax has moved from the Pending sub-tab to the Failed sub-tab.
  15. On the server, open the ActFax Server program. Ensure that the failed fax is in the Undeliverable category.
  16. Open Settings> Logs> Communication > Fax Log Tab. In the Failed sub-tab, click the Resend button.
  17. Verify that the fax is moved from Failed sub-tab and into the Pending sub-tab again.
  18. Open the ActFax Server program and verify that the failed fax is moved from the Undeliverable category to Undelivered category.

  1. Open Settings > Logs > Communication > Fax Log tab. In the Pending sub-tab, select the tab and then click the Delete button.
  2. Verify that the fax has been removed from the Pending sub-tab.
  3. Open the ActFax Server program and verify that the selected fax has been deleted.