asterisk users - Nov 2003 - Asterisk Call Manager for Windows 0.0.1 (Alpha)

If anybody is interested, I have an early version of my Call Manager for
Windows application integrated with Asterisk.  CMW is an application bar
(like the task-bar) that docks to the top of your desktop window.  It
provides the following functions:

1.  View Call-Related Information (Caller ID, Call State, Call
Direction)
2.  Monitor Status of Asterisk Stations (Channels) -- BLF or "Busy Lamp
Field"
3.  Place outbound calls.
4.  Record (monitor), transfer, or drop connected, active calls.
5.  Speed-dial "inside" and "outside" numbers.
6.  Remote access to Asterisk CLI functions (show channels, reload,
etc.)
7.  AstManager COM component (can be used to add Ast functionality to
other apps).

Here are four screenshots with various features in use:

Basic Screen:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr.jpg
With Command Window:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr2.jpg
With Settings Window:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr3.jpg
With Monitor Config:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr4.jpg
With Debug Window:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr5.jpg

I kind of think of it as a "SoftPhone-Lite" application.  It works as
a
soft-phone enhancement or add-on to your VoIP hard-phone.  It is
currently buggy and rather feature-poor.  I hope to add lots of
additional features.  These will include:

1. Redial
2. Voicemail Box Monitoring
3. Enhanced Conferencing
4. Outlook/Act/Goldmine Integration (PIM stuff)
5. Call History (both inbound and outbound)
6. Redirect Option on Ring (VM, Application, Transfer, etc.)
7. Automatic mixing and delivery of monitored (recorded) files.

I also plan on adding a DDE and COM extension so that it can easily act
as a "CTI Client" to execute screen-pops.  I may even throw in a
scripting function that allows scripts to be executed on each incoming
call.

A copy of the source code (let's call this LGPL for now) is available
here:
	http://www.sokol-associates.com/Downloads/AstMgr.zip

It's written in VB6 (yes - barf, gag, whatever).  The only thing
required beyond the integral VB6 controls is the Windows Scripting
Runtime which most PCs should have.  I will work on an installable
version soon.  I may also port it to something more cross-platform.
Please bear with me as I am just learning Gnome/GTK/X-windows.

Please let me know what you think of the idea.  Constructive criticism
only please.  I am fully aware that Windoze sucks, VB sucks, Bill Gates
sucks, etc.  I don't need to be called a "script kiddie" by
anyone.
(And FWIW: Asterisk will go much further by playing nicely with the evil
but predominant operating system out there.)

Thanks,

Steve

P.S. Note:  the Monitor editing dialog is not working yet.  I shows the
devices/users but does not actually edit the file.  The file
(Monitor.conf) is stored in the root directory for the application and
can be edited using notepad or whatever.  The format is pretty
self-explanatory.  Obviously the PSTN and APP technologies can't be
monitored.

Regs,

SMS

I think this is a great addition!!!
Thanks for the app!



-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Sokol [mailto:ssokol@sokol-associates.com]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 3:32 PM
To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk Call Manager for Windows 0.0.1
(Alpha)


If anybody is interested, I have an early version of my Call Manager for
Windows application integrated with Asterisk.  CMW is an application bar
(like the task-bar) that docks to the top of your desktop window.  It
provides the following functions:

1.  View Call-Related Information (Caller ID, Call State, Call
Direction)
2.  Monitor Status of Asterisk Stations (Channels) -- BLF or "Busy Lamp
Field"
3.  Place outbound calls.
4.  Record (monitor), transfer, or drop connected, active calls.
5.  Speed-dial "inside" and "outside" numbers.
6.  Remote access to Asterisk CLI functions (show channels, reload,
etc.)
7.  AstManager COM component (can be used to add Ast functionality to
other apps).

Here are four screenshots with various features in use:

Basic Screen:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr.jpg
With Command Window:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr2.jpg
With Settings Window:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr3.jpg
With Monitor Config:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr4.jpg
With Debug Window:
http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr5.jpg

I kind of think of it as a "SoftPhone-Lite" application.  It works as
a
soft-phone enhancement or add-on to your VoIP hard-phone.  It is
currently buggy and rather feature-poor.  I hope to add lots of
additional features.  These will include:

1. Redial
2. Voicemail Box Monitoring
3. Enhanced Conferencing
4. Outlook/Act/Goldmine Integration (PIM stuff)
5. Call History (both inbound and outbound)
6. Redirect Option on Ring (VM, Application, Transfer, etc.)
7. Automatic mixing and delivery of monitored (recorded) files.

I also plan on adding a DDE and COM extension so that it can easily act
as a "CTI Client" to execute screen-pops.  I may even throw in a
scripting function that allows scripts to be executed on each incoming
call.

A copy of the source code (let's call this LGPL for now) is available
here:
	http://www.sokol-associates.com/Downloads/AstMgr.zip

It's written in VB6 (yes - barf, gag, whatever).  The only thing
required beyond the integral VB6 controls is the Windows Scripting
Runtime which most PCs should have.  I will work on an installable
version soon.  I may also port it to something more cross-platform.
Please bear with me as I am just learning Gnome/GTK/X-windows.

Please let me know what you think of the idea.  Constructive criticism
only please.  I am fully aware that Windoze sucks, VB sucks, Bill Gates
sucks, etc.  I don't need to be called a "script kiddie" by
anyone.
(And FWIW: Asterisk will go much further by playing nicely with the evil
but predominant operating system out there.)

Thanks,

Steve

P.S. Note:  the Monitor editing dialog is not working yet.  I shows the
devices/users but does not actually edit the file.  The file
(Monitor.conf) is stored in the root directory for the application and
can be edited using notepad or whatever.  The format is pretty
self-explanatory.  Obviously the PSTN and APP technologies can't be
monitored.

Regs,

SMS


_______________________________________________
Asterisk-Users mailing list
Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

>Can I have some installation steps on this 
>
>it looks very good.. 
>
>
>Alex
Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to work up an install.  If you have
the core VB runtime file (MSVBVM60.dll) you will only need a couple of
additional files:

Windows Scripting Runtime:  scrrun.dll
MS Winsock Control:	    mswinsck.ocx
MS Common Controls:	    mscomctl.ocx

Here is a link to a zip with those files:
	http://www.sokol-associates.com/Downloads/Dlls.zip

First:  Dump all 3 files into your WINDOWS\System32 (WINNT\System32)
folder.
Second: Register the files using the regsvr32.exe utility:

Start->Run->regsvr32.exe "C:\Winnt\System32\scrrun.dll"
regsvr32.exe
Start->Run->"C:\Winnt\System32\mswinsck.ocx"
Start->Run->regsvr32.exe "C:\Winnt\System32\mscomctl.ocx"

(Replace Winnt\System32 with your system folder)

Before you start the program, make sure that the monitor module is
loaded and running on your Asterisk.  There are plenty of posts on
setting this up.  Here's the manager.conf file on my machine:

========= MANAGER.CONF FILE ===============================;
; Asterisk Call Management support
;
[general]
enabled = yes
port = 5038
bindaddr = 0.0.0.0

[steve]
secret = [SECRET WORD HERE]
;deny=0.0.0.0/0.0.0.0
;permit=209.16.236.73/255.255.255.0
read = system,call,log,verbose,command,agent,user
write = system,call,log,verbose,command,agent,user

========= END OF MANAGER.CONF FILE ========================
Now you should be able to execute Astman.exe from wherever you have it
stored.  It will automatically detect that it is a new installation and
pop open the configuration dialog.  Configure the following:

Device Name = SIP/1100 (or) Zap/3 (or) ... (the channel name you want to
define as "your phone")

Mailbox = 1100 (your mailbox) Asterisk = sip.sokol-associates.com (enter
the IP or name for your Asterisk installation here)

Port = 5038 (enter the Asterisk manager port here -- defaults to 5038) 

Debug Level = 3 (set between 0 and 4 for vb debugging) 

User Name: steven (Asterisk manager login as defined in manager.conf)

Password: mysecretword (Secret as defined in manager.conf)

Keep Command Results controls whether command results (in the command
output window) are concatenated (and "kept") or replaced with each
command.

Automatically connect on startup is not currently in use (I think) and
would allow you to manually establish your connection after the toolbar
deploys.

Debug Window allows you to display the manager traffic in realtime.

The system will attempt to load the monitor.conf file once the settings
have been properly set.  You can manually edit that file as described in
my original post.  I will work on the editor dialog over the weekend.

Note:  After you enter the basic configuration info, it will open but it
appears not to connect.  You may need to close the app and re-start it.
I will track this as a bug and see if I can't fix it.

I hope this helps.

Comments Please!

Steve

> here:
> 	http://www.sokol-associates.com/Downloads/AstMgr.zip
> 
> It's written in VB6 (yes - barf, gag, whatever).  The only thing
> required beyond the integral VB6 controls is the Windows Scripting
> Runtime which most PCs should have.  I will work on an installable
> version soon.  I may also port it to something more cross-platform.
> Please bear with me as I am just learning Gnome/GTK/X-windows.
Steve, how do you know if the Windows Scripting Runtime is installed in Windows
XP Pro?
Where do you get it from and how should it be installed?

Thanks, Walker

-- 
********   DataCrest, Inc. -- Technically Superior   ******************
Walker Haddock                       http://www.datacrest.com
DataCrest, Inc.                    e-mail:  wh@datacrest.com
1634A Montgomery Hwy.    phone:  1-888-941-3282, 1-205-335-8589
Birmingham, AL 35216                  fax:  1-205-823-7838
***********************************************************************

Steven Sokol wrote:
>1. Redial
>2. Voicemail Box Monitoring
>3. Enhanced Conferencing
>4. Outlook/Act/Goldmine Integration (PIM stuff)
>5. Call History (both inbound and outbound)
>6. Redirect Option on Ring (VM, Application, Transfer, etc.)
>7. Automatic mixing and delivery of monitored (recorded) files.
>
>  
>
What would be neat would be a limited setup for secretaries or 
receptionists to be able to see incoming calls on all extensions and be 
able to forward them to thier phones... like a DSS.  Maybe there's a way 
to do it now, but not that I know of.
>A copy of the source code (let's call this LGPL for now) is available
>here:
>	http://www.sokol-associates.com/Downloads/AstMgr.zip
>
>It's written in VB6 (yes - barf, gag, whatever).  The only thing
>required beyond the integral VB6 controls is the Windows Scripting
>Runtime which most PCs should have.  I will work on an installable
>version soon.  I may also port it to something more cross-platform.
>Please bear with me as I am just learning Gnome/GTK/X-windows.
>  
>
May I suggest you use something like HBasic -- it's like Visual Basic, 
but can be used on Windows and Linux.

Nick

Billy,

Thanks for the observations.  The caller ID on outbound is unfortunately
part of the way the Manager interface does outbound calling.  Since it
establishes a call from Asterisk to YOU, then establishes another call
from Asterisk to CALLED PARTY then bridges YOU and CALLED PARTY, you are
not actually the "caller" in the call to VM.

The Hold issue is also one I have yet to find my way around.  The
manager interface doesn't have a "Hold" method (yet).  I may very
well
hack one into the manager code so that you can Hold and Reconnect calls,
(plus know when your call has been held/reconnected).

Another solution to this for SIP is to use the REFER methods to direct
the UA (in your case the GS Budgetone).  I don't know which UAs support
this.  Considering the limits of the GS phone, I doubt it would.

I am working on a new version of Call Manager and I will have it ready
sometime after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanks,

Steve
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Billy Huddleston [mailto:billy@nxs.net]
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 12:45 PM
> To: ssokol@sokol-associates.com
> Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk Call Manager for Windows 0.0.1
> (Alpha)
> 
> Been trying out your call manager.. Nice work!  Have a few
opservations to
> tell you...
> 
> When dialing out, it doesn't do callerid, I found this out, because I
use
> callerid to know what extension has called voicemail, so all they have
to
> enter in is thier pass code.
> 
> Hold doesn't work with GS Budgetone at all, and, I'm not exactly
sure
what
> the deal is with transfer, I can't get it to work..
> 
> Thanks, Billy
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steven Sokol" <ssokol@sokol-associates.com>
> To: <asterisk-users@lists.digium.com>
> Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 11:21 AM
> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk Call Manager for Windows 0.0.1
> (Alpha)
> 
> 
> > Zoa,
> >
> > When the boxes are red, that usually indicates that the channel is
busy.
> > In the screen shots I sent earlier you will see that one of the
buttons
> > is red:
> >
> > http://www.sokol-associates.com/images/AstMgr.jpg
> >
> > Notice that only the station marked "Test Xten" is red. 
This
station is
> > busy (on another call).  I don't know if that has anything to do
with
> > your issue, but I thought I would throw that out.
> >
> > The message you reference below is a "Status" message.  In
this
program
> > the Status messages really only serve as keep-alives.  Every 30
seconds
> > the system issues a command "Action:Status" to keep NATs
from
closing
> > the connection due to lack of traffic.
> >
> > Try this:  open the command window and try manually executing some
of
> > the CLI commands.  Try "sip show peers" to make sure the SIP
peers
are
> > registered.  Also try "sip show channels" to see if there is
already
a
> > call terminated at the channel you are calling.
> >
> > I will try to diagnose this further if you can send some additional
> > information.  Please include the monitor.conf file, and if possible
a
> > -vvvv trace from Asterisk.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: asterisk-users-admin@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-
> > > admin@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of zoa
> > > Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 4:13 AM
> > > To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
> > > Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk Call Manager for Windows
0.0.1
> > > (Alpha)
> > >
> > > [201]
> > > Username=davy
> > > Technology=SIP
> > > DeviceID=davy
> > >
> > > [202]
> > > Username=pieter
> > > Technology=SIP
> > > DeviceID=pieter
> > >
> > > 201 is the extension from in extensions.conf
> > > davy = the thing between brackets in sip.conf
> > >
> > > When i try to click on one of the red boxes in the manager, i
always
> > get:
> > >
> > > Event: Status -|- Channel: SIP/davy-1a07 -|- CallerID: davy -|-
State:
> > Up
> > > -|- Context: sip -|- Extension: 202 -|- Priority: 1 -|- Link:
> > > SIP/pieter-e582 -|- Uniqueid: 1069581.102
> > > Response: Error -|- Message: Invalid channel
> > > At 21:06 21/11/2003 -0600, you wrote:
> > > >Here's the structure for the monitor.conf file:
> > > >
> > > >[1101]                  Extension Number (from
extensions.conf in
> > > >Asterisk)
> > > >UserName=Blah Blah      Label.  Simply sets the caption for
the
> > button.
> > > >Technology=SIP          Technology used for stations (SIP,
MGCP,
Zap,
> > > >etc.)
> > > >DeviceID=1101           Device identifier (from sip.conf in
this
> > case)
> > > >
> > > >All of the Technology values are normal asterisk values
except
for
> > APP,
> > > >which is an application (like Voicemail or MOH or MeetMe) and
PSTN,
> > > >which is a number outside of the Asterisk inside dial plan.
> > > >
> > > >I hope this helps.  Remember that for PSTN and APP values,
the
> > bracketed
> > > >Extension number and the DeviceID need to be the same.
> > > >
> > > >Regards,
> > > >
> > > >Steve
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: asterisk-users-admin@lists.digium.com
> > [mailto:asterisk-users-
> > > > > admin@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of zoa
> > > > > Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 7:41 PM
> > > > > To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
> > > > > Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk Call Manager for
Windows
> > 0.0.1
> > > > > (Alpha)
> > > > >
> > > > > Could you give me some explanation on how to use the
configuration
> > > >file ?
> > > > >
> > > > > I always get INVALID channels if i click on the red
icon next
to
> > my
> > > >name.
> > > > > (Maybe i should use a numeric context or use numeric
user
names?)
> > > > >
> > > > > Tool looks great, this will be a very cool asterisk
addition.
> > > > >
> > > > > zoa.
> > > > >
> > > > > At 16:43 21/11/2003 -0600, you wrote:
> > > > > >I think the script host gets installed with Windows
explorer.
If
> > you
> > > > > >don't have it, you can use the DLL in the dlls
download:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >http://www.sokol-associates.com/Downloads/Dlls.zip
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Hope that helps.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Thanks,
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Steve
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > From: asterisk-users-admin@lists.digium.com
> > > >[mailto:asterisk-users-
> > > > > > > admin@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Walker
Haddock
> > > > > > > Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 4:21 PM
> > > > > > > To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com
> > > > > > > Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Asterisk Call
Manager for
> > Windows
> > > >0.0.1
> > > > > > > (Alpha)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > here:
> > > > > > > >    
http://www.sokol-associates.com/Downloads/AstMgr.zip
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > It's written in VB6 (yes - barf,
gag, whatever).  The
only
> > thing
> > > > > > > > required beyond the integral VB6
controls is the Windows
> > > >Scripting
> > > > > > > > Runtime which most PCs should have.  I
will work on an
> > > >installable
> > > > > > > > version soon.  I may also port it to
something more
> > > >cross-platform.
> > > > > > > > Please bear with me as I am just
learning
> > Gnome/GTK/X-windows.
> > > > > > > Steve, how do you know if the Windows
Scripting Runtime is
> > > >installed
> > > > > >in
> > > > > > > Windows XP Pro?
> > > > > > > Where do you get it from and how should it be
installed?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Thanks, Walker
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > ********   DataCrest, Inc. -- Technically
Superior
> > > > > >******************
> > > > > > > Walker Haddock
http://www.datacrest.com
> > > > > > > DataCrest, Inc.                    e-mail:
wh@datacrest.com
> > > > > > > 1634A Montgomery Hwy.    phone: 
1-888-941-3282,
> > 1-205-335-8589
> > > > > > > Birmingham, AL 35216                  fax: 
1-205-823-7838
> > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> >
>***********************************************************************
> > > > > > >
_______________________________________________
> > > > > > > Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > > > > > > Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> > > > > > >
http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >_______________________________________________
> > > > > >Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > > > > >Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> > > > >
>http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > > > > Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> > > > > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
> > > >Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > > >Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> > > >http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > > Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> > > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com
> > http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> >