asterisk users - Nov 2011 - difference between playback and background?

In the dial plan language of asterisk, what is the difference between prompting
the user with a Playback() command vs. a Background() command? I want in a part
of my dial plan to ask the user a prompt, and wait for 4 digits to be typed in.
I don't want the user to have to end the string with a pound or something,
just wait 2 seconds after they stop typing. ANd I do want the prompt to be
interruptible if the user is fast and knows already what to do?

I need to do some tests on the number they entered. If i use background(), and
say the prompt, and then follow with a WAIT command, how do i reference the
number they just typed in? does asterisk set the ${EXTEN} variable when the user
types something?

What I find maddening about the asterisk documentation is a lack of clarity on
the sequence of things, and what variables get set when?

It sounds like you may want to use the READ command instead.  This lets you
hard-set the number of digits to expect and then sets a variable which you
can use later in the dialplan.  Generally you use the background command to
let them dial an extension or automated attendant option.  Playback plays
without the option to interrupt it.


On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 10:50 AM, Edward de Jong <
edward.dejong at voicecarrier.com> wrote:
> In the dial plan language of asterisk, what is the difference between
> prompting the user with a Playback() command vs. a Background() command? I
> want in a part of my dial plan to ask the user a prompt, and wait for 4
> digits to be typed in. I don't want the user to have to end the string
with
> a pound or something, just wait 2 seconds after they stop typing. ANd I do
> want the prompt to be interruptible if the user is fast and knows already
> what to do?
>
> I need to do some tests on the number they entered. If i use background(),
> and say the prompt, and then follow with a WAIT command, how do i reference
> the number they just typed in? does asterisk set the ${EXTEN} variable when
> the user types something?
>
> What I find maddening about the asterisk documentation is a lack of
> clarity on the sequence of things, and what variables get set when?
>
>
> --
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-- 
Carlos Alvarez
TelEvolve
602-889-3003
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First question - playback is not interruptable by DTMF, background is.
You have two options here
Option 1
Use Read
[getnum]
Exten => start,1,read(mydigit,prompt,4,skip,1,2)
.. verification stuff

Option 2 
Use WaitExten with Background
[getnum]
Exten => start,1,background(prompt)
Exten => start,n,waitexten(2)
Exten => 1111,1,noop(user pressed 1111)
Exten => I,1,playback(invalid)

For option 2 you have to define each valid 4 digit entry in the context.

Yes it can be maddening, but you get what you pay for.

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Edward de Jong
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 11:51 AM
To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
Subject: [asterisk-users] difference between playback and background?

In the dial plan language of asterisk, what is the difference between
prompting the user with a Playback() command vs. a Background() command? I
want in a part of my dial plan to ask the user a prompt, and wait for 4
digits to be typed in. I don't want the user to have to end the string with
a pound or something, just wait 2 seconds after they stop typing. ANd I do
want the prompt to be interruptible if the user is fast and knows already
what to do. 

I need to do some tests on the number they entered. If i use background(),
and say the prompt, and then follow with a WAIT command, how do i reference
the number they just typed in? does asterisk set the ${EXTEN} variable when
the user types something?

What I find maddening about the asterisk documentation is a lack of clarity
on the sequence of things, and what variables get set when?


--
_____________________________________________________________________
-- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- New to
Asterisk? Join us for a live introductory webinar every Thurs:
               http://www.asterisk.org/hello

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   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users

On Mon, 21 Nov 2011, Danny Nicholas wrote:
> Option 2
> Use WaitExten with Background
> [getnum]
> Exten => start,1,background(prompt)
> Exten => start,n,waitexten(2)
> Exten => 1111,1,noop(user pressed 1111)
> Exten => I,1,playback(invalid)
>
> For option 2 you have to define each valid 4 digit entry in the context.
Or, (since the OP seems a bit newbish), read up on extension pattern 
matching.

-- 
Thanks in advance,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Edwards       sedwards at sedwards.com      Voice: +1-760-468-3867 PST
Newline                                              Fax: +1-760-731-3000