Usage
Main window
Connecting
On startup, once * Receptionist has been configured, it will automatically connect to your Asterisk server. Under the File menu there are Connect and Disconnect options for controlling this manually. If the program becomes disconnected for any reason, for example if the Asterisk server is restarted, it will attempt to reconnect after about 20 seconds.
Initiating a call
The first button on the toolbar is the New call button. Use this when you want to initiate a phone call. Clicking this opens the call window.
Picking calls up
The main window is split into two lists - incoming calls and transferred calls. Selecting an item on either of these lists connects you to that caller and opens the call window.
In the case of calls that have been transferred they will disappear from this list once they have been answered by the person they have been transferred to. Picking up a transferred call cancels the transfer, which you may want to do if nobody is answering, and lets you talk to the caller again.
Call window
The call window has three main sections:
- The dial/search entry box.
- The search results list.
- The call status panels.
Dialing by number
If you know the number you want to dial simply type it in and press enter to call it, or shift-enter to do an unattended transfer to it.
If a call is already in progress and you initiate a second call, the first call will be put on hold and the second call will appear in the second call panel.
Dialing by name
If you have specified a csv file containing your directory data you can also type a name, or part of a name, here. As you type the list below will be updated with any matches found. At any time you can press enter or shift-enter to call/transfer the first entry. To select a later entry you can click, or use the shortcut keys specified, on the buttons.
The call status panels
When a call is in progress it will show up in one of the two call panels. Three buttons appear for call handling options:
- Requeue - this drops the call back into the incoming call queue and clears this call panel. The caller will hear ringing and show up again on the incoming call list on the main window.
- Hold - this holds the call. The caller will hear hold music. You can pick this call up again by clicking the same button.
- Hangup - this disconnects the call completely and clears this call panel.
When you have two active calls you can have either or both on hold and switch between them as necessary.
To connect two calls together select the join button. The two callers will then be talking to one another and the operator's connection will be cleared.
Closing the call window
To close the call window press escape.