PMDF System Manager's Guide


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37.2.5 FAX Telephone Number Evolution

Within the G3_TO_FAX channel, the FAX telephone number as specified by the message originator with a "/FN=" attribute-value pair undergoes modification prior to it being passed on to the FAX modem as a number to dial (the "dial string"):

  1. The originator of the FAX message specifies the original FAX telephone number with a "/FN=" attribute-value pair when the e-mail is addressed. This original version of the number is stored in the string FN$.
  2. The content of the string FN$ is displayed on the FAX cover pages by the PS_TO_G3 channel and stored in the G3 file.
  3. A copy of the string FN$ is made and stored in the string FN_TO_DIAL$.
  4. If a site-supplied FAX_VALIDATE routine is in use, the FN_TO_DIAL$ string is passed to it for approval and possible modification.
  5. If a site-supplied FAX_VALIDATE mapping is provided, then the FN_TO_DIAL$ string is passed to it for approval.
  6. If a site-supplied FAX_NUMBER mapping is provided, then the FN_TO_DIAL$ string is passed to it for possible modification.
  7. If the PULSE channel option is used then either a "P" or "T" is prepended to the string FN_TO_DIAL$.
  8. All characters other than the characters 0--9, #, *, and the dial string modifiers, P, T, W, @, !, and , (comma) are stripped from the string FN_TO_DIAL$.
  9. The modem is given the string FN_TO_DIAL$ as the dial string.
  10. After the delivery has been attempted, logs are made and, if necessary, acknowledgements or error messages sent back to the message originator. All of these actions make use of the original FAX number, FN$, and not the modified number stored in the string FN_TO_DIAL$.
  11. The string FN_TO_DIAL$ is forgotten; it is never stored in the G3 file.

Note

If the G3_TO_FAX channel is marked master_debug , then, as part of the debug output, the input and output of the FAX_VALIDATE routine, FAX_VALIDATE mapping, and FAX_NUMBER mapping are written to the message submission job's output log. This is the only circumstance under which the modified telephone number is ever logged: its value is never displayed on the FAX cover page, never stored in the G3 file, never logged in the mail.log file, nor ever sent back to the message originator.


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