Dialing Plan Options

PBX Dialing Plan

The dialing plan controls the extension numbers that an outside caller dials to reach a user. A caller reaching NP Receptionist hears the prompt, “Please enter an extension number, or wait for assistance.” When the caller enters a number, NP Receptionist checks the input against the PBX dialing plan.

If the number conforms to the PBX dialing plan, NP Receptionist proceeds to delete any leading digits and add any offsets that are specified (see “Delete Digits Table and Offset Table” later in this section). NP Receptionist then checks the mailbox dialing plan.

If the result is a valid mailbox number, NP Receptionist checks the mailbox data file, and dials the “Mailbox’s Extension Number” set up by the administrator. The call is then processed according to the instructions configured for that mailbox.

If the result is not a valid extension, NP Receptionist dials the number that was originally input by the caller, then hangs up.

The dialing plan is a string of nine numbers. The first number in the string shows the number of digits allowed for extensions that begin with 1. Each number that follows gives the number of digits allowed for extensions that begin with 2 through 9.

A “V” at any position indicates that the number of allowable digits (can have up to eleven) for that position is variable; NP Receptionist accepts any extension input with that particular leading digit. The system uses a three-second timeout to determine when input is finished.

Dialing Plan Example

0,4,3,3,3,A,V,0,0

The values indicate the number of digits allowed for extensions starting with digits 1 through 9. The sample dialing plan is interpreted as follows, for extensions that begin with the numbers listed:

• 1–no extensions starting with “1”

• 2–must have four digits (for example, 2112)

• 3 through 5–must have three digits (for example, 303, 415, 504)

• 6–”A” makes “6” the dial-by-name access digit

• 7– the number of digits is variable (for example, 798, 7734, 765379)

• 8 and 9–no extensions start with 8 or 9

If the PBX dialing plan is 3,3,3,3,3,3,3,0,0, all extensions that begin with digits 1 through 7 must have three digits. No extensions start with the digits 8 or 9. This disallows pressing 8 or 9 to dial out from NP Receptionist; in addition, the Administrator mailbox number (default, 998) and Attendant mailbox number (default, 999) cannot be reached from NP Receptionist.

Delete Digits Table and Offset Table

Ideally, extension numbers are identical to the mailbox numbers within a system. For instances where they do not match, NP Receptionist must convert extension numbers to mailbox numbers, using values contained the Delete Digits Table and the Offset Table.

Delete Digits Table

The delete digits table is a string of numbers that represent, from left to right, extension numbers that begin with 1 through 9. The number shown at each position indicates the number of digits that NP Receptionist must delete from an extension to convert it to a mailbox number.

The digits are deleted in the order received. For example, if the number in the Delete Digits table is 2, NP Receptionist deletes the first two digits that it receives.

Example

If the delete digits table is 0,0,0,1,0,0,0,3,0

• No leading digits are deleted from extensions that begin with 1, 2, or 3 (that is, they are unchanged)

• One leading digit is deleted from all extensions that begin with 4 (for example, 4657 becomes 657)

• Extensions that begin with 5, 6, or 7 are unchanged

• Three leading digits are deleted from extensions that begin with 8 (for example, 8657 becomes 7)

• Extensions that begin with 9 are unchanged

The default Delete Digits table is 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0, which means that all extension numbers are passed through unchanged. If you need to make changes to this table, record the new table on NP Receptionist Worksheet 2 at the end of this section.

Offset Table

To complete the conversion of an extension number to a mailbox number, NP Receptionist can add an offset after deleting any leading digits. The offset can be positive or negative. Offset tables are numbered 1 through 9. The default values for each offset table is 0, as shown below. The table number refers to the leading digit of the extension number before any digits are deleted. Table 1 shows the offset to be added to extensions that begin with 1. If the extension is 1678, the offset value read is the one in Table 1, even if during the conversion, the leading digit might be deleted); Table 2 specifies the offsets for extensions that begin with 2; and so on.

• OFFSET: s
• Table offset for #1 = [0]
• Table offset for #2 = [0]
• Table offset for #3 = [0]
• Table offset for #4 = [0]
• Table offset for #5 = [0]
• Table offset for #6 = [0]
• Table offset for #7 = [0]
• Table offset for #8 = [0]
• Table offset for #9 = [0]

Offset Table

Example

For example, if the offset value for Table 5 is +25, the mailbox number for extension 560 (+25) is 585.

How NP Receptionist Uses These Tables

The following examples shows the process of transforming extension numbers to mailbox numbers:

Example 1

Assume

Delete Digits = 0,0,1,0,0,2,0,0,0

Table offset for #3 = -50

This means that NP Receptionist transforms an extension that begins with 3 to a mailbox number using the following procedure:

3275 (extension that was entered)

275 (delete one leading digit)

-50 (add signed offset from Table 3)

225 (mailbox number)

Under the same circumstances, extension “3276” is converted to mailbox number 226, “3280” is converted to mailbox number 230, etc.

Example 2

Assume

Delete Digits = 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0

Table offset for #1 = 200

This means that any extension number that begins with 1 maps as follows:

17 (extension that was entered)

- (do not delete any leading digits)

+200 (add signed offset from Table 1)

217 (mailbox number)

Timeout for Receipt of First DTMF Digit

This is a timing parameter that the administrator can configure to allow a pause before NP Receptionist starts processing digits that a caller dials. The default timeout value is 0, indicating that the feature is turned off. The timeout value is a number between 0 and 50 in tenths of a second.

PBX Console Attendant Day/Night Access Code

The PBX console attendant day and night access codes usually contain a system attendant number to which a caller is transferred during the configured time period. NP Receptionist dials the appropriate string for the time period under the following circumstances:

• A caller waits for assistance before dialing an extension.

• A call fails to go through after the caller has entered an extension, assistance is required, and there is no attendant’s extension number in the mailbox data file.

Console access codes are PBX-dependent, and can be determined by actually transferring a call to the operator from a station set. The following table shows the coding choices available for day/night access:

Note: Do not program a G (wait for greeting) into a PBX Console Attendant Day or Night Access Code, or into the Pre-DN string or Post-DN string; internal NP Receptionist programming does not allow a successful transfer if a G appears in any of these strings.

The default dial string is “0H,” for both the PBX Console Attendant Day Access Code and the PBX Console Attendant Night Access Code. This string means “issue DTMF zero, then hang up.” For most PBXs, this is sufficient to transfer the call to the Attendant.

The NP Receptionist day or night dialing access code proceeds in the following sequence:

• Execute the Pre Directory Number (Pre-DN) dial string that is set under “PBX Dial String Definitions”; the Pre-DN string usually contains all the instructions for the transfer.

• Dial the appropriate PBX console attendant access code

• Execute the Post Directory Number (Post-DN) string, then wait for a greeting (NP Receptionist programming always appends a G to the end of the Post-DN string after a PBX Console Attendant Access Code has been dialed).

The default day and night console access codes are blind transfers, which are available only if the PBX allows a blind transfer to the operator. A blind transfer means NP Receptionist releases the call before the greeting starts. Instructing NP Receptionist to release the call after dialing the number ensures that the PBX does not continue the transfer when the caller has decided to hang up.

If there is no PBX console attendant during the day, or during night/weekend hours, entering a period deletes the access code for that time period. When there is no access code, the caller who “waits” (in response to the prompt, “Please enter a mailbox number or wait”) is prompted to leave a message in the attendant’s mailbox. (NP Receptionist thanks the caller and hangs up if the attendant’s mailbox has also been deleted.)