Automated Faxing from FileMaker Pro - Win/Mac

[Ch.]

I've read through all of the information in the Faxing Forum (having already decided that PageSender is probably the best solution, for Mac) and apart from FileFax, the options for PC appear limited. But even FileFax now seems dated (98/00/NT & OS8, 9 & FMP 4 & 5).

I want to be able to send multiple, individually addressed faxes from FileMaker.

Is there an option available, that's just like PageSender, but for the PC, or something similar?

All responses much appreciated.

[Christian Coppe]

Hi Paula,

I use FaxTool on PC's since 2-3 years. You need WinFax Pro to run it. I have written a lot of scripts with FaxTool and the users are quite happy with it : they leave the office when the script is still running, sending more than 50 faxes a day at different destinations. Only one remark : it uses a lot of CPU charge and memory...

[PeterDB]

You can also use ZetaFax on PC. What you do is print to a ZetaFax printer and add a structured line with Name/FaxNumber etc. on the layout. We use ZetaFax mainly in combination with 4D Write for the moment and it works great. Because it just looks for the needed data on the printed layout, using it with FileMaker should work also.

[Ch.]

Christian & Peter,

Thank you for your replies - having checked the Forums for weeks with no replies, I gave up! But now I'm back.

I did check FaxTool before (can't remember why I didn't go for it then), but will check it and ZetaFax (which I haven't heard of).

Paula

[SamGyi]

Hi everyone,

I have been using Zeta fax for a few years to print out faxes(win) as well as using Zsubmit(win/mac) (API tool kit to submit) text output from fm pro ( version 6) to send many many personalized faxes.

But I have a problem when we upgrade to FM version 7 a few months ago. Z-submit still works for a bulk sending (with 3 merge fields) but when we print out from FM7 Zetafax doesn't understand embedded addressing anymore.

I belive it is due to the fact that FM7 screenshot is printing in bmp format rather than Meta file as in older version.

There is a company called productivecomputing that has sendfax plug-in for FM. But I am not very happy with the quality for the faxes.

I have also try to output the file to PDF and print that pdf to the fax spool, but the image is so bad. Seems like FM is defaulting to 72X72 dpi images.

I think it is a bug...

I have called both FM and Zetafax, they both put blame on the other party.

Anyone has a clue to go around it ro ask FM to fix that bug?

SG

[dkemme]

I think this is another example of difficulties printing from FM7. I have the same behavior with PageSender. Works great in FM5.x/6 but in FM7 the phone number/cover page selection is erratic resulting in faxes sent to the wrong number. I think the fix is to create an applescript that will click on the cancel button with GUI scripting, I have this working in printing to other devices, not yet for PageSender. By canceling a print job, seems the previous phone number to send to PageSender gets flushed out and I am hoping will solve the problem, more to follow...

[SamGyi]

Hi Doug Kemme,

Thanks for the info. FM does print to the print spool. But Zetafax failed to pick up the embedded addressing code which I believe is caused by bmp screenshot rather than meta data screen shot. If I write up a script to cancel the popup dialog box, Zetafax will not have any clue of knowing where the faxes are going. We can enter the addressing info by copying and pasting. But that's is impossible in unattended faxes.

I will wait for your result.

Thanks,

SG

[dkemme]

I won't be any help in the Windows world, but attached is a solution to perform a print then cancel step that MAY help in the OSX world, I have yet to test it though.