6.9 Progress Tones

Introduction

Progress is a general name for all tones and announcements injected into the speech channel by the PBX. When a new database has been created, the PBX provides a set of default progress tones depending on the language packages installed. The basic set can be extended to include own (user recorded) files and tones, or external audio inputs (e.g. mp3 player) can be connected. The menu is logically divided into tabs. 

Figure: View of Progress Tones Menu Tabs

Progress List 

The progress tones represent the highest level of tone and message processing. They are ready-made tones and announcements that are played back to the user by the PBX. Each progress tone has to contain one source at least.

 

Progress list

The Progress list tab displays all progress tones available in your PBX including those created by the user. The following functions can be used through the context menu:

  • Add – add a new progress tone.
  • Rename – rename a selected progress.
  • Delete – delete a selected progress.
  • Delete all – delete all progresses.
  • Add default progresses – update the default progress set preserving the changes made in other default and user progress tones.
  • Restore default progresses – restore the default set of progress tones without changing or deleting the user created progress tones.

Information about progress

  • Name – the parameter shows the name of a selected progress tone and cannot be configured in this section.
  • Number – is the progress tone number to be used for user progress tone recording, playing and deleting services.
  • Allow progress sharing – enable sharing of a selected progress tone by multiple users with the aim to save the PBX internal sources (players) during increased traffic. Since the progress tone is played back from the current position in this mode, this function is mostly used for the progress tones that need not necessarily be played back from the beginning (e.g. Music on Hold).
  • Language – select the progress tone language version.
  • Play – play back a selected progress tone.
  • Stop – stop playing a selected progress tone.

Progress configuration

  • Action – here choose one of the listed commands to define the meaning of the row.
    • Repeat – set the count of repetitions from the last Repeat command, or from the beginning of the progress tone till this moment. Set the count of repetitions in the Repetitions column. If the parameter is set to 2, the sequence is played once and then repeated twice.
    • Repeat from beginning – set the count of repetitions from the beginning of the progress tone till this moment. Set the count of repetitions in the Repetitions column. If the parameter is set to 2, the sequence is played once and then repeated twice.
    • Pause – create delays between the progress tones. Do not define the delay in the Duration [ms] column until you have set the Play or Play progress row.
    • Play sound – play a selected element for the period of time as set in the Duration [ms] column. If you set 0, the element will be played till the end.
    • Play sequence – play other progress tones. For the progress to be played refer to the Progress columns. The other columns are unused.
    • Play parameter – play the parameter selected in the Priority/Sequence/Parameter column,
    • Off – use this option for the progress tones played within a notification of a new incoming call. Fill in the Duration column to set the tone off-time. If repetition is enabled, then the selected tone is replayed after re-connection. The Queue Alert is an example of this type of tone. To add this tone to your list, click on Add default progresses.
  • PrioritySequence/Parameter – the setting options depend on the Action value.
    • Priority – define the priority of sources for the row set by the Play command. If a source is unavailable at the moment, another source with a lower priority is used.
    • Sequence – define the progress (sequence) to be played if Action is set to Play sequence.
    • Parameter – define the parameter to be played if  Action  is set to Play parameter.
  • Package file/Parameter format – set the progress source file or the parameter type.
  • Progress – define the progress tone to be played within the Play progress command.
  • Own file – define the source file as listed on the Own files tab to be played within the Play command.
  • Tone – define the source tone as listed on the Tones tab to be played within the Play command.
  • Input (AUX in) – define the source audio input as listed on the Audio inputs tab to be played within the Play command.
  • Repetitions – define the count of repetitions for the Repeat command. If you select 0, the progress tone is played all around. If you select 1, the sequence is played once.
  • Duration – define the duration for the Play or Pause commands.

To change the order of the progress rows use the arrows in the right-hand part of the menu. To add new rows to a certain position use the Insert ahead selected and Insert behind selected options. The Add selection adds a record after the last one.

Language Pack Files

Language pack file list

This section shows all available language package files that can be used as sources for progress tones. Save these files to your local PC disk if necessary using the context menu.

 

Related progress list

This section gives a list of all the progress tones that use the above selected file. You can use all the context menu functions as available on the Progress list tab.

 

Other sections

The Information about progress and Progress configuration sections are common for all tabs and their parameters. 

Own Files

Own files

This section shows all the files uploaded by the user to the PBX that can be used as progress tone sources. The voice message must have the following format: wav 8kHz, 8bit, mono, aLaw. You can also use the service as described in the User Manual for recording. The context menu of this section provides the following functions:

  • Add – add a record. The record is then used as a progress tone source. It has no file after creation. It has to be uploaded via the Own files source section.
  • Rename – rename a selected record.
  • Delete – delete a selected record.
  • Delete record, keep file – delete a selected record while keeping its uploaded file in the PBX.
  • Backup file to local disk – download a file of a selected record to your local disk. First select the file to be saved in the NetStar data space and then enter the name and storage on your local disk.

Own files sources

Within this section you can upload a file of your own assigning it to the created record in the Own files list section. The context menu of this section provides the following functions:

  • Add – upload a file with announcement for a selected record.
  • Add record for existing file – create a record for an existing file.
  • Delete – delete a file of a selected record.
  • Delete record, keep file – delete a selected record while keeping its uploaded file in the PBX.

Related progress list

This section displays a list of all the progress tones that use the above selected own file. You can use all the context menu functions as available on the Progress list tab.

 

Other sections

The Information about progress and Progress configuration sections are common for all tabs and their parameters.

Tones

Tones

The Tones section displays all the tones of the PBX that can be used as progress tone sources. The context menu of this section provides the following functions:

  • Add – add a new tone.
  • Rename – rename a selected tone.
  • Delete – delete a selected tone.
  • Delete all – delete all tones.
  • Derive – create a copy of a selected tone.
  • Add default tones – complete the list of default tones while preserving any changes in the existing tones.
  • Restore default tones – complete the list of default tones restoring the default values of all the changed tones.

Tone configuration

In this section you can configure a tone using a three-column table as follows:

  • Language – define the language version for each tone row. Thus, you can create different forms of a tone for different languages.
  • Action – set one of the following actions for each row:
    • 425Hz – play a tone with the frequency of 425Hz. Set the tone duration in the Duration [ms]/Repetitions column.
    • Repeat – repeat rows from the beginning to this row. Set the count of repetitions in the Duration [ms]/Repetitions column. If you select 0, the section is played back all around. If you select 1, the sequence is played just once.
    • Silent – define the delays between the 425Hz function rows. When used on the first row, this function has no meaning.
    • Duration [ms]/Repeatitions – enter the duration for the 425Hz, Silent and Through functions or the count of repetitions for the Repeat function.
  • Through – has the same function as Silent, yet you can hear the line sounds if any.

Related progress list

This section provides a list of all the progress tones that use the above selected tone. You can use all the context menu functions as available on the Progress list tab.

 

Other sections

The Information about progress and Progress configuration sections are common for all tabs and their parameters.

Audio Inputs

Audio inputs

The Audio Inputs section displays all the audio inputs of the PBX that can be used as progress tone sources. The context menu of this section provides the following functions:

  • Add – add a new audio input.
  • Rename – rename a selected audio input.
  • Delete – delete a selected audio input.

Audio input sources

In this section you can assign a virtual port of the Audio/IO/Relay board to a selected Audio input. For each port define the language to be used for the input.

 

Related progress list

This section provides a list of all the progress tones that use the above selected audio input. You can use all the context menu functions as available on the Progress list tab.

 

Other sections

The Information about progress and Progress configuration sections are common for all tabs and their parameters.