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Archive-name: fax-faq/Object-Fax
Posting-Frequency: Bi-monthly Last-modified: 1995-09-25 Version: 3.1.1 See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Object-Fax Frequently Asked Questions v3.1.1, 25 Sep 1995.
This is a list over common problems and questions about Traffic
Software's Object-Fax. It is based on my experiences with technical
support on Object-Fax and information from others, support engineers
as well as customers. I will not be held responsible for any errors
in or misuse of the information contained in this document, nor will
any one else. I also have an GammaLink FAQ that can be of interest
to GammaLink fax board users. Please note that this document is not
an official Traffic Software document. Views and opinions are my
views and opinions, not Traffic Software's.
Copyright 1993-1995, Lennart Regebro. You may copy this document for
personal use. If you want to redistribute this FAQ, please contact
me first. This is so make sure that everyone that wants to
redistribute this document always has access to the latest version.
Keepers of Usenet FAQ archives do NOT need to ask me for permission.
I do not view that as redistribution, as it is a part of the Usenet
distribution apparatus.
If you want the latest version, you can get it with World Wide Web
in http://www.traffic.is/faqs/offaq.htm or with FTP from
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/. If you do not
have direct access by FTP or WWW, the rtfm.mit.edu site supports FTP
by mail; send a message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the
following lines:
send usenet/news.answers/fax-faq/Object-Fax
quit
If you don't have Internet access I can add you to a list of people
that get this FAQ mailed or faxed directly to them whenever I update
it.
I can be contacted at lennart@bump.traffic.is,
http://www.traffic.is/~lennart/
Information
For more information about Traffic Software products and a pointer
to your nearest distributor contact Traffic Software. There is also
a list of distributors available on out WWW-site.
Traffic Software Ltd.
PO Box 12445, IS-132 Reykjavik, Iceland
Tel: +354-587 7150, Fax: +354-587 7155
Office hours are 09.00 to 17.00 GMT.
World Wide Web: http://www.traffic.is/
Anonymous FTP: ftp.traffic.is
Technical Support
First you should call your dealer. Your dealer knows more about your
network than we do, and he speaks your language and is awake when
you are. If he can't help you, you will probably be best off to call
the distributor in your country. He also speaks your language, and
he is also awake when you are. The Icelandic office will answer
technical support if you can't get help by your distributor, but can
usually not accept technical support calls over the phone. You can
send a fax, marked with `Technical Support', or you can send e-mail
to techsupp@traffic.is.
Contents
Part 1. General information ......................................4
1.1 What is Object-Fax? ......................................4
1.2 What is the use of LAN-faxing? ..........................4
1.3 What Object-Fax products are there? .....................4
1.4 What do I need to use Object-Fax? .......................4
1.5 What's the latest version of Object-Fax? ................5
Part 2. Object-Fax installation ..................................5
2.1 Object-Fax can't copy some files at install or Adduser ..5
2.2 Do I really need a search path? .........................5
2.3 What rights are needed? .................................5
2.4 What is the WP-CAS driver? [LITE / Single-User] .........5
2.5 Do I need to load SHARE? ................................5
2.6 How much memory is needed in Windows? ...................6
2.7 Object-Fax and NFS ......................................6
2.8 Object-Fax and Banyan Vines .............................6
Part 3. Object-Fax server: ......................................6
3.1 Why doesn't the server send anything? ...................6
3.2 Not accepted by CAS error. ..............................7
3.3 Why do I get a `FindKey 16Status' error? [Advanced] .....7
3.4 Why doesn't my national characters fax correctly? .......7
3.5 What should I think of when using GammaLink boards? .....7
3.6 I have problems printing to an IBM Proprinter ............7
3.7 What modems work with Object-Fax Lite/Single-user ........8
3.8 Tips for Multitech modems ................................8
3.9 My incoming faxes are all black. .........................8
3.10 Problems with error correction COPYTIFF (0). [Advanced] ..9
Part 4. Object-Fax Windows interface .............................9
4.1 The send box doesn't appear when I print. ...............9
4.2 The Cover Page Editor generates a GPF in USER.EXE. ......9
4.3 The The Cover Page doesn't work. ........................9
4.4 Word 2.0 crashes when I send faxes. .....................9
4.5 My `Send' dialog box is empty. There's no text! .........10
4.6 Object-Fax reports ``Requested file type not supported.'' 10
Part 5. Object-Fax DOS interface: ...............................10
5.1 Faxes sent from DOS will be rejected. ...................10
5.2 Nothing happens when I send faxes from TSRDOS. ..........10
Part 1. General information
1.1 What is Object-Fax?
Object-Fax is LAN-fax system. What that means is that it is an
application with which users on a LAN can send faxes with a
centrally placed fax-server. Please note the difference between LAN-
fax and ordinary computerised faxing, in which every user who faxes
has its own fax modem and telephone line.
Object-Fax is a system originally built for networking, and not a
standalone fax system with network support as an add-on. Object-Fax
can handle large amounts of faxing since it supports up to four fax-
servers on one network. Each fax server can have several lines of
simultaneous faxing, the maximum number of lines depending on which
fax board you have. A SatisFAXion board has a maximum of eight, and
the GammaFax board has a maximum of 30 lines per server. I can
recommend the GammaFax boards with all of my heart. They are very
good boards. If you have one you might like to check out my FAQ on
that subject too. They don't work for the Single-User or Lite
versions of Object-Fax so with them you would probably be best off
with a PureData SatisFAXion board.
1.2 What is the use of LAN-faxing?
With LAN-fax you get a faster and easier way to send faxes for
everybody on a network. A good LAN-fax system will pay for itself
simply with all the time you will save not having to send faxes
manually. Printing out and sending a document by fax will generally
take ten minutes (according to the International Computer Facsimile
Association). With Object-Fax it takes less than one minute.
1.3 What Object-Fax products are there?
There are three versions of Object-Fax. Object-Fax Advanced, Object-
Fax Lite and Object-Fax Single User. Object-Fax Advanced is the
`big' product with all the nice features. It needs a dedicated fax
server running DOS and an intelligent fax board. Object-Fax Lite is
a version for small networks (2-15 people). Object-Fax Lite doesn't
have support for DOS, API, PostScript or PCL. It only has support
for one server with one line. However, it can use Class 1/Class 2
modems. It can also use CAS-compatible modems, like PureData or
Intel SatisFAXion. The server is a Windows application, so it can be
non-dedicated. Object Fax Single-User is almost the same as Object-
Fax Lite, but with only one user licence instead of five.
1.4 What do I need to use Object-Fax?
You need one Object-Fax server licence and as many user licenses you
want. The server licence includes five users. You will also need a
network with Windows installed, unless you are running the Single-
User version. For the Advanced version you will also need a PC to
use as a dedicated fax-server. I recommend a 386 with 2MB of memory
as a fax server.
For Object-Fax Lite you need a fax modem or a fax board that is
Class 1, Class 2 or CAS compatible. For the Advanced version you
need a GammaFax board, a PureData Faxination board, a PureData/Intel
SatisFAXtion or another CAS compatible board.
1.5 What's the latest version of Object-Fax?
It's Version 3.50, APR 21 1995. If you have any problems not in this
file, you should upgrade. There is also version 3.02, which is a
free upgrade from 3.0 or 3.01. It has all of the bug fixes, but none
of the new features of 3.50.
Part 2. Object-Fax installation
2.1 Object-Fax can't copy some files at install or Adduser.
This happens when you don't have enough rights in the Windows system
directory. Often on networks this directory is a common read-only
directory to which only administrators have access. You should
install Object-Fax once, including running ADDUSER.EXE, as an
administrator to copy the files properly. If you know that the files
are there already you can ignore the error, otherwise it should be
enough to copy them manually afterwards. The files actually copied
are in the DIST directory under Object-Fax.
2.2 Do I really need a search path?
Object-Fax 3.x ADDUSER.EXE want's to add the Object-Fax directory to
my search path. If you are running out of search paths, you can get
by without a path to Object-Fax. Some of the files in the Object-Fax
directory has to be in the search path, so you can get around this
by copying these files to another directory that is in the search
path. Those files are TMFAX.DRV, IMGX.DLL, IM10XTIF.DEL,
IM10XDCX.DEL, CPFIELD.EXE, CPTEXT.EXE and CPEDIT.EXE. Just remember
that you copied them to another directory. If you upgrade Object-Fax
later you need to copy these files again, since they might have
changed. Please note that this not the same files as for 3.0 and
3.01.
2.3 What rights are needed?
Both the Object-Fax server and the users need to create, delete and
modify files. On a NetWare network this means [RWCEMF] rights.
2.4 What is the WP-CAS driver? [LITE / Single-User]
The WP-CAS driver is a driver for Class 1 and Class 2 modems. You
need it if you have one of those.
2.5 Do I need to load SHARE?
Yes. Object-Fax 3.x is an OLE 2.0 application. To run OLE 2.0 you
need to load share. You can load share from DOS with `SHARE.EXE
/L:500 /F:5100'. You can also load the Windows only version of share
shipped with Windows for WorkGroups, VSHARE.386, by adding it to
SYSTEM.INI under the [386Enh] section with DEVICE=VSHARE.386. This
is done by default in Windows 3.11 and higher.
The Object-Fax DOS gateway does NOT need share.
2.6 How much memory is needed in Windows?
Object-Fax needs to create the fax in memory when printing. This
means that while printing you will need quite a lot of memory. Make
sure you have at least 4 MB free. You can do this by increasing the
swap file size. If you want to use the OCR feature, you need at lest
8 MB memory and an 8 MB swap file, usually more.
2.7 Object-Fax and NFS
NFS does not support file sharing and record locking. Therefore
different NFS implementations do this differently. If your file
sharing and record locking hasn't been set-up properly Object-Fax
may crash with Btrieve error messages like B-ERROR 5 (Duplicate Key)
and other weird Btrieve errors. If you have NFS you should talk to
your NFS vendors to receive information on how to set up your NFS
software so it works with Btrieve and other shared file databases.
2.8 Object-Fax and Banyan Vines
There is a problem with GammaFax and Banyan Vines. This is not an
Object-Fax problem per se, but it makes the Object-Fax gateway to
crash with an error message. Users of GammaFax should read my
GammaFax FAQ.
Part 3. Object-Fax server
3.1 Why doesn't the server send anything?
First, check if you have any faxes in the outgoing queue. If not,
you haven't actually sent a fax. Otherwise check the following
things:
3.1.1 Does the Object-Fax server find the fax?
If the first fax in the queue has status `Sending' the Object-Fax
server has found the fax and sent it to the fax board software. If
the fax fails or the fax just stays as `sending' forever the problem
usually isn't Object-Fax's, but lies with the configuration of the
fax board software.
3.1.2 Check the time and date of the fax server.
It should be the same as the sending clients. Otherwise the fax will
not be sent until the fax server's time reaches that of the Windows
clients. If you have the Advanced version, look at the server
screen. If the time and date on the server screen aren't changing
the server has crashed.
3.1.3 The queue file may be corrupted.
Delete OBJFAX\INI\EVENT.DAT.
3.1.4 Wrong line specified.
In TM2.INI you can specify `LINE' and `SERVER'. If you specify
SERVER=2 and LINE=5 then it will only use the fifth line of the
second server. If the second server doesn't have line 5 set to
outgoing, the fax will never leave the queue.
3.2 Not accepted by CAS error.
The `Not accepted by CAS' means that Object-Fax was unable to submit
the fax to the fax boards. Check that the Fax card path is set
correct. It is stored in the CAS environment variable. The CAS
queues may also bee damaged.
3.3 Why do I get a `FindKey 16Status' error? [Advanced]
Check the length of your USERID environment variable. It is probably
longer than the maximum of eight characters.
3.4 Why doesn't my national characters fax correctly?
This could have a couple of reasons. First, you should set up your
fax modem to use national characters. The way to do that differs
between different fax modems, so you have to consult you
documentation. This should give you national characters on CAS cover
pages and text files sent from DOS.
If you are using the PostScript or the PCL converter problems with
national characters are probably due to the font you are using. Not
all fonts support all national characters. In such a case, changing
font is the only solution.
3.5 What should I think of when using GammaLink boards?
Two things. First, be sure that you have version 5.1 if you are
using GammaFax XP boards. Earlier versions are not supported with
Object-Fax and GammaFax XP boards. GammaFax version 5.0 and 5.2 are
buggy. Avoid them. 4.5.1 works pretty good, but is old. Version 5.3
is new, but we haven't found any problems yet. Secondly, be sure to
add the line GFXFORM x 3 for every board you use into the GFAX.$DC
(x means board number). If you get black faxes, and use GFXFORM try
to look at the faxes with the GammaFax viewer, FAXD to see if the
problem is corrupt files or the fax viewer. Black faxes should not
occur with version 3.02 or 3.50, unless there have been transmission
errors.
3.6 I have problems printing to an IBM Proprinter
Try changing to Epson FX-80.
3.7 What modems work with Object-Fax Lite/Single-user
In theory all CAS and Class 1/2 modems should work. But life's not
perfect, so I include a list of tested modems. The ones listed under
`Doesn't Work' might very well work if you set them up correctly.
They don't work out of the box though. If you get one of these
modems to work, please drop me a note, and I will include it in the
FAQ. Newer USR modems have Class 2 or Class 2.0 support. These might
work. My recommendation for the Lite/Single-User version is to use
the PureData or Intel SatisFAXion boards.
WORKS:
Modems: Producer: Driver
AST Exec NoteBook AST Class 1
Fax/Datamodem 14400 Dynalink Class 1/2
Fax modem CVC Class 2
FerFax Ferrary CAS
Ibislink Internal 9624VQH Simpson Computer Inc. Class 1
Multimodem II MT932 Multitech Class 2
Prodem 2496M (External) PRODEM Technology Inc. Class 1/2
Prodem 2496CM (Internal) PRODEM Technology Inc. Class 1/2
SatisFAXion 100,400 Intel CAS
UFOMate P9624MX E-tech Class 1
DOESN'T WORK (with Object-Fax):
Modems: Producer: Driver
Courier HST DUAL Standard USR/Miracom Class 1
Fax modem Discovery 1414CX Datatronics Class 2
Fax modem GVC28800 GVC Class 1/2
Hidem 14400/FAX Hidem Class 2
Hidem 14400P/FAX Hidem Class 1
Lasat PCMCIA LASAT Class 1
LightSpeed LightSpeed Technology Class 2
Medas Micro Data Systems Class 2
UFOMate P192MX E-Tech
UFOMate P1496MX E-Tech
3.8 Tips for Multitech modems
Try changing the `Wait for carrier field' to 40sec instead of the
60sec default. This will prevent the fax driver to stop answering
after receiving a normal phone call.
3.9 My incoming faxes are all black.
Black faxes should not occur with version 3.02 or 3.50, unless there
have been transmission errors, so make sure you have that version.
Since this is a GammaFax problem, see 3.5, and the GammaFax FAQ.
3.10 Problems with error correction COPYTIFF (0). [Advanced]
By default the 3.5 installation program installs itself with the
/SWAP parameter to be able to run in less memory. On some computers
this does not work. Try to remove the /SWAP parameter (it's in
OBJFAX.BAT). You may then get memory problems so you must free up as
much memory as possible. If you can't free up enough memory there
is an unsupported version of the gateway available from Traffic
Software that only supports GammaFax boards and doesn't support the
PCL or PostScript converters. It uses less memory.
Part 4. Object-Fax Windows interface:
4.1 The send box doesn't appear when I print.
This problem can appear if you have little or no space left on your
local hard drive(s). It can also appear if Windows is low on memory
or resources. If it never has worked, the Object-Fax driver is
probably not installed correctly. Check that you have a file called
TM2.INI in you Windows directory, and check that you have access to
the Object-Fax printer drivers OBJFAX.DRV & TMFAX.DRV. The drivers
should be in the OBJFAX directory or in the search path. Also, the
UNIDRV.DLL should be in your path. Use the version in OBJFAX\DIST\
if you have problems.
4.2 The Cover Page Editor generates a GPF in USER.EXE.
The most common reason for this is not loading share. See question
2.5.
4.3 The Cover Page doesn't work.
If you get errors like `Can't launch server application' or you
can't add fields or text to my cover then the Cover Page fields,
then the Cover Page text might not be registered correctly in the
OLE 2.0 object database. To fix that run the Object-Fax programs
CPEDIT, CPFIELD.EXE and CPTEXT.EXE. They will then update the OLE
database.
There is also a bug in some of the Windows drivers for S3 graphics
boards that causes the fields to be blank. In that case, complain to
your vendor over their buggy drivers, and use another driver
meanwhile. You can get an early version of the S3 drivers from our
FTP site as S3_12.ZIP. Try that one.
4.4 Word crashes when I send faxes.
This bug is fixed in a newer TMFAX.DRV driver available via your
distributor. The file size is 22064 bytes. If you run Object-Fax
version 3.01 or earlier and Word 2.0 crashes when you exit, that's a
bug in Word 2.0 that we hope we have managed to work around in 3.02.
Please upgrade either Object-Fax or Word.
4.5 My `Send' dialog box is empty. There's no text!
This is because you have an old version of the language file. The
language files are DLL's with the translated text used in Object-
Fax. The are named after the country in question. The send dialog
box is completely re-done in version 3.0, so if you use a v2.12
language file you will get this error. Call you dealer to get the
new language file or delete it to run an English version of Object-
Fax.
4.6 Object-Fax reports ``Requested file type not supported''
Check that there are no files in the Windows system directory called
IMG*.*, TMFAX.DRV or OBJFAX.DRV. These files should not be there. If
they are, delete them, unless you put them there to save a search
path (see 2.2).
Part 5. Object-Fax DOS interface:
5.1 Faxes sent from DOS will be rejected.
The gateway says that my user ID is unknown.
This means that your user ID is unregistered. You need to register
the user ID both from Windows. This message can also appear if your
user ID is longer than eight characters.
5.2 Nothing happens when I send faxes from TSRDOS.
I get the send box, but the fax doesn't appear in the queue.
Check that you have started the file-API. Edit OBJFAX.BAT so that
OBJFAXG is started with the parameter /API. Note that you have to
use capital letters.
User Contributions:
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