Smith Micro Forum FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions List for MacComCenter FORMAT: Topic: QUESTION OR SUBJECT. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WITH THE SAME RESOLUTION Solution: ANSWER ADDITIONAL ANSWERS OR ALTERNATIVES _____________________________________________________________________ Installation and Application Issues: Topic: Error type -192 (Resource not found) or Error type -39. Solution: You may not have enough hard disk space to install the program. It's recommended to have at least 6 Meg of space and even better to have more. The hard disk may be fragmented in which case a utility to defragment the hard disk should be run. _____________________________________________________________________ Topic: After I installed MacComCenter, I can't boot up my machine. After I installed MacComCenter, I get a "System file on this startup disk may be damaged..." error. Solution: There's probably an extension/init conflict. If running system 7, boot up while holding the Shift key down to turn extensions off. If running system 6, boot up off of a system disk. Then remove all extension/inits except the Fax Manager and reboot. If it boots fine, there's probably a conflict that needs to be found. If it still doesn't boot, the Fax Manager probably didn't decompress fully. This could be due to lack of hard disk space. Free up space and reinstall. Rename the Fax Manager to Z_Fax Manager. This will cause the Fax Manager to be loaded last and possibly bypass the error. ____________________________________________________________________ Topic: How do I change the specified fax class? Solution: At the beginning of the installation, instead of having the Installer Auto-detect the fax class, manually select either Class 1 or Class 2.0 and continue installing. ____________________________________________________________________ Topic: While booting my Mac, I get "Fax Manager could not find your modem on the modem port" error or there is an X through the Fax Manager icon. Solution: We don't recognize the modem as a fax/modem or couldn't initialize it. Toggle the modem off/on and reboot. Check for fax class compatibility with AT+FCLASS=? command and make sure the correct Fax Manager is loaded. Trash the MCC Fax Prefs file in the Preferences folder, then recreate it by running MacComCenter. Make sure to have quit MacComCenter completely before doing this. Make sure no other communications software is accessing the modem. Especially look for other extensions or inits that could possibly be using the port. ____________________________________________________________________ Topic: How do I uninstall MacComCenter? Solution: Trash the MacComCenter folder. Go into the System Folder. Trash everything in the MCC Outbox. Go into the Preferences folder and trash the MCC Prefs file. Go back to the System Folder. If running System 6.X trash the Fax Manager and MCC Fax Print in the System Folder. If running System 7.X, go into the Extensions folder and trash the Fax Manager and MCC Fax Print. Also, go into the Apple Menu Items folder and trash the Fax Controller. Finally, empty the trash, reboot and trash the MCC Outbox itself. ____________________________________________________________________ Note: If you have a partitioned drive, it's necessary to install the software onto the partition with the System folder. ____________________________________________________________________ Data Transmission Issues: Topic: The Terminal Window is really slow in viewing information. Solution: If there is a window (such as the tool bar) blocking the text region in the terminal window, move the obstruction out of the way and it will scroll at regular speed. ____________________________________________________________________ Topic: During a VT100 data connection, certain keystrokes are not registering properly with the remote BBS/service. Solution: These keystrokes may not be supported on a Macintosh keyboard. Find the ASCII decimal code equivalent for these keystrokes and assign a macro to it. For example, \027\079\080 is the decimal equivalent to ESC O P. ____________________________________________________________________ Topic: I can't run any other communications programs when MacComCenter is installed. I can't run any other communications programs when Fax Manager is loaded. Solution: You should be able to share the port with other communications programs. This is called being Communications Toolbox Savvy. You may need to wait about 5-10 seconds during the time that MacComCenter or the Fax Manager is initializing the modem. Once the modem has been initialized, you will be clear to share the port. Some applications are not Comm Toolbox Savvy and will not share the port if it senses the port is being used. In cases like that, you'll need to disable fax receiving by selecting that option in the Fax menu or open up the Fax Controller and disable fax receiving in the Fax Controller menu. _____________________________________________________________________ Topic: When I download a file, I can't open it up...it seems unrecognizable. I can't seem to download a file properly, I get errors during the transfer. Solution: If it's originally a Mac file, try selecting Always Macbinary in the File Transfer Setup instead of Smart Macbinary. Likewise, if it's originally a PC file, try selecting Never Macbinary. But keep in mind that the only way to open an original PC file is through an application rather than just double-clicking on it. Make sure you have the proper line settings. Try a different transfer protocol. ______________________________________________________________________ Send Fax Issues (including HotKeys): Topic: I get errors (end of page; transmission; no connect; etc.) when sending faxes. Solution: * Trash the MCC Prefs file. See #8 below in Troubleshooting Solutions section. * Trash all items in the MCC Outbox also located in the System folder. * Check for extension/init conflicts. See #9 below in * Troubleshooting Solutions section. * Change class if possible. Can check class of modem by typing AT+FCLASS=? in the terminal window. * Depending on the type of error, it could be a cable issue...try a different cable if possible. * Try lowering the Max Fax Baud rate in Fax... Setup. * Toggle the RTS/CTS flow control in the Fax... Setup(rarely will you have to do this) ________________________________________________________________________ Topic: When using the Send Fax feature in the MacComCenter main application, MSWord, Excel, etc. documents are not appearing in their folders. Solution: Use the MCC Fax Print utility to convert and fax these types of formatted files from within the respective application. They are not supported by the MCC main application conversion utility. ________________________________________________________________________ Topic: I can't fax from PageMaker 5.0. I get disk write errors. Solution: PageMaker is a much different application from most Mac applications. As a result, to fax from PageMaker, once you select Fax... from the File menu, press the Setup button instead of Print. Then press OK, fill out the fax information, hit Send Fax and finally, Print. ________________________________________________________________________ Topic: I get disk write errors; volume may be full when faxing from my application. Solution: Make sure, of course, that there is enough disk space. Otherwise, the file could be corrupted in some way. "Save As" another filename and try faxing. Try copying and pasting to a new document and faxing the new document. Can also trash the contents of the MCC Outbox in case the Schedule file is corrupted. _______________________________________________________________________ Topic: The fax menu option does not appear in the File menu in Microsoft Word. I can't fax directly from MS Word. Solution: In MS Word and MS Word only, if Add Faxing to file menu is checked in the HotKey setup section of Fax... Setup, the HotKeys won't work and the fax options won't appear in the File menu. If Add faxing... is not checked, the HotKeys will work. See HotKey Configuration Guide for more information. _______________________________________________________________________ Topic: I just upgraded to MSWord 6.0 and now I can't fax from it. I can't fax directly from MSWord 6.0. It just doesn't do anything. Solution: Known issue with Word 6.0. Microsoft is providing a maintenance release that will resolve this issue. You will need to contact Microsoft for information on receiving a copy. The number for MSWord for Mac support is (206) 635-7200. As a workaround, you can print the document to MCC Fax Print and instead of checking Send Fax, check Save Fax. This will convert and save the fax file where you can then send it from MacComCenter. ______________________________________________________________________ Receive Fax Issues: Topic: I get errors (end of page; transmission; no connect; etc.) when receiving faxes. Solution: Same as above for send fax errors. May also want to set Answer Mode to Fax Only (located in Fax Manager Setup of Fax... Setup). ______________________________________________________________________ Topic: Auto Detect when modem is answering calls. My modem answers all of my incoming calls. Solution: The sequence of events upon the modem answering the phone when configured for Auto Detect is: 1. Modem reports RING on an incoming call. 2. MacComCenter issues an ATA command which causes the modem to answer. 3. Modem generates an answer sequence (data mode). 4. Modem does not receive response from remote (goto #6) 5. Modem receives a response to the answer sequence and assumes a connection for terminal mode application. (goto #10) 6. Modem generates CNG tones for FAX connection.(FAX mode) (goto #9) 7. Modem receives no response to CNG tones. 8. Software generates message VOICE CALL on screen. 9. CNG tones receive a response and attempt for FAX connection proceeds. Modem reports FAX to software. 10. Either a fax or data call has been received. The call is completed and disconnect proceeds. Modem reports NO CARRIER If the modem is allowed to answer the phone, it *WILL* generate tones. If you intend to use the modem/software for only FAX reception, it's best to setup MacComCenter to answer after the 5th ring (this option is selected in the Setup/Modem). If a call comes in, the modem will remain inactive until the 5th ring is detected. In the mean time, this allows you to answer the phone, or have the answering machine pickup on the first ring. If nothing is heard, or the call is voice indicating the need to send a FAX, then a manual receive can be issued by pulling down the Apple menu, selecting Fax Controller, then pulling down the Fax Controller menu and selecting Manual Receive or by pressing Command-M. The other alternative would be to purchase a voice\fax switch. A voice\fax switch would be able to determine the type of call and if the call is a voice call then it would be passed to your answering machine, while if it is a fax, the call it will be transferred to the fax modem. ______________________________________________________________________ Topic: My fax/modem doesn't answer the call when it rings. Solution: Make sure Fax Receiving is Enabled and the Fax Controller says "Waiting for call...". If in MacComCenter at the time a call comes in, make sure the word RING appears on the Terminal Window. If RING doesn't appear, we don't know there's a call. Check for extension conflicts or a bad cable. Make sure the Rings to Answer is set to a reasonable number. ______________________________________________________________________ QuickView Issues: Topic: When I open a fax in QuickView, my system locks up. I can't view my faxes with QuickView. Solution: The fax file may have been corrupted. Check the size of the file and make sure it has several kilobytes of information. If you can convert the ReadMe! to a fax and open it up in QuickView, then it's probably a bad fax and should have the sender resend the fax. If it continues to be corrupted, look for possible init/extension conflicts. Allocate more memory to the QuickView program and try viewing it again. _____________________________________________________________________ Topic: I'm having trouble printing my fax. Blank pages are being printed. Solution: Make sure you're using the correct version of the printer driver. Make sure there's enough memory left to print. May need to allocate more memory to QuickView. Turn Background printing off. You do this in the Chooser. Set printer and page setup to highest possible quality. Don't print through any type of spooler (i.e. Super Laser Spooler, etc.). ______________________________________________________________________ Miscellaneous: Topic: Error type 1. Solution: Depends on where it happens. Make sure there are no init/extension conflicts. Could be a corrupted file and necessary to reinstall. Rebuild desktop (hold down Command and Option keys while booting up). Install same software onto another machine and see if you get the same results. ______________________________________________________________________ Topic: How do you allocate more memory to my applications? Solution: Highlight the application, pull down the File menu and select Get Info. On the lower right corner, it shows how much is currently allocated. Raise it by increments of 512K to 1024K depending on the situation. Notes: -- Fax archive is: allows you to clean up the desktop by storing faxes in an archive file. Does minimal compression. -- Difference between the Fax Manager and Fax Controller: Fax Manager is an extension that runs in the background for sending and receiving faxes. The Fax Controller allows you to see the status of the Fax Manager. _______________________________________________________________________ HotKey Configuration Guide Generally, when wanting to fax a document from an application, it's necessary to open the Chooser and select the MCC Fax Print. Then when you pull your File menu down, the Print and Page Setup will have changed to Fax and Fax Setup*. The HotKeys allow you to not have to go into the Chooser to switch print drivers. There's two ways this can happen depending on how you have the HotKeys setup. The setup options are found by pulling down the Setup menu and selecting Fax. The first way requires that you have both Enable HotKeys and Add faxing to file menu checked. This will put the Fax and Fax Setup options in your File menu in addition to Print and Page Setup*. So, to fax your document, all you would do is go into your application, open up the document you want to fax, pull down the File menu and select Fax. This should automatically bring up the send fax information dialog box to enter in the fax information. The second way is to leave Enable HotKeys checked but to uncheck Add faxing to file menu. You'll then want to note which keys you have enabled in the setup to be your Hotkeys. You have the choice of selecting any combination of the Command, Option and Shift keys. The default is Command and Option. So, to fax your document, you would also go into your application and open up the document you want to fax. This time, to activate the fax driver, you hold down the configured hotkeys and while holding them down, pull down the File menu. The Print and Page Setup options should now have changed to Fax and Fax Setup*. Select Fax and the send fax information dialog box will appear for you to enter in the appropriate fax information. * MSWord is the only application where this will not occur. In fact, for the hotkeys to work, it is necessary to have Add faxing to file menu unchecked. Then when you press the hotkeys and pull down the File menu to send the fax, the Print and Page Setup options will not have changed to Fax and Fax Setup. However, you can still select Print and the send fax information dialog box will appear. Note: An issue has recently come up regarding the use of HotKeys within Claris Works 2.X. Apparently you cannot use the HotKeys to send a fax within Claris. Instead, you will have to physically go to the Chooser and select the MCC Fax Print in order to send you faxes out. ______________________________________________________________________ MacComCenter: MAC TROUBLESHOOTING SOLUTIONS 1. REBUILDING THE DESKTOP Purpose: Rebuild the desktop file. Finder reorganizes itself and clears out unnecessary files. Procedure: Depress the [option] & [command] keys and hold before and during start/restart of the Mac. 2. DISABLING FAX RECEIVING Purpose: Severs link between modem and MacComCenter. Other communication software may then establish successful link with modem. This is not necessary for applications that are Communications Toolbox Savvy. Procedure: Either select Fax Controller from the Apple Menu and toggle off Fax Receiving from the Fax Controller pull down menu or toggle off Fax Receiving in the MacComCenter main application Fax pull down menu. 3. DISABLING ALL EXTENSIONS Purpose: Modem not responding. Already trashed MCC Prefs & toggled modem off/on. Sometimes there is another communication application on the system which has control of the modem. Procedure: Depress the [shift] key and hold before and during start/restart of the Mac. 4. DISABLING HOTKEYS Purpose: This feature may not be compatible with all of the customer's software. Procedure: Select Fax from the Setup pull down menu. Disable 'Enable Hot Keys' option. Restart the Mac. 5. TOGGLING SEND FAX FLOW CONTROL Purpose: Toggles moderation of information between modem and system, can eliminate error of send fax resulting in bar code. Procedure: Select Fax from Setup pull down menu. Toggle 'RTS/CTS flow control' option. 6. FINDING MACCOMCENTER & SYSTEM VERSION # Purpose: Verify that customer is running MacComCenter in certified environment (System 6.0.5 or higher). Procedure: System version--while at the desktop, pull down the Apple menu and select 'About This Macintosh' or 'About This Finder'. MacComCenter version--either open MacComCenter main application, pull down Apple menu and select `About MacComCenter' or select main application icon (MacComCenter TM) and select 'Get Info' from File pull down menu ([command] & [i] keys). 7. MACBINARY OPTIONS Purpose: When sending/receiving a Mac file, MacBinary tells the Mac what filename, icon and creation information to attach to file. If this information is not included with a Mac file, it may not be possible to open the file, as the Mac will assume that it is a MacComCenter QuickView file. Smart MacBinary should distinguish between a PC and Mac file, but not always. Always MacBinary then should be used for Mac files and Never MacBinary for PC files. Procedure: Select File Transfer option from Setup pull down menu. Set MacBinary Options to desired selection. 8. TRASHING MCC PREFS Purpose: Eliminate possibility of corrupted preferences file. Corrupted file or incorrect setup may be cause of modem failing to respond or fax transmission error. Procedure: * Open the System folder * Open the Preferences folder and press and drag file MCC Prefs into the Trash select 'Empty Trash' option from the Special pull down menu * Close the Preferences folder * Open the MCC OutBox folder * Press and drag contents into the Trash * Select 'Empty Trash' option from the Special pull down menu * Close the system folder * Toggle off/on modem * Launch/open the MacComCenter application * Select quit from the MacComCenter File pull down menu * Restart the Mac (note: it may be an appropriate time to Rebuild the Desktop) 9. DISABLING ALL NON-SYSTEM EXTENSIONS/CDEVS EXCEPT MCC FAX PRINT & FAX MANAGER Purpose: To isolate or eliminate the possibility of an extension/cdev conflict with MCC Fax Print or Fax Manager. Procedure: System 7.x-- * Press and drag the Extensions folder (located in the System folder) onto the desktop. * Select 'New Folder' from the File pull down menu and name the folder Control Panels (disabled) * Press and drag all non-system cdevs from the Control Panels folder into the Control Panels(disabled folder) * Select 'Restart' from the Special pull down menu * Press and drag MCC Fax Print and Fax Manager from the Extensions folder located on the desktop into the newly created Extensions folder located in the System Folder. * Restart the Mac and then attempt to duplicate the error/problem * If the problem no longer presents itself ***there was an extension/cdev conflict*** each extension/cdev must be placed back into their respective active folders one at a time, restart the Mac and attempt to duplicate the issue System 6.x-- * While at the desktop, no folders open, select 'New Folder' from the File pull down menu. Name the folder Disabled inits/cdevs. * Press and drag all non-system inits (extensions)/cdevs from the System folder into the disabled inits/cdevs folder * Inits/cdevs can be located while in the System folder by pulling down the View menu and selecting 'by Name' * Press and drag from the system folder any document which is listed as an application or startup document except for MCC Fax Print and Fax Manager * Restart the Mac and then attempt to duplicate the error/problem * If the problem no longer presents itself ***there was an extension/cdev conflict*** each extension/cdev must be placed back into the system folder one at a time, restart the Mac and attempt to duplicate the issue