Omnitrend

PageMaster/md Product Information Sheet

PageMaster/md Overview

PageMasterPageMaster/md is an Email paging gateway. PageMaster/md may be installed on any computer connected to the network. That computer must be assigned a dedicated mailbox on the post office (for example, a mailbox address named "Pager"). Entries are then created in PageMaster/md for each pager used by employees. Anyone with access to the mail system can now send a page via Email.

To do this, a user simply sends an Email to PageMaster/md's dedicated mailbox. The subject field must contain the name of the pager that is to receive the message. The body of the message will then be sent to that person's pager. If the pager is an alphanumeric, the entire message will be sent. If the pager is a numeric, only the numbers contained within the body of the message will be sent.

As pagers are entered into PageMaster/md, each pager may be assigned a specific group. Pages may be sent to all members of a group by placing the group name in the Subject field instead of a pager name. In addition, Mail Filters can be created that search for specific keywords in the From, Subject, and Body fields and route the message out to specific pagers.

Technical Briefing

Installation

PageMaster/md is as easy to install as it is to use. Installation time is typically 15 minutes. PageMaster/md can be installed on any machine on the network; either a server or workstation. It does not have to be installed on the machine on which a post office resides.

Since PageMaster/md is a Windows™ application, it can share the processor time with other applications. This means that PageMaster/md may reside on a machine being used for other purposes (such as a file server). The only requirement is that the no user may access any mailbox using the machine, since PageMaster/md continually polls its paging mailbox.

Addressing a Page

Workflow chart

Pages are sent by users in the same way other mail is sent. The user simply brings up the send message box and selects the paging mailbox from the address list. In the body of the message, the user types whatever numbers and characters are to be displayed on the pager.

There are three supported methods of addressing the message. In the first, the subject line of the message is used as a routing mechanism to determine which pager(s) are to receive the message. The user simply enters a pager name or the name of a group of pagers. The second and third methods use the CC: and TO: fields respectively to route the message. With the former, the user sends a message to a normal mailbox, but CC:s the message to the paging mailbox. With the latter, the user sends the message to the paging mailbox, and CC:s the message to a normal mailbox.

Once the message is sent, PageMaster/md will pick up the request and send the message to the appropriate pager or group of pagers.

Error Handling

PageMaster/md will report back to the originator of the message any problems encountered while trying to deliver the page. In addition, if the pager or group name does not exist, PageMaster/md will send a reply stating such. If the name is ambiguous, PageMaster/md can optionally reply with a list of possible matches. The administrator can also enable an option to allow users to request a list of currently available pagers from PageMaster/md.

For page requests sent with a receipt requested, PageMaster/md will send a reply once the page has been successfully sent to the destination pager(s).

Pager Types

PageMaster/md supports both numeric and alphanumeric pagers... even simultaneously. For example, suppose a user were to send the message "Please call the Farmington supervisor at 555-1212." to a group of pagers that included a mix of numeric and alphanumeric pagers. The full text of the message would be delivered to the alphanumeric pagers, and the message "555-1212" would be sent to the numeric pagers.

Message Length

PageMaster/md does not impose a limit on the length of messages that may be sent. PageMaster/md will automatically split lengthy messages and send them in smaller individual pages that the paging equipment will permit.

The administrator may, however, specify a limit on the number of these individual pages that will be sent for each message.

Administrative Log

PageMaster/md creates an audit trail of all pages sent. This may be accessed by the administrator for informational purposes.

Batch Processing

PageMaster/md is designed to handle the paging needs of even the largest operations. Pages will be batch processed when possible. If 20 page requests are received and 15 of them are alpha pagers from the same paging company, all 15 pages can be sent in a single phone call. The remaining 5 would be sent individually.

Other PageMaster Products

PageMaster/md can also process all of the paging required by other PageMaster products installed on the network. In this way, PageMaster/md can act as a modem "pool," but in a more efficient manner. With a standard modem pool, each time a user needed to send a page, an individual modem would have to be seized and a call dialed. With PageMaster/md, all pages are processed in batches.

Product Features

PageMaster/md screen

PageMaster/md (short for PageMaster Mail Drop) is a sophisticated paging application that allows pages to be sent simply by sending an Email message to a mailbox.

PageMaster/md is first installed on a computer connected to the network. That computer must be assigned a dedicated mailbox on the post office (for example, you might give it the mailbox address Pager). You then create entries in PageMaster/md for each pager used by employees. Then, anyone with access to the mail system can send a page via Email.

To do this, you simply send an Email to PageMaster/md's dedicated mailbox. The subject field must contain the name of the pager that is to receive the message. The body of the message will then be sent to that person's pager. If the pager is an alphanumeric, the entire message will be sent. If the pager is a numeric, only the numbers contained within the body of the message will be sent.

For example, if Lynn Neal wanted to send a page to Baines, William A.., she would sent the Email as follows:

To: Pager
Sub: Baines, William A.
Msg: Please call me at (860) 678-7679 when you get a chance.

If William Baines had an alphanumeric pager, he would receive the following page:

From Lynn Neal: Please call me at (860) 678-7679 when you get a chance.

If William Baines had an numeric pager, he would receive the following page:

8606787679

Names provided in the subject field are flexible. For example, Lynn Neal could also have send the page using either of the following in the subject:

Mail Filters

There are additional addressing schemes available using the TO, CC: message fields, as well as a method to utilize additional pager data for addressing (See the Overview section for more information.)

As pagers are entered into PageMaster/md, each pager may be assigned to a specific group. Pages may be sent to all members of a group by placing the group name in the Subject field instead of a pager name. In addition, you may create Mail Filters that search for specific keywords in the From, Subject, and Body fields and route the message out to specific pagers.

As an added benefit, pages may be sent locally from the PageMaster/md window.

PageMaster/md requires a Hayes-compatible 2400 baud or higher modem for operation.

Specifications

General

Name: PageMaster/md
Version: 1.3
Released: 2000
Product Code: MD-MS-X(Windows), MD-IN-X(Windows 95/98/NT/2000)

System Requirements

Processor: Intel i386 or higher
Operating System: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows or Windows for Workgroups 3.1 or higher, Windows NT 3.5 or higher, Windows 2000
Memory: 250K available RAM
Modem: Hayes compatible 2400 baud or faster
Mail System: MAPI or VIM Compliant, such as Microsoft Mail, Lotus cc:Mail, and Lotus Notes.

Pager Support

Number of Pagers: Unlimited, with full search capability.
Grouping: Pagers may be grouped with no limitations on the number of groups that may be defined. Pagers may be assigned to multiple groups.
Pager Types: Numeric and Alphanumeric
Paging Protocol Used: Numeric: DTMF with user adjustable delay.
Alphanumeric: TAP with password support.
Multi-Paging: Alphanumeric messages sent to pagers sharing a common access number are issued in a single phone call.
Message Length: Unlimited. Messages automatically split and delivered to pager in separate pages according to maximum page length (user definable).
Error Correction: Full TAP error detection, dial-tone detection, busy signal redial.
Additional Fields: One additional user defined data field maintained for each pager.
Page Confirmation: If Email is sent with receipt requested, PageMaster/md will return a confirmation Email once the page is sent successfully.
Error Notification: If an error is encountered sending the page, a return Email message will be issued notifying the sender of the problem.

Paging Methods

Manual: Page messages entered and issued manually.
Email: Electronic mail messages sent to pager(s). Network mail users issue pages by sending Email to a dedicated mailbox. PageMaster/md looks in the subject field for a pager or group name, then routes the message body to pager(s). Alternately, can route pages by CC: or TO: field.

Additional Features

Logging: Pages may be logged to a file for later review.
Email Filters: Mail filters specify keywords PageMaster/md looks for in the subject field to route messages to a specific group of pagers.
Import/Export: Pager database may be imported from or exported to ASCII files in comma-delimited format.
   

Pricing

Software

 
Number of Pagers Supported
 
5
10
25
50
100
Unlimited
PageMaster/md Version 1.3 $ 299 $ 399 $ 599 $ 799 $ 999 $ 1,499

Note: The software price includes on-line documentation and thirty days of unlimited technical support.

Support

 
Number of Pagers Supported
 
5
10
25
50
100
Unlimited
Per-Incident Support $ 49 $ 59 $ 79 $ 99 $ 99 $ 99
Extended Support $ 69 $ 79 $ 99 $ 149 $ 199 $ 299

Note: The extended support plan provides for an additional one year of technical support.

Version Changes

 

Support Notes

 

Downloads

Current Evaluation Versions Platform Filename Size
PageMaster/md 1.3 Windows 3.X pm-md.exe 641K
PageMaster/md 1.3 Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000 pmmd32.exe 1,212K

© 1992-2023 Omnitrend Software, Inc. All rights reserved.
All prices are in U.S. Dollars and are effective January 1, 2023.
Products and prices are subject to change without notice.

Omnitrend Software, Inc.
55 Abbey Road
Glastonbury, CT 06033-6106
+1 860-673-8910