How To Setup Call Pickup Groups In Matworx!

Okay, like a linux bore at a computer market in the sports hall of a school outside Dartford, I'm going to lay it down here that if you really could be bothered, you won't go wrong adding, deleting and modifying a Call Pickup Group in MOC mode.

The reason I say this is that the MATworX GUIs sometimes can't work out what's going on and will give you mis-information. A perfect example is when you have an extension in a pickup group - then some nonse deletes the extension and recreates it again. If that extension has not been removed from the pickup group first then it is technically referred to as FUBAR (it won't work).

That's because like most 'groups' in the NEC IPS - they're built in what can only be described as a chain - a chain which, when a link is removed falls apart and is neither use to man nor beast.

So, what I am getting at in a convoluted way is that if one day you sit down, and you transform from a smiling, whistling, happy-go-lucky human being to a chainsaw-wielding maniac - all because MATworX makes no sense whatsoever, then you'll need to go into MOC to fix it. That, alas is another day, another story. Shall we begin? To setup call pickup groups, you need to go into MaTWorX and click on Station, then click on Call Pickup Group:

The Call Pickup window will open...

Yes, it's empty. You need to click on Listup in Create Group. MATWorX will now take 3 of your Earth days to download the current data that's already on the PBX. To Create Pickup Groups: The list underneath the Available column are the extension numbers that have not been assigned in a pickup group. To assign them in a group you need to highlight one of the extension numbers and then click on the button with the arrow facing right, this will move the extension number to the Members column. Carry on highlighting the other extension numbers and moving them to the right column until all the required extensions are on the right hand column.

Click on Build Group to create the pickup group. MATWorx will then go away and DESTROY any existing group you modified and REBUILD a new one!

Bear in mind that each extension number can only belong to 1 pickup group only. To setup the pickup button for each extension you will need to click on Station and then click on Station Assignment

If you click on Key Data Assignment

If you look at the example on Key 8, the pickup code is F0020, this code is used to pickup all the other extension numbers that is in the same pickup group as the extension number you are on now. Bonus Ball: F0021 is pickup station (not a group - just pickup the phone, press this button and the extension which is ringing and t'will be answered!) To check and/or modify the pickup groups, go to the Modify Group section: For Example, The pickup group for x7126 has x7149, x7120 and x7124 x7126 is capable of picking up x7149, x7120 and x7124 by pressing the 8th button (F0020).

If you need to modify the pickup group then use the button with the right hand to include more extensions and the button with the left arrow to delete out of the group. Click on Update Group to update the pickup group.

What is an OFD?

It's a file, which MATWorX can generate, which is essentially a listup of all the command data in your 2000 IPS. You can generate an OFD by going into MATWorX and selecting the Save/Load/Verify from the Menus.

When Can I Generate An OFD?

You're supposed to do it offiline (rotary switch in position 2, system reset) and via a Serial connection. If you switch it to 19200 baud, it should take less than 20 minutes, depending on how much data is on the system. MATWorX will let you generate an OFD whilst in ONLINE mode, but it's not recommended because certain parts of the programming may be in use, or be changed whilst the generation is occuring, thus providing you with corrupt data.

You can also generate an OFD over serial or modem cable - however for some reason it suggests it will often take hours, and I wouldn't trust the outcome!

Why Would I Generate An OFD?

You may simply want a routine backup of all your PBX programming. You may be making lots of changes, which will require a save to ROM and therefore not be un-do-able, and want a get-out-of-jail-free card. If you're performing an MP firmware upgrade, then you WANT to take an OFD incase it all goes pear shaped.

Things To Know Once you have taken your OFD (which will usually be a few hundred kilobytes)

You can then use it to restore to another, or the same processor. It's also generally accepted that you clear down all the data on the system (also rotary 2, reset, serial connection, CM00, 1, CCC). You apply the OFD in the same place you generated it, except under the LOAD section.

You can also verify an OFD to see if it's all good using.......verify!! Again, only load an OFD when in offline mode.

Once loaded here are some pointers:

Do an EC6/backup to ROM BEFORE you reset the PBX. I think the system automatically backs the new data up to ROM when the OFD restore finishes, but do it again to be sure. Then, still in offline mode, do an Office Data Conversion using command CM00>90:0. If you have upgraded the firmware on the CPU, this will ensure that any commands which have been replaced or superceded will be migrated to the new ones. Backup to ROM again.

Check and Change the time(it'll reset).

Test both an IP and TDM phone - the Dial tone/Hold/Ring etc maybe different, if so, you will need to go over and check your tone commands, and possibly, upload specific tone firmware onto your MP. I know in the UK we sometimes mistakenly (those silly boys!) were given Dutch firmware with different tones, which we had to manually over-write. DTG files must be loaded using an MP download with rotary switch on 8. You can also run in MACH editor a dial tone conversion script (if you have one) - changes won't occur til you ROM and reset).

IP phones tone may need to be changed manually. On modern firmware IP phones, you have a hidden menu where you have to set the Region to the local country tone. There also were some commands, I think to set it system wide - but I don't know for sure. To change to UK dial tone do doing the following (on an IP phone): Hold, Transfer, *, # Hold, #, 0 look for menu 3 Area ID when in Area ID, enter 8# until Uk is displayed. Save change and wait until phone boots up Check dial of IP phone. If everything checks out the create another OFD as a backup. Well done!