Partially, address data are available as a formatted text file, for example, after an export from another application. You can integrate the text files whose data fields are separated by semicolon or tabulator via [PhoneBook > New > New > Folder Linking] in write protected mode.
From CTI Client version 3.1.032, special XML formats are also supported (initially the Yealink phone book formats).
In the following description, the term "CSV file" is used to represent "text file".Hints:
- Column structure:
- The CTI Client does not specify a fixed column structure, but allows typing of the found columns.
- The first line must contain the column names.
- If possible, the first column should contain a permanent record ID.
- In the context of the CTI Server, it is strongly recommended that the data file contains a column with permanent record ID.
- Write Access:
- If you require write access as a single user to the address data, you must use variant B) with subsequent data import.
- If you need writing access for several users, a text file is the wrong format. Suitable alternatives are listed under Shared Address Data.
- Cache / Refresh:
- By default, the CTI Client copies the original CSV file to its local working directory.
For XML files, the conversion to CSV takes place in this step.- Each time the program starts, the CTI Client checks whether the file date of the original CSV file has changed and, if necessary, copies it again.
- With F5 you can force a re-import of the original CSV file at runtime.
- Integration into several existing CTI Client instances using a sample file "Contacts.csv":
- The address data are stored on a network drive "S:" under "S:\\Data\Contacts.csv".
- You have integrated this CSV file in a CTI Client and typed the columns and, if necessary, adjusted the data mask. The CTI Client saves the information for column typing and data mask under [Menu > File > Working directory > Open > "folders\Contacts\mask.cfg"].
At the same time, the CTI Client tries to copy the file "mask.cfg" to "S:\\Data\Contacts.cfg" if he has write permission to the directory.- If the current user does not have write access to "S:\\Data\", you can copy the file "mask.cfg" manually with administrator rights to "S:\\Data\Contacts.cfg".
- If you now include the file "S:\\Data\Contacts.csv" in another CTI Client instance as a phone book, the column assignment / data mask is automatically applied.
Load CSV or XML file from web server via HTTP/HTTPS
CSV or XML files can also be downloaded from a web server using HTTP/HTTPS. In heterogeneous enviroments central phone books can be provided.
The integration in the CTI Client is done via [Phonebook > New > New Folder Link > ... > HTTP].
The above notes on CSV files in the file system apply analogously to Web server / HTTP.
To create a new personal folder, select [Phonebook > New > New Folder > Phonebook] and follow the dialog. Afterwards in this folder you can administer your address data or import also existing records. The data are always stored in your local working directory.
Hints:
- Other users may carry out no writing operations on this folder.
- In the editor's mode of the data mask you can add new data fields or adapt available ones.
If you link a CSV file in the CTI Server via [Phonebooks > New > Link existing data source], then it is strongly recommended that the data file contains a column with a permanent record ID.
- The column must then be marked with the type "ID" in the "Column Properties" step.
- Without a permanent ID column, the following restrictions apply:
- No contact-related notes can be stored on the server.
- New/changed/deleted records cannot be differentially transferred to the Clients.
- If the server detects a change to the original data, all records are retransmitted to all clients.
- Since the data records cannot be uniquely referenced, further restrictions arise.