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• I was recently asked through a support forum how to administer an older model NEC Elitemail system via computer. The new IT person was taking over an Electra Elite IPK telephone system with an Elitemail “in-skin” voicemail system and the company he worked for wanted to offer employee directory look up through option 1 of their main auto attendant greeting.

He claimed that testing the option and dialing 1 during the greeting did not work and furthermore, he wasn’t sure where or what changes to make.

Even moreso, he didn’t have the PC software for accessing the system. (NEC CoSession used for remote connections to DOS operating systems)

1. The key thing in helping him was whether pressing 1 from the main greeting went to the built-in dial-by-name function in which he would only need to update the mailbox names via the telephone and the software pc connection wouldn’t be necessary. He would simply edit via each users mailbox to change the spelling via the dial pad.

2. However, if pressing 1 takes you to a “recorded” list, i.e. “Press 1 for Joe, 2 for Sally…” then he will definatey need to connect a PC to check which box needs to be rerecorded (possibly a transaction box of which can be re-recorded via the owner box) and which digit destinations might need to be changed.

3. Lastly, another option would be to simply define the dial-by-name directory box and then assign it to digit 1 of the main greeting menu. Even in this case, we need to connect to the Elitemail system through pc software.

The voicemail system uses an old windows 3.1/95/98 style program that installs from floppy disks (I think there is a single installer as well, maybe linked below). I looked around to see if I could dig it up but was unsuccessful in my attempt.

• Furthermore, the installer doesn’t work with newer operating systems. I recalled having to run the installer from a folder mapped as a network drive so it “thinks” it’s running from a floppy disk drive and I also ran the executable in compatibility mode. When using the multi-disk version of the installer (floppy disk) I would eventually be prompted for the next disk. I accomplished this by removing the first drive mapping I had created and then remapped the next zipped up disk from another folder making sure to use the same drive letter I had used when I began the installer. (this made it seem like I changed disks)

The software is called NEC CoSessions. This also requires a db9 serial cable either straight through or null modem…I can’t recall. However, I did find these links on google:

• 1. http://www.uq.edu.au/~mdmward/ – Download link for CoSession Ver. 7

  2. http://www.sundance-communications.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000498;p=1 – additional info found about coSession 7 for windows

  3. http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1045454&page=4 – and also found this helpful too…

• Ok, moving on. We now got the s/w installed. We connect at 19200bps for the baud rate and picked the correct pc comm port the serial cable was connected to and left everything else default. Clicking on the “Call” button quickly makes our connection and we should see the dos “splash” screen-saver.

• Pressing any key takes us to the “banner” screen where we can see port activity, time and date, storage space, etc. Pressing F2 allows us to log-in. The default login is $nec and no password.

Once logged in, use the “F” keys and page-up/page-down to navigate the system. It’s just like an Active Voice Repartee.

• Next we find where the dial by name dir box is defined, usually in the “Easymade Application” area on the 3rd or 4rth page down. I usually make it 411 (sometimes you need to remove the default group boxes for sales, marketing and tech support that ship with the voicemail system. One of them is box 411).

• Then just make sure the option 1 on the $GR or $Open box (whichever is your main greeting) is set to 411. This is typically back at the “Easymade Application” area where the default opening box is defined. If you look carefully there is a “CTRL + Whatever” option that lets you go to the single digit menu mapping area. You will also see the default settings for the voice ports, which should be $GR or $Open, otherwise someone may have setup a custom transaction box where option 1 may be need to be defined elsewhere. If thats the case, note the box ID from the default port answering options and then F6 over to transaction boxes and then page-up/page-down until you find the right box. Then the steps above are similar in defining option 1 as 411.

Whatever you decide to do, built-in-directory function or a customer recorded transaction box that lists all your employees, you now should have the basics to fumble around and get desired results.

• Good Luck!

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