Faxing
From dKosopedia
Contents |
Why Fax, Email is easier?
We often see a "Call to Action" post which list emails, phone numbers, and fax numbers. While many of us email and call, I bet a lot of people do not have fax machines.
But did you know?
- Your computer might already have a fax machine!!!
- Computer Faxing is as easy as emailing.
- Its a lot harder to ignore a slew of faxes
And keep in mind an average faxing is about 30-40 seconds per page, so its pretty cheap. This way faxing also saves paper, since we do not need to print and run to the fax machine. Of course if emails were not so easy to ignore, we could save more paper.
Now to the point.
What Do I Need?
For you computer to be a fax machine, you need two things:
- FAX CAPABLE MODEM
- FAX SOFTWARE
You HAVE: Windows 2000/XP
STEP 1: DO I HAVE A MODEM?
Before broadband we all used modems. I bet you have one still in your computer. Here how you can check:
Look at the back of your computer:
A modem port looks like a standard North American telephone jack.
Normally there are two modem ports side by side. The one marked "line" (or with a phone jack symbol) is connected to the wall jack. If the indicators are missing, its really easy to replug.
Does my computer know about it? (Driver) Windows XP: Open the Control Panel folder and double click the Phone and Modem Options icon. If your modem is installed you will see it listed under the Modems tab like the example given below:
Mine is: USB Robotics FAX 56K PCI
STEP 2: BUT CAN I FAX USING IT?
It IS possible you modem is not designed for faxing
Here is how you can check:
A. Usually the description of the modem will include word fax in it if its can fax.
B. Google for the name plus the word "fax": I googled for: "USB Robotics FAX 56K PCI" +fax
C. If you are on dial up, disconnect from the internet.
- Select the Modem
- Click Properties
- Click "Diagnostics" tab
- Click "Query Modem"
- Wait untill its done quering done
- Click "View Log"
- When a notepad window pops up:
- Click "Edit" menu
- Click "Find" submenu
- Now enter word Fax and and click Find
- Usually if you find the word Fax you have it.
D. Best method would still be googling.
STEP 3. Modem is all ok, now what about that fax software
If you are running Windows XP, you already have everything you need. You just need to install it. You *might* need your Windows XP cd disk for it, but after installing it on a number of Windows XP computers, it turned out I did not. Faxing in Windows XP is printing. The only difference is that you provide a fax number. A very useful Microsoft article on the matter: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306550/ I broke it down and illustrated it. Installing Fax service in Windows XP:
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click "Add or Remove Programs" under "Pick a Category".
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components to start the Windows Components Wizard.
3. In the Components list, click to select the Fax Services check box, and then click Next. Setup installs the Fax services. If you are prompted, insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD, and then click OK.
4. Sharing the FAX is exactly like sharing a printer.
- If you do not know what it means, please click "Do not share the fax printer"
- Click "Next"
5. Click Finish, and then click Close.
STEP 4. Configuring the Fax service
At this point, when you try to fax the first time, the configuration window will popup. It should be relatively easy. Personally I do not provide any information in it. Please do following to make sure your modem is configured for faxing: Go To:
- Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > Communications > Fax > Fax Service Manager
- Open up: Fax > Out Going Routing > Groups > All Devices
- On the right side you check to see the name of your modem.
- If it is present, you are good to go.
- Look here is my fax: "USB Robotics FAX 56K PCI"
- At this point you are good to go?
For detailed configuration check out: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306550/
STEP 5. Stop talking!!! I want to fax!!!
Well it so easy.
- Open up your favority edtior, MS Word, WordPad, Notepad.
- Type you message (and you can format any way you want).
[write_a_fax.png]
- Faxing:
- Go to File > Print
- Select "Fax"
- Click "Next"
- Enter "To:"
- Enter "Fax number:"
- Click Next
In the following screens you can specify a cover letter (for now I skip it)
Click "Next"
And "Schedule"
Select "Now" Click "Next"
STEP 6: Fax Console
To check out what was sent, what is in the fax outbox and etc run:
Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > Communications > Fax > Fax Console
It pretty much like your email.
And look I've been faxing Secretary of State Bruce McPherson about those Diebold voting machines he wants to implement. It took me 15 minute to write the letters, and only 2 minutes to send each.
Now faxing is as easy as emailing.
You Have: Mac OSX
STEP 1: DO I HAVE A MODEM?
Before broadband we all used modems. I bet you have one still in your computer. Here how you can check:
Look at the back of your computer:
A modem port looks like a standard North American telephone jack.
Normally there are two modem ports side by side. The one marked "line" (or with a phone jack symbol) is connected to the wall jack. If the indicators are missing, its really easy to replug.
STEP 2: Its very Easy
(if anyone with a Mac could provide screenshots, I'd greatly appreciate it)
...it's as easy as printing. Make sure you've got a phone line plugged into your modem.
Choose Print from the File menu. In the dialog box that opens, click on the PDF button and choose Fax PDF from the drop down menu.
Fill out the number you're faxing to and any other options, click Fax.
Done.
ADVANCED: Use your Address Book to save commonly used faxed numbers which you'll be able to easily choose in the Fax dialog next time you want to fax.
MORE ADVANCED: Open System Preferences. Go to the Print & Fax control panel. Click on the Faxing tab. Set up incoming fax options there.
