Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:50 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
Leif (blitzrage) and I were discussing how to best handle the chapter on
configuring extensions.conf. As this is probably the most important
chapter of the book (and could easily grow to be he biggest) I'd like to
make sure the layout is right. I want to make it *painfully* easy for
newbies to be able to follow along and get up to speed, while not making
it difficult for non-newbies to find the information they need.
So, it's up to y'all to help me come up with a good outline. Here's my
idea so far... Feel free to rip it to shreds and toss it out the
window. *Please*... if you have *any* opinion at all, let me know so
that we can get this chapter started!
a) Getting started with a DevKit Lite (one FXS, one FXO)
o Zaptel and zaptel.conf... GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.
o Zapata.conf... just the basics... an introduction to contexts
o Extensions.conf... just enough to be dangerous
b) Getting started with SIP and IAX
o sip.conf / iax.conf ... again, just the basics
o Extensions.conf... Dial()ing SIP and IAX peers
c) The other .conf files
o Does this belong here, or in it's own chapter?
o More detailed of all the .conf files besides extensions.conf
d) Advanced extensions.conf concepts
o Syntax of extensions.conf
o More about contexts, jumping between contexts
o Playing with variables, introduction to astdb
o Macros
o More advanced applications
- Playback()
- Record()
- GotoIf()
- Cut()
- Authenticate()
- VoiceMail2
- ZapBarge()
- (you get the idea)
o A whole cookbook of recipes
Anyway, that's what I've come up with so far... Like I said earlier, I'm
looking for comments. (I'd especially like comments about whether to
move section 'c' above into it's own chapter, and if so whether or not
to put that chapter before or after this one!)
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 9:45 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
Sorry for being late to this list. I apparently didn't see the
announcement of it's creation.
As for suggestions, other than the differences in arguments for Dial,
nothing else should be different in the extensions.conf file regarding
technology used. So maybe you should simplify to explaining about
variables, contexts, includes and call flow, then if you wish get into
simple examples and later into advance options.
I think delving into any other config files in this section would not be
necessary and possibly problematic for a proofreader when anything in
those sections change.
So maybe like below
a) Basics.
o Contexts- why to separate
o Includes- how to reduce typing
o Variables- extra data
o Call flow- putting it together
b) Samples
o building sample company using
1 DevKit Lite
2 T100P and VoIP phones
3 T400P and channel banks
4 VoIP termination and VoIP phones
(Of course the only differences here might be in how you address
dialing more and more users)
c) Advanced Concepts
o bringing in the DB
o DISA
o Any number of neat tricks to go along with the cookbook.
On Tue, 2003-12-23 at 14:50, Jared Smith wrote:
Quote:
Leif (blitzrage) and I were discussing how to best handle the chapter on
configuring extensions.conf. As this is probably the most important
chapter of the book (and could easily grow to be he biggest) I'd like to
make sure the layout is right. I want to make it *painfully* easy for
newbies to be able to follow along and get up to speed, while not making
it difficult for non-newbies to find the information they need.
So, it's up to y'all to help me come up with a good outline. Here's my
idea so far... Feel free to rip it to shreds and toss it out the
window. *Please*... if you have *any* opinion at all, let me know so
that we can get this chapter started!
a) Getting started with a DevKit Lite (one FXS, one FXO)
o Zaptel and zaptel.conf... GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.
o Zapata.conf... just the basics... an introduction to contexts
o Extensions.conf... just enough to be dangerous
b) Getting started with SIP and IAX
o sip.conf / iax.conf ... again, just the basics
o Extensions.conf... Dial()ing SIP and IAX peers
c) The other .conf files
o Does this belong here, or in it's own chapter?
o More detailed of all the .conf files besides extensions.conf
d) Advanced extensions.conf concepts
o Syntax of extensions.conf
o More about contexts, jumping between contexts
o Playing with variables, introduction to astdb
o Macros
o More advanced applications
- Playback()
- Record()
- GotoIf()
- Cut()
- Authenticate()
- VoiceMail2
- ZapBarge()
- (you get the idea)
o A whole cookbook of recipes
Anyway, that's what I've come up with so far... Like I said earlier, I'm
looking for comments. (I'd especially like comments about whether to
move section 'c' above into it's own chapter, and if so whether or not
to put that chapter before or after this one!)
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 10:19 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
To rip apart, if the subject is introduction to the dial plan (mainly extensions conf)
Haven't thought of it all, just shooting from the hip
BASIC
* Concepts: Channels, extensions, users, applications, contexts
* A general overview (how <channel>.conf files and extensions.conf work together
* Handling calls
INTERMEDIATE
* Adding logic (macros)
* Using contexts
ADVANCED
* Special extensions (I,T,S)
* Building IVR
* AGI
Channel configuration is separate chapters
Zaptel configuration /dev kit lite/ must also be separate
Jared, I'm just thinking freely on how I would start. It's a very complicated thing
to describe, so it's important to start with the right approach. The old handbook
is not that bad in this part.
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 10:28 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
I've added a couple of comments below:
On Tue, 2003-12-23 at 15:19, Olle E. Johansson wrote:
Quote:
To rip apart, if the subject is introduction to the dial plan (mainly extensions conf)
Haven't thought of it all, just shooting from the hip
BASIC
* Concepts: Channels, extensions, users, applications, contexts
* A general overview (how <channel>.conf files and extensions.conf work together
* Handling calls
INTERMEDIATE
* Adding logic (macros)
* Using contexts
Why is "using contexts" in Intermediate? I absolutely believe that
contexts is *THE* most important thing to understanding
extensions.conf...
Quote:
ADVANCED
* Special extensions (I,T,S)
I would think that the special extensions should be in basic, because
you'd need them to build a simple 1FXOx1FXS PBX.
Quote:
* Building IVR
* AGI
AGI gets it's own chapter...
Quote:
Channel configuration is separate chapters
I agree that the in-depth channel configuration should be a seperate
chapter... what I was imagining was a "quick start" for a couple of
common scenarios, such as the DevKit lite.
Quote:
Zaptel configuration /dev kit lite/ must also be separate
Jared, I'm just thinking freely on how I would start. It's a very complicated thing
to describe, so it's important to start with the right approach. The old handbook
is not that bad in this part.
To be honest, I've purposely avoided looking at the old handbook so that
I don't get accused of plagarism. All I remember about the old handbook
is that the first one made a lot more sense than the 2nd (draft) one.
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 10:58 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
Ok... Took me a bit, but how about something along the line of what is
below? I basically took everyones ideas and compilied it into one...
Components of the Asterisk System
The Asterisk Directory Structure
Editing .conf files
Getting started with a DevKit Lite ((one FXS, one FXO - Maybe a diff
title?))
Zaptel and zaptel.conf ((GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.))
Zapata.conf ((just the basics... an introduction to contexts))
Extensions.conf ((just enough to be dangerous))
Getting started with VoIP ((just the basics))
SIP - sip.conf
IAX - iax.conf
The Extensions.conf File
Contexts ((why to separate))
Includes ((how to reduce typing))
Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
Variables ((extra data))
Call flow ((putting it together))
Special extensions (I,T,S)
More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
diffrent formats for calling apps))
The VoIP side of Asterisk
Configurating SIP
Configurating IAX
Configurating H323/OH323
... etc
The PBX Side of Asterisk
Zaptel cards and config
Configurating Zapata
CAPI/ISDN
... etc
Asterisk Add-On Applications
Playback()
Record()
GotoIf()
Cut()
Authenticate()
VoiceMail2
ZapBarge()
... etc
Advanced Concepts
Building IVR
Bringing in the DB
DISA
Any number of neat tricks to go along with the cookbook.
Music On Hold: The moh.conf File
Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
Comments?
--Greg
On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:50:43 -0700, Jared Smith wrote:
Quote:
Leif (blitzrage) and I were discussing how to best handle the chapter on
configuring extensions.conf. As this is probably the most important
chapter of the book (and could easily grow to be he biggest) I'd like to
make sure the layout is right. I want to make it *painfully* easy for
newbies to be able to follow along and get up to speed, while not making
it difficult for non-newbies to find the information they need.
So, it's up to y'all to help me come up with a good outline. Here's my
idea so far... Feel free to rip it to shreds and toss it out the
window. *Please*... if you have *any* opinion at all, let me know so
that we can get this chapter started!
a) Getting started with a DevKit Lite (one FXS, one FXO)
o Zaptel and zaptel.conf... GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.
o Zapata.conf... just the basics... an introduction to contexts
o Extensions.conf... just enough to be dangerous
b) Getting started with SIP and IAX
o sip.conf / iax.conf ... again, just the basics
o Extensions.conf... Dial()ing SIP and IAX peers
c) The other .conf files
o Does this belong here, or in it's own chapter?
o More detailed of all the .conf files besides extensions.conf
d) Advanced extensions.conf concepts
o Syntax of extensions.conf
o More about contexts, jumping between contexts
o Playing with variables, introduction to astdb
o Macros
o More advanced applications
- Playback()
- Record()
- GotoIf()
- Cut()
- Authenticate()
- VoiceMail2
- ZapBarge()
- (you get the idea)
o A whole cookbook of recipes
Anyway, that's what I've come up with so far... Like I said earlier, I'm
looking for comments. (I'd especially like comments about whether to
move section 'c' above into it's own chapter, and if so whether or not
to put that chapter before or after this one!)
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:06 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
Jared Smith wrote:
Quote:
I've added a couple of comments below:
On Tue, 2003-12-23 at 15:19, Olle E. Johansson wrote:
>To rip apart, if the subject is introduction to the dial plan (mainly extensions conf)
>Haven't thought of it all, just shooting from the hip
>
>BASIC
>* Concepts: Channels, extensions, users, applications, contexts
>* A general overview (how <channel>.conf files and extensions.conf work together
>* Handling calls
>INTERMEDIATE
>* Adding logic (macros)
>* Using contexts
Why is "using contexts" in Intermediate? I absolutely believe that
contexts is *THE* most important thing to understanding
extensions.conf...
And I agree.
Quote:
>* AGI
AGI gets it's own chapter...
Ok. Just mention it here, as a way of extending the functionality and refer
to that chapter.
Quote:
To be honest, I've purposely avoided looking at the old handbook so that
I don't get accused of plagarism. All I remember about the old handbook
is that the first one made a lot more sense than the 2nd (draft) one.
Ok. Do we have problems with the Digium copyright? Will Mark let us steal
from that handbook or do we have to do a fresh start?
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:10 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
Greg Varga wrote:
Quote:
Ok... Took me a bit, but how about something along the line of what is
below? I basically took everyones ideas and compilied it into one...
Components of the Asterisk System
The Asterisk Directory Structure
Editing .conf files
Getting started with a DevKit Lite ((one FXS, one FXO - Maybe a diff
title?))
Zaptel and zaptel.conf ((GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.))
Zapata.conf ((just the basics... an introduction to contexts))
Extensions.conf ((just enough to be dangerous))
Getting started with VoIP ((just the basics))
SIP - sip.conf
IAX - iax.conf
The Extensions.conf File
Contexts ((why to separate))
Includes ((how to reduce typing))
Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
Variables ((extra data))
Call flow ((putting it together))
Special extensions (I,T,S)
More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
diffrent formats for calling apps))
The VoIP side of Asterisk
Configurating SIP
Configurating IAX
Configurating H323/OH323
... etc
The PBX Side of Asterisk
Zaptel cards and config
Configurating Zapata
CAPI/ISDN
... etc
Asterisk Add-On Applications
Playback()
Record()
GotoIf()
Cut()
Authenticate()
VoiceMail2
ZapBarge()
... etc
Advanced Concepts
Building IVR
Bringing in the DB
DISA
Any number of neat tricks to go along with the cookbook.
Music On Hold: The moh.conf File
Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
Comments?
Just a general thought:
We have to be careful so the "Dial Plan cookbok" chapter doesn't cover everything the other
chapters cover. This looks like a full handbook... ;-)
The dial plan is so important that it is easy to forget about the basics,
the structure, logic and syntax just to cover everthing else, like applications.
I still think the channel configs needs to be in chapters of their own, not in the dial plan cookbok.
Well, good luck. I'm checking out for christmas! Merry Christmas, documenters!
/O
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:12 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
Hmmn... looking better... let me take another stab at it below. I think
the in-depth section on configuration of channels ought to be it's own
chapter.
Again, please make a lot of noise and let me know your opinions so that
we can get this right!
Jared
On Tue, 2003-12-23 at 15:58, Greg Varga wrote:
Quote:
Ok... Took me a bit, but how about something along the line of what is
below? I basically took everyones ideas and compilied it into one...
Components of the Asterisk System
The Asterisk Directory Structure
Editing .conf files
Getting started with a DevKit Lite ((one FXS, one FXO - Maybe a diff
title?))
Zaptel and zaptel.conf ((GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.))
Zapata.conf ((just the basics... an introduction to contexts))
Extensions.conf ((just enough to be dangerous))
Getting started with VoIP ((just the basics))
SIP - sip.conf
IAX - iax.conf
The Extensions.conf File
Contexts ((why to separate))
Includes ((how to reduce typing))
Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
Variables ((extra data))
Call flow ((putting it together))
Special extensions (I,T,S)
More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
different formats for calling apps))
Asterisk Add-On Applications
Playback()
Record()
GotoIf()
Cut()
Authenticate()
VoiceMail2
ZapBarge()
... etc
Advanced Concepts
Building IVR
Bringing in the DB
DISA
Any number of neat tricks to go along with the cookbook.
Music On Hold: The moh.conf File
Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
Configuring Channels
The PBX Side of Asterisk
Zaptel cards and config
Configurating Zapata
Channel Banks
PRI/Channelized Voice T1s
CAPI/ISDN
... etc
The VoIP side of Asterisk
Configurating SIP
Configurating IAX
Configurating H323/OH323
... etc
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:31 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
On Tue, 2003-12-23 at 16:06, Olle E. Johansson wrote:
Quote:
Ok. Do we have problems with the Digium copyright? Will Mark let us steal
from that handbook or do we have to do a fresh start?
I haven't yet asked Mark. I'd rather stay on the safe side of things
until we have explicit permission from him. Personally, I never want to
get sued over this book!
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 12:04 am Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
I know it's probably bad form to reply to myself, but I'm still looking
for input on the layout for the chapter(s) on configuring
extensions.conf.
My questions are:
1) Is this outline acceptable? If not, PLEASE reply with specifics,
such as "Foo needs to be explained before Bar".
2) Should the "cookbook" part of the chapter be split into it's own
chapter? (I've split it off into it's own chapter in the outline below)
3) Is there anything really obvious that we're missing here?
Here's my latest revision of the outline
Components of Asterisk Configuration
The Asterisk Directory Structure
Editing .conf files
??? Maybe explain modules.conf, so that newbies understand
why modules.conf is so important?
Getting started with a DevKit Lite ((one FXS, one FXO - Maybe a diff
title?))
Zaptel and zaptel.conf ((GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.))
Zapata.conf ((just the basics... an introduction to contexts))
Extensions.conf ((just enough to be dangerous))
Getting started with VoIP ((just the basics))
SIP - sip.conf
IAX - iax.conf
The Extensions.conf File
Contexts ((why to separate))
Includes ((how to reduce typing))
Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
Variables ((extra data))
Call flow ((putting it together))
Special extensions (I,T,S)
More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
different formats for calling apps))
Asterisk Add-On Applications
Playback()
Record()
GotoIf()
Cut()
Authenticate()
VoiceMail2
ZapBarge()
... etc
Advanced Concepts: a.k.a. "The Cookbook"
Building IVR
Bringing in the DB
DISA
Music On Hold: The moh.conf File (already in Chap. 7?)
Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
Any number of other neat tricks to go along
Configuring Channels
The PBX Side of Asterisk
Zaptel cards and config
Configurating Zapata
Channel Banks
PRI/Channelized Voice T1s
CAPI/ISDN
... etc
The VoIP side of Asterisk
Configurating SIP
Configurating IAX
Configurating H323/OH323
... etc
Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 1:32 am Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
On Mon, 2003-12-29 at 19:04, Jared Smith wrote:
Quote:
Components of Asterisk Configuration
The Asterisk Directory Structure
Editing .conf files
??? Maybe explain modules.conf, so that newbies understand
why modules.conf is so important?
Getting started with a DevKit Lite ((one FXS, one FXO - Maybe a diff
title?))
Zaptel and zaptel.conf ((GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.))
Zapata.conf ((just the basics... an introduction to contexts))
Extensions.conf ((just enough to be dangerous))
Getting started with VoIP ((just the basics))
SIP - sip.conf
IAX - iax.conf
I'm almost wondering if the extensions.conf file part should be before
the "Gerring started with VoIP"... just because this section below seems
to be a good introduction about how the extensions.conf file is
configured, but you've kinda already configured part of an
extensions.conf. That might be good in some ways, but I'm wondering if
people would understand why we were setting up things in the
extensions.conf the way we are better if we had already told them about
contexts, includes, etc.. etc.. ?
Quote:
The Extensions.conf File
Contexts ((why to separate))
Includes ((how to reduce typing))
Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
Variables ((extra data))
Call flow ((putting it together))
Special extensions (I,T,S)
More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
different formats for calling apps))
I'm guessing this is more of how to use these applications in the
extensions.conf file rather than just repeating what is in Appendix C ?
<speaking about section below>
Advanced Concepts: a.k.a. "The Cookbook"
Building IVR
Bringing in the DB
DISA
Yah... we might have to move some of the sections in other parts of the
book to this chapter if they are extensions.conf specific... once we
get this outline defined, this might change the whole structure of the
book... ?
Quote:
Music On Hold: The moh.conf File (already in Chap. 7?)
Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
Any number of other neat tricks to go along
Configuring Channels
Again... sections below are kind of in other sections of the book...
Quote:
The PBX Side of Asterisk
Zaptel cards and config
Configurating Zapata
Channel Banks
PRI/Channelized Voice T1s
CAPI/ISDN
... etc
The VoIP side of Asterisk
Configurating SIP
Configurating IAX
Configurating H323/OH323
... etc
Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 4:55 am Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
I think I am going to repeat some of what Lief has said.
On Mon, 2003-12-29 at 18:04, Jared Smith wrote:
Quote:
Components of Asterisk Configuration
The Asterisk Directory Structure
Editing .conf files
??? Maybe explain modules.conf, so that newbies understand
why modules.conf is so important?
Getting started with a DevKit Lite ((one FXS, one FXO - Maybe a diff
title?))
Zaptel and zaptel.conf ((GS/LS/KS signalling... zttool... etc.))
Zapata.conf ((just the basics... an introduction to contexts))
Extensions.conf ((just enough to be dangerous))
Getting started with VoIP ((just the basics))
SIP - sip.conf
IAX - iax.conf
I think that extensions.conf is more important than the channel
definitions. You can gloss over the channels in the Dial commands, but I
think it will be important to have a solid knowledge of contexts. It
will make more sense when you start explaining about the channels and
VoIP user definitions when you are trying to put them in the appropriate
context. It allso eliminates the need to have a basic extensions.conf
file that you can't really explain other than this is how it makes a
phone ring.
While I admit that one or the other is just academic discussions until
you can combine a phone with a dialplan. Maybe the best part would be to
explain how to make a console call first since a new user is more likely
to have a sound card that functions enough to walk their way around an
extensions.conf file.
Quote:
The Extensions.conf File
Contexts ((why to separate))
Includes ((how to reduce typing))
Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
Variables ((extra data))
Call flow ((putting it together))
Special extensions (I,T,S)
More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
different formats for calling apps))
It might be a good idea to pick Marks brain and see if the function
style is the preferred method for the future and stick to just that
method. Maybe a note about old methods, but all examples should fit to
the preferred method. It ties into my comment about consistent spelling
and capitalization. It should be fairly difficult to tell where
different authors start and stop other than maybe a few nuances in word
choice or sentence structure.
Quote:
Asterisk Add-On Applications
Playback()
Record()
GotoIf()
Cut()
Authenticate()
VoiceMail2
ZapBarge()
... etc
Advanced Concepts: a.k.a. "The Cookbook"
Building IVR
Bringing in the DB
DISA
Music On Hold: The moh.conf File (already in Chap. 7?)
Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
Any number of other neat tricks to go along
Maybe this should be a separate chapter as it may tie in other conf
files that either are not described at this point or concepts to be
explained later. My opinion is that the cookbook section should be like
a gentle push into some advance concepts that should be mostly obvious
by having the basics down perfect.
Quote:
Configuring Channels
The PBX Side of Asterisk
Zaptel cards and config
Configurating Zapata
Channel Banks
PRI/Channelized Voice T1s
CAPI/ISDN
... etc
The VoIP side of Asterisk
Configurating SIP
Configurating IAX
Configurating H323/OH323
... etc
Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
While this might be helpful, but in a print form this is a lot of space
that is not much more than what the cookbook and a few pieces will be.
Not to mention there is a sample that comes with the asterisk source.
--
Steven Critchfield <critch@basesys.com>
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 5:16 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
On Mon, 2003-12-29 at 21:55, Steven Critchfield wrote:
Quote:
I think I am going to repeat some of what Lief has said.
[snip]
Quote:
I think that extensions.conf is more important than the channel
definitions. You can gloss over the channels in the Dial commands, but I
think it will be important to have a solid knowledge of contexts. It
will make more sense when you start explaining about the channels and
VoIP user definitions when you are trying to put them in the appropriate
context. It allso eliminates the need to have a basic extensions.conf
file that you can't really explain other than this is how it makes a
phone ring.
Hmmmn... I 100% agree that a "solid knowledge of contexts" is the *most*
important thing to understanding extensions.conf. But at the same time,
I want to give the impatient Asterisk newbie a *very simple*
extensions.conf file that just makes a phone ring, so that they can say
"Hey! Look! I finally got Asterisk working!"
I shudder to imagine how many people have never gotten to the "I can
make a phone ring" stage and given up... I know I almost did on more
than one occasion.
Quote:
While I admit that one or the other is just academic discussions until
you can combine a phone with a dialplan. Maybe the best part would be to
explain how to make a console call first since a new user is more likely
to have a sound card that functions enough to walk their way around an
extensions.conf file.
Console calls (at least from my experience a year and a half ago) are a
pain in the backside. But maybe they actually work well now...
Quote:
> The Extensions.conf File
> Contexts ((why to separate))
> Includes ((how to reduce typing))
> Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
> Variables ((extra data))
> Call flow ((putting it together))
> Special extensions (I,T,S)
> More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
> different formats for calling apps))
It might be a good idea to pick Marks brain and see if the function
style is the preferred method for the future and stick to just that
method. Maybe a note about old methods, but all examples should fit to
the preferred method. It ties into my comment about consistent spelling
and capitalization. It should be fairly difficult to tell where
different authors start and stop other than maybe a few nuances in word
choice or sentence structure.
Agreed. Do we do Dial(foo|bar|widget) or Dial(foo,bar,widget) or
Dial,foo,bar,widget? I know which one I prefer... What do the rest of
you think?
Quote:
> Asterisk Add-On Applications
> Playback()
> Record()
> GotoIf()
> Cut()
> Authenticate()
> VoiceMail2
> ZapBarge()
> ... etc
> Advanced Concepts: a.k.a. "The Cookbook"
> Building IVR
> Bringing in the DB
> DISA
> Music On Hold: The moh.conf File (already in Chap. 7?)
> Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
> MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
> Any number of other neat tricks to go along
Maybe this should be a separate chapter as it may tie in other conf
files that either are not described at this point or concepts to be
explained later. My opinion is that the cookbook section should be like
a gentle push into some advance concepts that should be mostly obvious
by having the basics down perfect.
Maybe we need two cookbooks... a "Gentle Examples for Beginning Cooks"
chapter and a "Awesome Recipes for Experienced Chefs" chapter? Or
should we just make one giant cookbook, that starts off simple and then
gets hairy at the end?
Quote:
> Configuring Channels
> The PBX Side of Asterisk
> Zaptel cards and config
> Configurating Zapata
> Channel Banks
> PRI/Channelized Voice T1s
> CAPI/ISDN
> ... etc
> The VoIP side of Asterisk
> Configurating SIP
> Configurating IAX
> Configurating H323/OH323
> ... etc
> Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
While this might be helpful, but in a print form this is a lot of space
that is not much more than what the cookbook and a few pieces will be.
Not to mention there is a sample that comes with the asterisk source.
Unfortunately, the sample that comes with the asterisk source has very
little explanation. Somewhere in the book we should have a couple of
well-documented sample configurations, so that people can at least get
to the "Look! I made a phone ring!" stage. I don't really care if this
gets pushed to an Appendix or maybe even just the website... but it
ought to be *somewhere*. (Or, maybe we just point them to one of the
other third-party Asterisk websites?!?)
Again, the reason I keep re-hashing this outline is that this part of
the book is going to be *absolutely vital*. Would someone mind writing
another version of this outline incorporating the thoughts expressed
above?
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 6:14 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
On Tue, 2003-12-30 at 12:16, Jared Smith wrote:
Quote:
Hmmmn... I 100% agree that a "solid knowledge of contexts" is the *most*
important thing to understanding extensions.conf. But at the same time,
I want to give the impatient Asterisk newbie a *very simple*
extensions.conf file that just makes a phone ring, so that they can say
"Hey! Look! I finally got Asterisk working!"
I shudder to imagine how many people have never gotten to the "I can
make a phone ring" stage and given up... I know I almost did on more
than one occasion.
Right, but if someone is actually going to READ this book, I feel that
the layout would probably be better suited for someone reading straight
through to explain what contexts, includes, priorities and the like
before you delve into a working extensions.conf. If all they want to
get is just say "hey.. it works!" then they could just as easily skip
this section and go onto the working example... ?
Quote:
> While I admit that one or the other is just academic discussions until
> you can combine a phone with a dialplan. Maybe the best part would be to
> explain how to make a console call first since a new user is more likely
> to have a sound card that functions enough to walk their way around an
> extensions.conf file.
Console calls (at least from my experience a year and a half ago) are a
pain in the backside. But maybe they actually work well now...
I think console calls seem a bit beyond the scope of this section.. ?
Quote:
> It might be a good idea to pick Marks brain and see if the function
> style is the preferred method for the future and stick to just that
> method. Maybe a note about old methods, but all examples should fit to
> the preferred method. It ties into my comment about consistent spelling
> and capitalization. It should be fairly difficult to tell where
> different authors start and stop other than maybe a few nuances in word
> choice or sentence structure.
Agreed. Do we do Dial(foo|bar|widget) or Dial(foo,bar,widget) or
Dial,foo,bar,widget? I know which one I prefer... What do the rest of
you think?
Also agreed. I prefer comma seperated values, such as
Dial(foo,bar,widget)
Quote:
Maybe we need two cookbooks... a "Gentle Examples for Beginning Cooks"
chapter and a "Awesome Recipes for Experienced Chefs" chapter? Or
should we just make one giant cookbook, that starts off simple and then
gets hairy at the end?
Hard to say. I can see this chapter getting rediculously large already,
and think that a basic and advanced chapter might not be such a bad
idea. It will also make it easier for the user to navigate if they have
already done the basics, to get right to the advanced stuff if they come
back at a later time. Might be easier for them not to have to wade half
way through a chapter just to find what they want, when they already
know what they are looking for.
Quote:
> > Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
>
> While this might be helpful, but in a print form this is a lot of space
> that is not much more than what the cookbook and a few pieces will be.
> Not to mention there is a sample that comes with the asterisk source.
Unfortunately, the sample that comes with the asterisk source has very
little explanation. Somewhere in the book we should have a couple of
well-documented sample configurations, so that people can at least get
to the "Look! I made a phone ring!" stage. I don't really care if this
gets pushed to an Appendix or maybe even just the website... but it
ought to be *somewhere*. (Or, maybe we just point them to one of the
other third-party Asterisk websites?!?)
I think printed example configurations could be a very good thing in a
book, just like I have in my Linux IPTable Firewall book. The website
does have links to the scripts used in the book on a website so that
they can be updated, and also downloaded (who wants to type out a script
in a book that is several pages long???). But then again, they are in
the book as well so that you can follow along with them and read them.
Long sample files might be better in an appendix though away from the
main chapter which should be more educational text.
Quote:
Again, the reason I keep re-hashing this outline is that this part of
the book is going to be *absolutely vital*. Would someone mind writing
another version of this outline incorporating the thoughts expressed
above?
I've avoided doing the outline because I'm not sure I would make it
better :) If no one else does it, I suppose I'll give it a shot, but
I'll leave it to the professionals for now.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 8:02 pm Post subject: [Asterisk-doc] "The Extensions.conf Cookbook" chapter
On Tue, 2003-12-30 at 11:16, Jared Smith wrote:
Quote:
On Mon, 2003-12-29 at 21:55, Steven Critchfield wrote:
> I think I am going to repeat some of what Lief has said.
>
[snip]
> I think that extensions.conf is more important than the channel
> definitions. You can gloss over the channels in the Dial commands, but I
> think it will be important to have a solid knowledge of contexts. It
> will make more sense when you start explaining about the channels and
> VoIP user definitions when you are trying to put them in the appropriate
> context. It allso eliminates the need to have a basic extensions.conf
> file that you can't really explain other than this is how it makes a
> phone ring.
Hmmmn... I 100% agree that a "solid knowledge of contexts" is the *most*
important thing to understanding extensions.conf. But at the same time,
I want to give the impatient Asterisk newbie a *very simple*
extensions.conf file that just makes a phone ring, so that they can say
"Hey! Look! I finally got Asterisk working!"
I shudder to imagine how many people have never gotten to the "I can
make a phone ring" stage and given up... I know I almost did on more
than one occasion.
Not to be cruel or too elitist, but technology is not always all
inclusive. Technology providers require a certain amount of intelligence
and/or effort. This is why there is a difference between those who seek
out information and those who have to pay for it. At some point you have
to realize that there are users who you don't want as peers, but rather
customers.
I think that if someone was to go to the effort of obtaining then
reading this book/manual they will stick through a few more pages to get
the knowledge right. Before giving up due to not enough knowledge to
make their phone ring. This section shouldn't need to be very long, but
cover the important parts first.
Quote:
> While I admit that one or the other is just academic discussions until
> you can combine a phone with a dialplan. Maybe the best part would be to
> explain how to make a console call first since a new user is more likely
> to have a sound card that functions enough to walk their way around an
> extensions.conf file.
Console calls (at least from my experience a year and a half ago) are a
pain in the backside. But maybe they actually work well now...
maybe as a end to end solution it is a pain, but as a minimum no real
configuration item, I think it would work well if you had to have a user
interactive section. The trick of this is making the examples be
basically easy to implement with all transports.
Quote:
> > The Extensions.conf File
> > Contexts ((why to separate))
> > Includes ((how to reduce typing))
> > Macro's ((how to write them - Include with above?))
> > Variables ((extra data))
> > Call flow ((putting it together))
> > Special extensions (I,T,S)
> > More advanced applications calls ((Asterisk allows for a lot of
> > different formats for calling apps))
>
> It might be a good idea to pick Marks brain and see if the function
> style is the preferred method for the future and stick to just that
> method. Maybe a note about old methods, but all examples should fit to
> the preferred method. It ties into my comment about consistent spelling
> and capitalization. It should be fairly difficult to tell where
> different authors start and stop other than maybe a few nuances in word
> choice or sentence structure.
Agreed. Do we do Dial(foo|bar|widget) or Dial(foo,bar,widget) or
Dial,foo,bar,widget? I know which one I prefer... What do the rest of
you think?
Function style with commas I believe is the preferred method now, but I
may be wrong. If it is the currently preferred method, it is likely to
survive a few extra revisions.
Quote:
> > Asterisk Add-On Applications
> > Playback()
> > Record()
> > GotoIf()
> > Cut()
> > Authenticate()
> > VoiceMail2
> > ZapBarge()
> > ... etc
> > Advanced Concepts: a.k.a. "The Cookbook"
> > Building IVR
> > Bringing in the DB
> > DISA
> > Music On Hold: The moh.conf File (already in Chap. 7?)
> > Voicemail: The voicemail.conf File
> > MeetMe: The meetme.conf File
> > Any number of other neat tricks to go along
>
> Maybe this should be a separate chapter as it may tie in other conf
> files that either are not described at this point or concepts to be
> explained later. My opinion is that the cookbook section should be like
> a gentle push into some advance concepts that should be mostly obvious
> by having the basics down perfect.
Maybe we need two cookbooks... a "Gentle Examples for Beginning Cooks"
chapter and a "Awesome Recipes for Experienced Chefs" chapter? Or
should we just make one giant cookbook, that starts off simple and then
gets hairy at the end?
Well a simple examples section could tie in really well after the
channels are defined. This takes it from all the academic learning to a
working minimal system. Afterwords you could delve into the more
interesting examples or cookbook. I think it is a balancing act of
getting enough base down before turning a person loose to a config file
of their own and having too much data that bores the user before they
get to play with the system.
Quote:
> > Configuring Channels
> > The PBX Side of Asterisk
> > Zaptel cards and config
> > Configurating Zapata
> > Channel Banks
> > PRI/Channelized Voice T1s
> > CAPI/ISDN
> > ... etc
> > The VoIP side of Asterisk
> > Configurating SIP
> > Configurating IAX
> > Configurating H323/OH323
> > ... etc
> > Sample Configurations (Working Sample Configurations)
>
> While this might be helpful, but in a print form this is a lot of space
> that is not much more than what the cookbook and a few pieces will be.
> Not to mention there is a sample that comes with the asterisk source.
Unfortunately, the sample that comes with the asterisk source has very
little explanation. Somewhere in the book we should have a couple of
well-documented sample configurations, so that people can at least get
to the "Look! I made a phone ring!" stage. I don't really care if this
gets pushed to an Appendix or maybe even just the website... but it
ought to be *somewhere*. (Or, maybe we just point them to one of the
other third-party Asterisk websites?!?)
Again, the reason I keep re-hashing this outline is that this part of
the book is going to be *absolutely vital*. Would someone mind writing
another version of this outline incorporating the thoughts expressed
above?
I don't think you have any arguments against you there. I think we all
agree this section is the make or break section.
--
Steven Critchfield <critch@basesys.com>
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