Incoming Routing Methods (Microsoft Fax): E-mail, Store in Folder, Print, Custom

Fax Voip T.38 Modem implements Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension that is integrated into the Windows Fax Service. When the fax service receives a fax transmission, it routes the received document through each of the fax routing methods defined by a fax routing extension.

When receiving faxes using Microsoft Fax* application (via Fax Voip Virtual COM Ports), you can configure Incoming Routing Methods to route incoming faxes to recipients on the network. Depending on the Caller Number (Caller ID) and Called Number (DID), different actions can be applied to incoming fax. These actions are defined by the so-called rules. The independent set of rules is used for each method.

The fax routing methods defined by the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension are very similar to the fax routing methods defined by the Microsoft Routing Extension (available on any Windows Server computer, such as Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012R2 etc.). The essential difference is the possibility to do routing based on Called Number (DID) and without being tied to a specific modem device. This was made possible by implementing the workaround that is described in the Caller ID settings (Incoming Modem Calls) chapter of this user manual. In addition, Fax Voip T.38 Modem routing methods work not only on Windows Server computers, but also on any workstation, such as Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 etc.

The Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension includes the following Incoming Routing Methods that can be configured in the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Control Panel:

Route through e-mail

Incoming faxes can be delivered via e-mail to one or more e-mail recipients.

Store in a folder

Incoming faxes can be copied to one or more local or network folder.

Print

This method allows to automatically print Incoming faxes.

Custom

This method allows to easy add any routing functionality by using custom application that is started after receiving a fax. The using of this method is not limited by the current licences.

Incoming Methods (Microsoft Fax) page contains the following information:

Incoming Method

The Incoming Routing Method name

Max # of Rules

Total number of rules, that can be used. It is usually the sum of Basic and Additional number of rules.

Basic

Basic number of rules, that can be used. Specified as the number of Virtual COM Ports (modems) + 1. The TRIAL version allows the use of no more than 2 rules of every type.

Additional

Additional number of rules, defined by the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Extended Fax Routing (E-mail, Store in Folder, Print) license.

The following commands are available in the Incoming Methods Contextual Tab of the Ribbon:

Incoming Methods (Microsoft Fax)

Route through e-mail

Click to configure Route through e-mail (Microsoft Fax) rules for incoming faxes.

Store in a folder

Click to configure Store in a folder (Microsoft Fax) rules for incoming faxes.

Print

Click to configure Print (Microsoft Fax) rules for incoming faxes.

Custom

Click to configure custom routing for incoming faxes (Microsoft Fax).

Alternatively, you can double-click a method in the Incoming Methods (Microsoft Fax) list, or select Edit command from the context menu.

The following diagram provides an overview of the incoming fax routing process:

On Windows Server computer, you can view Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension fax routing methods in the Microsoft Fax Service Manager, see picture below.

When configuring Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension fax routing methods, please take note of the following:

• The Incoming Routing Methods (Microsoft Fax) should be configured in the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Control Panel.
• You should not enable or disable fax routing methods for separately taken Fax Voip 14.4K TAPI Voice-Fax Modem devices in the Microsoft Fax Service Manager or using any other way. The Fax Voip T.38 Modem software automatically enables or disables the fax routing method for all Fax Voip 14.4K TAPI Voice-Fax Modem devices, depending on the presence or absence of the rules for this method.
• If you have Fax Voip T.38 Modem Virtual COM Ports (modems) license, you can use the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension fax routing methods not only with Fax Voip 14.4K TAPI Voice-Fax Modem devices, but also with other fax devices installed in your system (hardware modems, etc.). In this case you should manually enable fax routing methods for your fax devices using Microsoft Fax Service Manager or any other way. Also, most likely you will not be able to route faxes based on Called Number (DID) because it is usually not transmitted into the Windows Fax Service software.
• On Windows Server computer, you can set priority order of incoming routing methods. In the Microsoft Fax Service Manager, on the left pane double-click Fax, double-click Incoming Routing, click Global Methods (see the picture above). In the details pane, right-click the method required, and then click either Move up or Move down. It should be understood that this option has practically no effect, because each method defined by the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension is always executed in the separated thread. This architecture also significantly increases the reliability of the entire application, when compared with our previous implementations (Fax Voip T38 Fax and Voice, version 7).

To view Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension log, use Enable Fax Voip T.38 Modem Routing Extension debug logging option, see more details in the Incoming Routing Methods (Microsoft Fax) Logs chapter of this user manual. To view detailed logs for fax routing methods, use other options described in the same chapter.

Notes

• To use Incoming Routing Methods (Microsoft Fax) feature, you should have the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Virtual COM Ports (modems) license installed.
• The basic number of allowed rules for each method is specified as the number of Virtual COM Ports (modems) plus 1. The TRIAL version allows the use of no more than 2 rules of every type.
• To significantly increase the maximum number of available rules, you can purchase separate license Fax Voip T.38 Modem Extended Fax Routing (E-mail, Store In Folder, Print). Note that this license can not be used in the absence of the Fax Voip T.38 Modem Virtual COM Ports (modems) license.
• The using of the Custom routing method is not limited by the current licences.
• (* : When using Microsoft Fax and Windows Fax and Scan, we currently recommend you to use other solution, Fax Voip Windows Fax Service Provider (Fax Voip FSP). Fax Voip FSP replaces the standard Microsoft Modem Device Provider by the Fax Voip T.38/G.711FAX Device Provider. This allows you to use the Windows Fax Service most efficiently. In particular, the ECM (Error Correction Mode) is supported. The busy signal is also detected correct way. Fax Voip FSP implements Fax Voip FSP Routing Extension that is integrated into the Windows Fax Service. Fax Voip FSP stores the Called Number (DID) in the Routing Information field, which is available in particular in the Windows Fax and Scan software, in the incoming fax properties (no workarounds are used). Outgoing Fax Routing Methods implemented in Fax Voip FSP work regardless of the user account under which the fax job was created. Using Fax Service Provider (FSP) instead of Virtual COM Ports and modems significantly improves reliability of your fax system.