Faxing in Famous

Famous - Version 6



Subject to change without notice

In Famous, you can fax invoices, confirmations, passings and other important documents directly from transaction screens by clicking the Workflow button. Famous is capable of faxing these documents using two methods. The preferred and supported method is utilizing e-mail/fax integration software (e.g., GFI FAXmaker). The second method is utilizing WinFax Pro (version 10.03). The use of WinFax Pro is no longer supported, but is still available in Famous.

Faxing with E-mail/Fax Integration Software (GFI FAXmaker)

GFI FAXmaker is an e-mail/fax integration package. This means that the GFI server recognizes e-mails that contain faxable documents. There are currently two configurations available:

In order for Famous to successfully fax utilizing e-mail/fax integration software, users must be able to e-mail documents via Outlook or Outlook Express from the workstation or Terminal Server on which they are running the Famous client. The following explains how to configure Famous for use with GFI FAXmaker.

NOTE: Famous Software has not tested other e-mail integration software packages aside from GFI FAXmaker. Please consult Famous Network Services if you have any questions regarding other packages.

Please consult GFI’s Web site for information on available products, system requirements, and for the most current documentation. http://www.gfi.com/faxmaker/

FAXmaker Configuration
FAXmaker installs quite easily. However, after it is installed you must make a change in FAXmaker Configuration in order to fax Famous documents. In FAXmaker Configuration, expand the Advanced settings and select the Document Conversion properties. In Documents Conversion Properties, add the following:

This allows FAXmaker to convert the Famous document to a format that can be sent by fax.

Famous Report Viewer
The Famous Report Viewer must be installed on the FAXmaker server. This is done so that FAXmaker can render the Famous Report (which is a .psr file) to a faxable image. The Report Viewer installs automatically; accept the defaults for easiest installation.

Regional Settings
Check and/or change the Regional Settings. Run the Regional Settings program from Control Panel and select the Date tab. The Short date style and Long date style may need to be changed. If they are wrong, dates on faxed documents may be truncated. The date styles should be as follows.

Verify That Systems Are Working Properly
Before attempting to fax documents through Famous, first confirm that your system can e-mail and fax documents directly. Complete the following steps to verify that your mail/fax system is working properly.

Testing FAXmaker for use with an Exchange Server
Compose and send the following e-mail, entering your own fax number after the colon (:):

Test Fax - Exchange Server

NOTE: FAXmaker requires that the e-mails be sent using plain text.

Testing FAXmaker for use with an external e-mail box (Email2FAX Gateway)
Compose and send the following e-mail, entering the dedicated e-mail box that FAXmaker has been configured to use in the To… field:

Test Fax - External E-mail Box

NOTE: FAXmaker requires that the e-mails be sent using plain text.

Fax Setup with GFI FAXmaker

  1. Log in to Famous (Company = Famous Admin) and select FAX Method Maintenance.

    2. Famous Navigator - FAX Method Maintenance

  2. Select Email/FAX Integration -


    1. Utilizing GFI FAXmaker for Exchange:

      2. Fax Method Maintenance - Exchange

    2. Utilizing GFI FAXmaker with an Email2FAX Gateway:

      3. Fax Method Maintenance - Email2FAX Gateway

Fax Setup with WinFax Pro

NOTE: Symantec has discontinued support for WinFax Pro, therefore Famous Software, LLC does not recommend nor support the use of WinFax Pro as a faxing solution. The following instructions are offered “as is.”

  1. Install and configure WinFax Pro on the client workstations that will be faxing documents with Famous.

    NOTE: Do not install InfoMaker on the same machine as the Famous client if that machine is used for faxing. It can cause problems when viewing reports and sending faxes through Famous.


  2. Verify that WinFax Pro is working properly. It is recommended that you open WinFax Pro and send a test fax.


  3. Log in to Famous (Company = Famous Admin) and select FAX Method Maintenance.

    4. Famous Navigator - FAX Method Maintenance

  4. Select WinFax Pro v9 (or higher).

    5. FAX Method Maintenance - WinFax Pro

Faxing in Famous V6

In Famous, there are several places where you can enter default and override fax numbers. Following is one example of how you could enter a default fax number in Workflow Task Maintenance.

Workflow Task Maintenance

Another example of where a default fax number could be entered is in Customer Maintenance, on the Workflow tab.

You can send documents in Famous through several transaction entry screens and the Workflow Task Launcher program. If a document is not successfully sent, you can add the Reason column to the Workflow Task Viewer using the Customization Editor. The Reason column indicates why Famous could not send the document to the fax server.

Workflow Task Launcher

Note: With WinFax Pro, the Failed and Reason columns will not always indicate that a document could not be sent. Research sending problems in WinFax Pro.



Famous Software, LLC
12/14/06