Step 1: You create Voice Action Items from an Action Item Template Window (see Create New Action Item).

Step 2: Once you choose "Voice" as the type of Action Item to create, the dialog box pictured on the right will appear asking you if you want this Action Item to handle voicemail detection.

If you select yes, ContactTalk will try to determine if the receiver of the call answers the call in person, or if it is a voicemail or answering machine that picks up.  Based on who answers the call, ContactTalk can then perform different actions for each.

If you select no, ContactTalk will perform the same action regardless of who answers the call.

Step 3: The next dialog box (pictured on the right) will ask you if you want to create the Main Broadcast Mailbox message.  This mailbox contains the main message to be played and if you choose to detect voicemail, it will be the message played if a live person answers the phone vs. voicemail answering.

If you select no, you will need to go back into the Voice Action Item Template properties window to create it, so it is wise to select Yes and go ahead and create your message now.

Step 4: Assuming you selected yes in Step 3, the next dialog box will ask you if you want to create a "single recorded" i.e. message of just your voice, or create a message that contains Text to Speech (TTS).

With TTS, you can also insert Tags which will personalize your message by using Fields such as FirstName, or any Field you create.   See Play or Say Editor for instructions on how to do this.

You can either create a message that is all TTS, or you can create a message than contains both your recorded message as well as TTS.

If you wish to create a single recorded message, go to Step 5, Option 1.  If you wish to create a message containing TTS, skip to Step 5, Option 2.

Step 5:

(Option 1): If you selected Yes during Step 4, the next box that appears will be the Record Audio Window.  Select your connection type (SIP or Skype), choose your microphone and speaker volume settings or just leave them at the default levels, then click the Start Recording button.  Click the Stop Recording button when finished.

You can listen to your message by clicking the Play Recording button.  If you want to change it, simply click Start Recording again and repeat the process.

NOTE: Make sure you have a microphone plugged into your computer.

When finished creating your message, click OK on the Record Audio Window and the Mailbox Setup box, and then either execute your new Action Item, or go onto to Step 6 or 7 if applicable.

(Option 2): If you selected No during Step 4, the box that appears will be the Play or Say Editor.  This is where you will type in the message you would like ContactTalk to play using either the free Microsoft voices or one of the Voices you purchased.

You can also concatenate a recorded wave file with TTS (Optional).  See Play or Say Editor for step by step instructions on creating your TTS message and concatenating it with your recording.

When finished creating your message, click OK on the Play and Say Editor and the Mailbox Setup box, and then either execute your new Action Item, or go onto to Step 6 if desired.

You can insert a Personal Edit Wave Field by clicking on Open or Create Wave and selecting the wave file (and put ++ before and after the inserted waves).

Step 6 (Optional): If you selected yes during Step 2, the next dialog box that appears will ask you to create your "On Voice Mail Detection" message, meaning this is the message that will be played if voicemail or an answering machine picks up the phone.

Repeat the steps for creating a message listed above (steps 3 - 5).

Step 7 (Optional): Adjust your Action Item Voice Setup Settings and your Mailbox Properties.

Step 8: Enter a Name for your new Voice Action Item in the top left of the Action Item Voice Setup box and click OK. You are finished creating your new Voice Action Item!  Now you just need to select a method for Executing it.